Biniam Girmay finished third on Stage 7 of the 2026 Tour de France and significantly closed his gap to Mads Pedersen in the points classification. The Eritrean scored 54 points for the stage and is now 59 points behind the green jersey holder. Stage seven seemed destined to end with a group sprint in Bordeaux, and the expected fast finish duly materialized. Tim Merlier cruised to victory and Ghirmay crossed the line in third place after being held up during a crucial part of the sprint. For Girmay, however, the result was further proof that he has the speed needed to compete with the Tour’s top sprinters. “It was a good moment to try and get the win,” Girmay said in a statement released by the NSN Cycling Team.
The Eritrean believed he entered the final 250 meters in a promising position but was backed into a corner and lost momentum. Since the other sprinters were already picking up speed, it was almost impossible to regain lost ground.
Despite missing out on the stage win, Girmay was encouraged by both his condition and speed. “I’m very happy with how I feel,” he said, adding that the top sprinters seemed to be competing at the same level. This gave him confidence that with a cleaner run and the right position he could compete for victory in the coming stages.
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Girmay is confidently closing the gap on Pedersen in the competition for the green jersey
Ghirmaya’s third place was also important in the race for Tour de France points. He earned 14 points in the intermediate sprint and added another 40 points at the finish. This catch returned the NSN rider to second place in the standings with 145 points. Pedersen still controls the green jersey with 204 points, but his lead over Girmay fell from 77 points after the 6th stage to 59 points after the 7th stage.
NSN sporting director Sam Bewley praised the team’s fast final. He said the riders identified the decisive moments in advance and effectively followed the planned strategy. “Bini and the whole team put in a good performance today,” Bewley said. “They executed the plan very well.”
Another potential opportunity awaits on stage 8 between Périgueux and Bergerac. The stage is expected to suit sprinters, although several corners in the final kilometer could make positioning particularly important. For Girmay, a cleaner approach to the finish could provide another opportunity to challenge for a stage win and continue to reduce Pedersen’s lead in the competition for the green jersey.