"I found some space and I needed to calm down and then launch again," said Merlier.
The peloton dealt with technical difficulties in the closing kilometers, forcing riders to adapt without clear instructions from their team directors.
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"We had radio problems," said Merlier. "My radio was broken, and I was busy because the other guys were all coming to me."
GC Battle Intensifies Ahead of Mountain Stages
The upcoming Friday stage features the category one Ballon d'Alsace climb positioned 30 kilometers from the finish line in Belfort, presenting a potential launching pad for the general classification contenders.
"I think Saturday and Sunday will be bigger days," said Pogacar, evaluating the upcoming mountain terrain. "And tomorrow we need to survive."
Defending champion Jonas Vingegaard faces mounting pressure on his podium spot from Remco Evenepoel, Juan Ayuso, and 19-year-old debutant Paul Seixas, who sits just 29 seconds behind third place while Vingegaard's teammate Matteo Jorgenson struggles with illness.
"He's naturally self-confident," said Masson, a friend of Seixas, to the French media. "He doesn't get big-headed.
When things aren't going so well, he stays calm, thinks, and bounces back."
The teenage rider has drawn widespread praise from within the peloton for demonstrating tactical maturity beyond his years during his debut Grand Tour performance.
"He keeps perspective, knows what he wants, how he works best and has a vision for his career," said Paret-Peintre, a Decathlon CMA CGM teammate.
"The first time I really got to know him, I was taken aback, because he talked like a 25-year-old."
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The general classification battle will intensify over the subsequent weekend sections, featuring Saturday's route through the Vosges to Le Markstein and Sunday's summit finish at the Plateau de Solaison.
