Belgium's Tim Merlier claimed his second consecutive stage victory at the Tour de France, winning stage eight in Bergerac in a bunch sprint on Saturday. The Soudal Quick-Step rider had also taken stage seven the previous day, and the double success caps a strong Tour for the 33-year-old, who now has five career stage wins in the race. His victory came despite being poorly positioned at the finish, from where he launched a late long-range charge to overhaul his rivals.

Merlier hit the front inside the final 200 metres to hold off Eritrea's Biniam Girmay, with Dutch rider Olav Kooij third, and the win moved him to within 15 points of Mads Pedersen in the green jersey standings. Defending champion Tadej Pogacar retained the yellow jersey after the flat 180.4km stage from Perigueux to Bergerac, leading Jonas Vingegaard by 2 minutes 42 seconds overall. Organisers have shortened Sunday's ninth stage from Malemort to Ussel — from 185.5km to 155.5km — because of an intense heatwave in the Correze region.