The sprinters were back in the spotlight on Stage 7 of the 2026 Tour de France, with a flat run into Bordeaux offering another nailed-on bunch sprint.
After a controlled day in the peloton, the sprint teams took charge exactly as expected, delivering another high-speed finish in one of cycling's most famous sprinting destinations.
When the lead-out trains peeled away, it was Tim Merlier who once again proved he's the fastest finisher in the race, timing his sprint to perfection to take victory.
But while Merlier continues to impress, the questions are beginning to grow around Jasper Philipsen. Has he simply been beaten by a faster rider, or is there something missing from the sprinter who once dominated finishes like these?
Away from the sprint, Ned and David also revisit the fallout from Stage 6, discussing the tension between Remco Evenepoel and Florian Lipowitz on the Tourmalet, the questions over why they weren't working together, and whether that decision ultimately cost them valuable time.
The episode also includes a reflection on Mark Cavendish's extraordinary Tour de France career, with Ned and David sharing their own personal experiences of covering and racing alongside him, what made him such a dominant force, and whether cycling will ever see another sprinter control the Tour in the way Cavendish once did.
🎶 Music courtesy of BMG Production Music
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🏅 For The Love Of Cycling is presented by Science in Sport, a pioneer in endurance fuelling: Backed by science. Trusted by athletes.
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