Tour sprint breakdown: How did Alpecin-Premier Tech lose stage 7?

Cor Vos

Alpecin-Premier Tech seemed to do everything right in the finale of stage 7 at the Tour de France. But 10-time Tour stage winner Jasper Philipsen did not win. He didn't even podium. How did it go so wrong?

Short answer: Tim Merlier was too good.

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The long answer is rather more nuanced. Obviously. While Philipsen's Alpecin teammates did their jobs to near-perfection, albeit dropping him off maybe a little early, Soudal-Quick Step executed an alternative tactic with zero fault, and with superlative confidence in their man Merlier despite a less-favourable setup.

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