The Soudal-QuickStep sprinter is fired up for the Pau stage: sports director Tom Steels warns his rivals
After four long, painful stages in scorching heat, the sprinters of the 2026 Tour de France can finally breathe a sigh of relief: stage 5, finishing in Pau, is their big chance. And Tim Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep) is ready to strike.
While Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) took the stage victory in Foix, Biniam Girmay (NSN Cycling) and Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech) set out to chase the intermediate sprint points. Merlier, however, opted for patience: hidden in the peloton, he managed his energy and crossed the finish line in the peloton. A clear-headed strategy, worthy of an experienced rider.
But now is the time to blossom. The grand Place de Verdun in Pau will be the stage for the first sprint of this 2026 Tour, and it will already be a crucial test. For fantasy cycling , this is a stage not to be missed: understanding who arrives fresh and who has paid the price of the heat in their legs will be crucial for decisions in the coming weeks.
Natural selection has already claimed some notable victims among the pure sprinters: Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Intermarché) dropped out due to illness and fatigue, Arvid de Kleijn (Tudor Pro Cycling) struggled to make the cutoff time on stage 3, and Kelland O'Brien (Jayco-AlUla) even dropped out of the cutoff time on stage 4 after a crash on the previous stage. The field is already thinning.
Other sprinters to watch include Olav Kooij (Decathlon CMA CGM), Max Kanter (XDS-Astana), Dorian Godon (Netcompany Ineos), Magnus Cort (Uno-X Mobility), and Pavel Bittner (Picnic PostNL). A strong lineup for a sprint that promises to be exciting.
Merlier arrives in Pau with the wind in his sails: he's already scored two stage victories in the 2025 Tour de France, and his sports director, Tom Steels, expects even more from his protégé. "If you have a sprinter, you have to seize every opportunity that presents itself. In this Tour, we have several: Pau, and then after the mountain stage, there are two more," Steels told Cyclingnews and Rouleur.
"Tim feels pretty good because he handles the climbs well. Like everyone in the group, he's suffering from the heat, but he's fine. I think some teams will want to aim for a bunch sprint, but the heat is taking its toll. Luckily, you're racing against the same people for three weeks: everyone gets tired," added the Belgian sports director.
Tactically, Soudal-QuickStep will have to make a strong statement during the race, controlling any breakaways. Steels was clear: "At the Tour, you can't take risks with breakaways. You can't think of letting go of a two-minute lead and then easily catching up, because it's usually not that easy." The team accepts its responsibilities, but it won't be alone: Alpecin-Premier Tech will be its main ally in controlling attacks, while Decathlon CMA CGM should be active in the finale to launch Kooij. "I think we can expect a nice bunch sprint in Pau," Steels concluded optimistically.
Sports journalist and cycling enthusiast, following professional cycling for over 10 years. Collaborates with FantaCycling to bring you the best analysis and news from the world of cycling.
With 22 Tour de France stages, the Slovenian champion is already fifth in the all-time rankings. The numbers suggest the record is within his reach.
The Soudal-QuickStep sprinter is fired up for the Pau stage: sports director Tom Steels warns his rivals
