'I found some space… and then I launched' – Tim Merlier sprints to win stage 12 of the Tour de France, scoring his hatrick

Tim Merlier wins stage 12 of Tour de France 2026 — (Image credit: Getty Images)

Tim Merlier has won stage 12 of the 2026 Tour de France, the in-form Soudal Quick-Step rider sprinting brilliantly to score his third victory of this year's Tour, as a multi-rider crash in the chasing group caused carnage behind him.

Olav Kooij (Decathlon CMA CGM Team) and Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin - Premier Tech) took second and third respectively on a gloriously chaotic stage, where the racing was as messy and unpredictable as the weather, and carefully laid plans all seemed to be chucked to the wind as multiple riders from various teams launched short-lived attacks.

"Today I was really focussed on the guys who didn't move yesterday, that was there reason I was boxed in," said Merlier during the interview at the end of the stage. "Today I found some space - just a little bit. I had to calm down, and then I launched again. It was the kind of finish that suits me."

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Jenno Berckmoes of Lotto Intermarche is injured after a crash on stage 12 of the 2026 Tour de France — Lotto Intermarche riders were among those caught up in the crash at the end of stage 12

On a rolling stage, with just three category four climbs this was always going to be a day when the sprinters ended up going toe-to-toe, and so it was. But even before the mayhem and mess that ensued when riders got inside the 5km so-called safety zone, the racing was anarchic and exciting, with team tactics seemingly abandoned and all kinds of attacks being launched, none of which managed to escape far from the pack.

Baptiste Veistroffer (Lotto Intermarché) and Ewen Costiou (Groupama - FDJ United) were involved in the longest lasting breakaway, along with Damiano Caruso (Bahrain - Victorious), Ewen Costiou (Groupama - FDJ United), Mattéo Vercher (TotalEnergies), but the peloton was constantly breathing down their neck, keeping the elastic tight and not letting them get more than a minute away.

They were caught at the bottom of the Category four climb of Côte de Montagny-lès-Buxy (2.5km à 3.9%), with 24km to go, after which point Lidl - Trek made several attacks, with Mattias Skjelmose, Derek Gee-West and Toms Skujiņš pulling hard. Quinn Simmons led the pack over the top of the hill, high-fiving his US-flag-waving father at summit.

All the main sprinters were in the peloton as it thundered down the hill at 74 km/ph, towards a technical finish, with a big right hand turn followed by a left, and numerous speed bumps, one of which may have been responsible for the crash that caused such damage to so many teams right at the end.

In the final few hundred metres Alpecin - Premier Tech fashioned a fantastic lead-out as they prepared to launch Jasper Philipsen, but Tim Merlier managed to find a gap and get around them for a stunning win in front of his wife and young son.

Mads Pedersen in green jersey at the end of stage 12 — Mads Pedersen remains in the green jersey at the end of stage 12

Tadej Pogačar avoided the mess at the end of the stage and remains in the yellow jersey for a 62nd day at the Tour de France.

Meanwhile, Lidl-Trek's Mads Pedersen retains the green jersey, with a 40-point cushion over Biniam Girmay (NSN), despite a controversial decision by the officials after the intermediate sprint.

For the second time in 24 hours, the commissaires blinked. Officials appeared to be on the brink of penalising Mads Pedersen for moving out of his line during the intermediate sprint, before changing their minds, leaving the green jersey wearer to claim 20 points.

Following on from the quickly revoked decision to relegate Alpecin-Premier Tech's Jasper Philipsen for movement in the bunch sprint at the end of stage 11, yesterday, this almost unprecedented turn of events has left commentators scratching their heads.

Results

Tour de France Stage 12: Circuit Nevers Magny-Cours > Chalon-sur-Saône, 179.1km

1. Tim Merlier (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step, in 3:38:53
2. Olav Kooij (Ned), Decathlon CMA CGM
3. Jasper Philipsen (Bel) Alpecin-Premier Tech
4. Biniam Girmay (Eri), NSN
5. Milan Fretin (Bel), Cofidis
6. Anthony Turgis (Fra), TotalEnergies
7. Max Kanter (Ger) XDS Astana
8. Clément Russo (Fra), Groupama-FDJ United
9. Mads Pedersen (Den) Lidl-Trek
10. Huub Artz (Ned), Lotto Intermarché, all at same time

General classification after stage 12

1. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates-XRG, in 43:04:01
2. Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Visma-Lease a Bike, +3:36
3. Remco Evenepoel (Bel) Redu Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, +4:06
4. Juan Ayuso (Esp) Lidl-Trek, +4:22
5. Paul Seixas (Fra) Decathlon CMA CGM, +4:35
6. Florian Lipowitz (Ger) Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, +4:44
7. Isaac del Toro (Mex) UAE Team Emirates-XRG, +5:08
8. Mattias Skjelmose (Den) Lidl-Trek,+5:45
9. Lenny Martinez (Fra) Bahrain Victorious, +6:34
10. Tom Pidcock (Gbr), Pinarello Q36.5, +11:49

Having recently clipped in as News & Features Writer for Cycling Weekly, Pat has spent decades in the saddle of road, gravel and mountain bikes pursuing interesting stories. En route he has ridden across Australia's Great Dividing Range, pedalled the Pirinexus route around the Catalan Pyrenees, raced through the Norwegian mountains with 17,000 other competitors during the Birkebeinerrittet, fatbiked along the coast of Wales, explored the trails of the Canadian Yukon under the midnight sun and spent umpteen happy hours bikepacking and cycle-touring the lost lanes and hidden bridleways of the Peak District, Exmoor, Dartmoor, North Yorkshire and Scotland. He worked for Lonely Planet for 15 years as a writer and editor, contributed to Epic Rides of the World and has authored several books.