The Japan Times - Pressure off for 'scared' Merlier after Tour de France stage win

Merlier, 33, is widely regarded as the fastest sprinter in the race but he finished third on Wednesday's fifth stage won by Belgium compatriot Olav Kooij.

With few sprint finish opportunities on the Tour this year, the pressure was on Merlier to deliver -- as he had done in his two previous Tour appearances.

But he did not disappoint and made a brushing gesture with his hands on his shoulders as he crossed the line to show that he could handle the pressure.

"After the third place on the first sprint stage, you know there are only four or five opportunities more," said Merlier, who has now won four Tour stages.

"Once a rider wins (a stage at) the Tour, normally he takes a second one also.

"So, yeah, you start to be scared, because there are not a lot of opportunities.

"But (I'm) really happy I can take a win again over here in my third participation.

"In every Tour I was on the start line I won one stage, which makes you proud.

"That's what you dream of if you are a little child."

- 'Bordeaux is a sprint city' -

His team-mate and lead-out rider Jasper Stuyven said that the Soudal-Quick Step team's control of the run-in to the 175km stage from Hagetmau was key to the former European champion's victory, despite him twice becoming boxed-in.

"It was just a matter of thinking smart and seeing who is there and who has the control or wants to take the control," said Stuyven, 34.

"I think we played it well. I have to say, I was really good in control and I could kind of anticipate on the movements of the bunch."

But the work began earlier in the stage on another blisteringly hot day in the saddle.

"Everyone was just super focused today and really motivated," said Stuyven.

"Valentin (Paret-Peintre) kept going to the car for bottles. The heat was just increasing today.

"I think today at the start was a bit nicer, but not for long.

"And then Pascal (Eenkhoorn), he pulled but he got dropped. He got back with bottles, pulled again, got dropped again.

"He kept just fighting to come back and every two minutes he could do another pull was saving energy for Dylan (van Baarle), who then just did the perfect run into the 7km mark, which I think is super important for everyone.

"Then Louis (Vervaeke) brought us to the 4.8km and like I said, I think everyone can be super proud of what they did today."

Soudal's sports director Tom Steels won one of nine Tour stages overall in Bordeaux in 1999.

As a fellow sprinter, he knows how important it is for the fast men to claim a prestigious scalp.

"It's always special to win a stage, but there are some cities that make it extra special," he said

"Bordeaux is a sprint city and a lot of sprinters won here, that makes it also nice to put that cross away that you won here."

M.Saito--JT