Belgian sprinter Tim Merlier wins the seventh and eighth stages of the Tour de France in consecutive sprint finishes. After taking stage seven in Bordeaux under very hot conditions, Merlier again prevails in a bunch sprint to secure victory on stage eight, delivering his second straight stage win. Multiple outlets describe the eighth stage result as a domination of the sprint finish, with Merlier repeating the same winning pattern from the prior day.
The day after stage eight, organisers announce changes due to a heatwave. According to Yahoo Sports, the ninth stage is shortened after French weather authorities issue a “red alert” for an exceptionally intense heatwave affecting the central Correze region. As a result of the extreme temperatures, the race route and stage length are adjusted for safety.
Across the reports, the focus remains on Merlier’s back-to-back sprint triumphs and the Tour’s operational response to dangerously high temperatures leading into the next stage.
