Tim Merlier captured his third victory at the 2026 Tour de France, in Chalon-sur-Saône, where the race returned for the first time in seven years. Victorious already in Bordeaux and Bergerac last week, Soudal Quick-Step’s 33-year-old was once again head and shoulders above his opponents as he powered to another win.
Considering everything that happened in the last 30 kilometers, it was also one of his most impressive victories of the season. Attacks flew left and right as many riders tried to apply pressure on the sprinters and tire them out on the small climbs spicing up the final part of stage 12. One of these moves looked really dangerous at one point, when the gap went up to 20 seconds, but Soudal Quick-Step – who controlled the stage from the start – was again dominant at the head of the peloton, shutting down all these attacks and keeping things together for a bunch sprint – the last one of this Tour de France.
In the chaotic last kilometer of the stage, Jasper Stuyven did a magnificent work when it came to guiding Tim through the peloton and putting him in perfect position with 300 meters to go, from where the Belgian couldn’t miss. As soon as he found a gap, Merlier came around his rivals and delivered a pitch-perfect sprint in a pulsating finale for the tenth Grand Tour stage victory of his career.
“I knew it was the type of finish that really suited me. After yesterday’s disappointment, I was really focused today and remained calm and relaxed the entire time, even when Jasper said he was unsure if he could do the lead-out, because of a flat tire. The tire eventually sealed and the communication between us was better, and in the end I just did my best to finish it off. I’m happy to win three stages in a single Tour de France for the first time in my career.”
Tim’s perfect day at the office was rounded out by going to the podium in Chalon-sur-Saône together with his three-year old son, Jules: “It gave me extra motivation to have my partner and son here today. I think it’s for the third time when he is with me on the podium of a race, after the European Championships and Scheldeprijs, and I hope he will remember this moment over the years.”
Today’s route departed from the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours motor racing track and headed to Chalon-sur-Saône. The route was a bit hillier than Wednesday, with three cat. 4 ascent and a total elevation gain of 1,800 metres across 179.1 km of racing.
Mauro Schmid (Jayco AlUla) set off as soon as the flag dropped, followed by Marco Haller (Tudor), Baptiste Veistroffer (Lotto Intermarché), Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility)… and the rest of the field.
After a series of attacks and counter-attacks, Veistroffer opened a gap at km 27. The French baroudeur was in for a third breakaway in his first Tour de France after he led the way on stages 5 (alone) and 7 (with Jakub Otruba).
Sprinters’ teams rapidly set the pace at the front of the bunch. The max advantage was no more than 2 minutes at km 43, just before the intermediate sprint in Decize (km 45.8). Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) crosses the line in front of his rivals for the green jersey.
Due to the increase of pace in the peloton, the gap decreased and counter-attackers were inspired to close the gap to the lonesome leader. Several contenders tried. Damiano Caruso (Bahrain Victorious), Ewen Costiou (Groupama-FDJ United) and Matteo Vercher (Total Energies) succeed in joining Veistroffer at km 57.
The situation settles en route to Luzy (km 86.4), Jean-François Bernard’s hometown. Tim Merlier’s Soudal Quick-Step, Biniam Girmay’s NSN and Jasper Philipsen’s Alpecin-Premier Tech collaborated to control the attackers.
Veistroffer accelerated 62 kilometres from the finish and only Costiou followed him. The first attacker of the day was alone again as his companion sat up to wait for the bunch as the race entered the final 50 kilometres of the day.
After 15 kilometres alone at the front, Veistroffer’s lead is minimal. Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) put the hammer down to try and disrupt the plans of the pure sprinters’ teams. His teammates Mathias Vacek and Derek Gee-West also up the ante on the final climb of the day, the Côte de Montagny-lès-Buxy (cat. 4, summit at km 159.4). Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) attacked several times on the run-in to Chalon-sur-Saône, but the peloton stayed in control.
Alpecin-Premier Tech took the lead into the final kilometre and Mathieu Van der Poel launched Jasper Philipsen. But the Belgian sprinter is passed by his compatriot Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) as well as Dutch rival Olav Kooij (Decathlon CMA CGM). Behind them, Fernando Gaviria (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) and Dorian Godon (Netcompany Ineos) hit the deck at high speed after a late crash.
2026 Tour de France: Stage 12 Brief Results
- Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) @ 3h 38’53”
- Olav Kooij (Decathlon CMA CGM) s.t.
- Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech) s.t.
2026 Tour de France: General Classification After Stage 12
- Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 43h 4’01”
- Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) @ 3’36”
- Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) @ 4’06”
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