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  "description": "Jasper Philipsen's leadout appeared to hand him the stage on a platter, but a cool-headed Tim Merlier was too good.",
  "path": "/tour-sprint-breakdown-how-did-alpecin-premier-tech-lose-stage-7/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-07-10T18:20:30.000Z",
  "site": "https://escapecollective.com",
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    "Subscribe now"
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  "textContent": "Cor Vos\n\nAlpecin-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?\n\nShort answer: Tim Merlier was too good.\n\n0:00\n\n/0:10\n\n1×\n\nThe 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.\n\n### This post is for subscribers only\n\nBecome a member to get access to all content\n\nSubscribe now",
  "title": "Tour sprint breakdown: How did Alpecin-Premier Tech lose stage 7?",
  "updatedAt": "2026-07-10T18:20:33.011Z"
}