Chalon-sur-Saône: Tim Merlier secures third stage win at Tour de France amidst crash

By Mason Reed — 16 July 2026 — 3 min read

Merlier’s Hat-Trick Amidst Chaotic Sprint

Tim Merlier of the Soudal Quick-Step team secured his third stage victory at the Tour de France, winning stage 12 in Chalon-sur-Saône. This win adds to his previous successes in Bordeaux and Bergerac. The stage, largely flat and covering 179 kilometers from the Magny-Cours track, culminated in a chaotic sprint finish marked by a significant crash.

The final moments of the race saw several riders fall, including Fernando Gaviria, who went down after clipping another cyclist’s wheel. This incident also brought down stage 11 winner Søren Wærenskjold. Despite the pile-up, which left riders scattered across the road, Merlier navigated the chaos to comfortably claim victory ahead of stage five winner Olav Kooij.

Merlier expressed his joy, particularly as his wife and young son were present. He noted that having his family there provided extra motivation, making this win particularly special. He also reflected on past races, stating he had learned from previous mistakes where he was boxed in, and this time focused on staying at the front to find an opening.

Communication issues were also a factor for Merlier, who reported problems with his radio during the race. He mentioned his radio was broken, and he was busy dealing with other riders approaching him. This stage represented a crucial opportunity for sprinters, as it was expected to be one of their last chances for a win before the race heads into more demanding terrain.

Overall Standings and Upcoming Challenges

Defending champion Tadej Pogacar successfully avoided the crash and maintained his overall lead in the general classification. He remains 3 minutes, 36 seconds ahead of Jonas Vingegaard, who holds second place. Remco Evenepoel is in third place, 4 minutes, 6 seconds behind Pogacar. Pogacar had extended his lead after a strong performance in stage 10.

The upcoming stages present significant challenges, particularly for those vying for podium positions. Friday’s stage 13 is the longest of this year’s race at 206 kilometers and features a sharp Category 1 climb, the Ballon d’Alsace, just 30km from the finish in Belfort. This climb, the first mountain pass to feature in the Tour in 1905, is expected to test the riders.

Pogacar described the stage to Belfort as “weird,” suggesting he anticipates bigger challenges on Saturday and Sunday. These include a stage through the Vosges to Le Markstein and a summit finish to the Plateau de Solaison. These demanding stages are likely to further challenge Vingegaard, whose position is under threat from rivals such as Evenepoel, Juan Ayuso, and Paul Seixas, all within a minute of the double Tour winner.

Vingegaard’s defense of his podium spot is complicated by the illness of his key teammate, Matteo Jorgenson, who has been isolated from the team and travels separately. Among Vingegaard’s immediate rivals, 19-year-old Seixas has particularly impressed. Despite predictions of a decline after the opening weekend, Seixas is just 29 seconds behind third-placed Evenepoel as the Tour approaches the end of week two.

Seixas’s calm racing style and maturity have been noted by those around him. His friend, Cyprien Masson, mentioned that Seixas is naturally self-confident and remains calm when facing difficulties. His teammate, Aurélien Paret-Peintre, added that Seixas has a clear vision for his career and works effectively. The final stage of the Tour will conclude with its traditional finish in Paris on July 26.

Source: theguardian.com

Mason Reed

Sports reporter covering football, basketball and international competitions.