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By Ethan Carter — 17 July 2026 — 4 min read

Tim Merlier of the Soudal Quick-Step team has achieved his third victory in this year’s Tour de France, winning stage 12. This win follows his previous successes in Bordeaux and Bergerac. The final hour of racing was marked by intense activity and numerous attacks, culminating in a sprint finish.

The stage also saw the first sprint pile-up of the 2026 Tour, affecting several riders. Among those involved in the crash were stage 11 winner Søren Wærenskjold and Netcompany Ineos sprinter Dorian Godon. Despite the chaotic scene with riders on the road, Merlier emerged to claim victory ahead of stage five winner Olav Kooij.

Merlier was joined by his young son on the podium, a moment he described as special. He noted that his son might remember the occasion later, providing additional motivation. Merlier reflected on past races, stating, “Yesterday, I was really focused on the guys who were on the move, and that was the reason I was boxed in. So today, I tried to stay in front of them.” He added, “I found some space and I needed to calm down and then launch again.” He also mentioned that the finish suited his style.

Communication issues were a factor for Merlier and other riders, including Tadej Pogacar. Merlier explained, “We had radio problems. My radio was broken, and I was busy because the other guys were all coming to me.”

Sprinters’ final opportunity and general classification

Stage 12 was considered the last significant opportunity for sprinters to secure a win in this Tour, as the final stage in Paris is set to feature a hilly circuit through Montmartre. Sprinters anticipate a challenging period ahead, enduring climbs for the remainder of the Tour.

The upcoming Friday stage will include the Ballon d’Alsace, a first-category climb located just 30km from the finish in Belfort. This mountain pass first appeared in the Tour in 1905. While the 9km climb could provide an opportunity for another attack from Pogacar, the current champion described the stage to Belfort as “weird.” He suggested that Saturday and Sunday would be more significant days, emphasizing the need to “survive” the Friday stage.

The steep ascent of the Ballon d’Alsace is also expected to challenge Jonas Vingegaard, whose position is under increasing pressure from potential rivals. The fatigue from racing and winning May’s Giro d’Italia may be impacting the Danish rider. Remco Evenepoel, Juan Ayuso, and Paul Seixas are all within a minute of the two-time Tour winner, posing a threat to his customary second-place position behind Pogacar.

Vingegaard’s defense is further complicated by the illness affecting his key teammate, Matteo Jorgenson, who has been isolated and travels separately to and from race starts and finishes. Among Vingegaard’s immediate rivals, Paul Seixas has particularly impressed. The predicted decline after the Tour’s opening weekend has not materialized for the debutant. His calm racing style and maturity have been noted by those around him.

Cyprien Masson, a friend of Seixas, commented to the French media, “He’s naturally self-confident. He doesn’t get big-headed. When things aren’t going so well, he stays calm, thinks, and bounces back.” Aurélien Paret-Peintre, a teammate from Decathlon CMA CGM, added, “He keeps perspective, knows what he wants, how he works best and has a vision for his career. The first time I really got to know him, I was taken aback, because he talked like a 25-year-old.”

Upcoming challenges for contenders

The next three days will severely test both Vingegaard’s resilience and that of his competitors. Saturday’s stage will pass through the Vosges to Le Markstein, followed by Sunday’s summit finish at the Plateau de Solaison. Pogacar may have strategic plans for both of these stages.

In the general classification after stage 12, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) remains in the yellow jersey, holding a lead of 3:36 over Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike). Remco Evenepoel (Redu Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) is in third place, 4:06 behind Pogacar. Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek) is in fourth, 4:22 back, and Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM) is in fifth, 4:35 behind the leader. Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) retains the green jersey with a 40-point advantage over Biniam Girmay (NSN), despite a controversial decision by officials regarding an intermediate sprint.

The race continues to be dynamic, with the top 10 general classification standings after stage 12 as follows:

• 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

The next stage will feature the first category Ballon d’Alsace, located 30km from the finish in Belfort.

Source: theguardian.com