Tadej Pogacar Keeps Yellow Jersey as Merlier Wins Stage 7

Tadej Pogacar kept the yellow jersey on 11 July after stage 7 of the 2025 Tour de France, a flat day that ended in a bunch sprint. Tim Merlier won the stage.

Pogacar finished safely in the main pack, preserving his overall lead. The stage offered no major changes in the general classification.

What happened on stage 7?

Tim Merlier of Soudal-QuickStep took the win in a mass sprint. The 32-year-old Belgian beat Wout van Aert and Jasper Philipsen to the line.

Stage 7 ran 168 km from Chambéry to Chalon-sur-Saône. It was a flat route, designed for the fast men. A three-man breakaway went early but got caught with 10 km to go.

How did Tadej Pogacar fare?

Pogacar crossed the line in the main bunch, losing no time to his rivals. He still leads Jonas Vingegaard by 1 minute 14 seconds in the general classification.

His UAE Team Emirates squad kept him near the front all day. No crashes or mechanicals troubled the Slovenian. He wore the yellow jersey for the fourth straight day.

Why this stage matters for Pogacar

Flat stages are often nervous. Wind, roundabouts, and narrow roads can split the peloton. Pogacar stayed alert and avoided trouble.

He now holds a solid lead heading into the first mountain test. Stage 9 finishes atop Mont Ventoux. That's where the race could really open up.

What comes next?

Stage 8 on 12 July is another flat stage, 200 km from Mâcon to Dijon. Another sprint finish is likely. Pogacar will aim to stay safe again.

Then comes the Ventoux double-header. Stage 9 ends on the Giant of Provence. Stage 10 repeats the climb from the other side. Those days will shape the race.

Pogacar has said he feels strong. His team looks in control. But Vingegaard and others will attack in the high mountains. The real battle starts soon.