A Tim Merlier sprint secured stage 12 of the 2026 Tour de France, giving Soudal Quick-Step a third victory for its in-form Belgian fast man.
Merlier found room in a frantic finale and came past the Alpecin-Premier Tech lead-out before the line. Behind him, a multi-rider crash tore through the chasing group in the final hundred metres.
Olav Kooij of Decathlon CMA CGM Team finished second, with Jasper Philipsen of Alpecin-Premier Tech third. The result came after a rolling day that always looked suited to the sprinters.
Merlier said after the finish that he had focused on rivals who had not moved the previous day. He said he had been boxed in then, but this time he found “just a little bit” of space. He added that the finish suited him.
Tim Merlier sprint decides a messy finale
The route included only three category-four climbs, but the stage never settled into an easy pattern. Changeable weather and restless tactics made the race difficult to control.
Several teams tried short attacks during the day, though none gained much freedom. The longest-lasting move included Baptiste Veistroffer of Lotto Intermarché, Ewen Costiou of Groupama-FDJ United, Damiano Caruso of Bahrain Victorious, and Mattéo Vercher of TotalEnergies.
The peloton kept that group close throughout. Their advantage never stretched beyond one minute, and the bunch caught them at the foot of the Côte de Montagny-lès-Buxy.
That final classified climb measured 2.5km at 3.9% and came with 24km remaining. After the catch, Lidl-Trek sent several riders forward and raised the pressure.
Mattias Skjelmose, Derek Gee-West and Toms Skujiņš all contributed to the acceleration. Quinn Simmons then led the bunch over the summit and high-fived his US-flag-waving father at the top.
The peloton descended at 74kph toward a technical run-in. The finish included a major right-hand turn, then a left-hander, plus several speed bumps.
One of those speed bumps may have played a role in the late crash. Riders from several teams went down, with Lotto Intermarché among those affected.
All the main sprinters reached the closing kilometres in the main group. Alpecin-Premier Tech then formed a strong lead-out for Philipsen in the final few hundred metres.
Merlier found his route through the closing traffic and launched decisively. He took victory in front of his wife and young son.
Yellow and green jerseys unchanged after stage 12
Tadej Pogačar avoided the late chaos and kept the yellow jersey. The UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider has now worn yellow for a 62nd day at the Tour de France.
Mads Pedersen also retained the green jersey for Lidl-Trek. He holds a 40-point lead over Biniam Girmay of NSN.
Pedersen’s points total remained intact after officials appeared to consider a penalty at the intermediate sprint. The concern centred on whether he moved out of his line.
The commissaires ultimately did not penalise him, and Pedersen kept the 20 points from that sprint. The decision followed another unusual incident one day earlier.
On stage 11, officials had briefly relegated Philipsen for movement in the bunch sprint, then quickly reversed that call. The two decisions left commentators questioning the officiating process.
Stage 12 result
- 1. Tim Merlier (Bel), Soudal Quick-Step, 3:38:53
- 2. Olav Kooij (Ned), Decathlon CMA CGM Team, same time
- 3. Jasper Philipsen (Bel), Alpecin-Premier Tech, same time
- 4. Biniam Girmay (Eri), NSN, same time
- 5. Milan Fretin (Bel), Cofidis, same time
- 6. Anthony Turgis (Fra), TotalEnergies, same time
- 7. Max Kanter (Ger), XDS Astana, same time
- 8. Clément Russo (Fra), Groupama-FDJ United, same time
- 9. Mads Pedersen (Den), Lidl-Trek, same time
- 10. Huub Artz (Ned), Lotto Intermarché, same time
General classification after stage 12
- 1. Tadej Pogačar (Slo), UAE Team Emirates-XRG, 43:04:01
- 2. Jonas Vingegaard (Den), Visma-Lease a Bike, +3:36
- 3. Remco Evenepoel (Bel), Red 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