Soudal Quick-Step rider Tim Merlier won stage 12 of the Tour de France on Thursday, surviving a chaotic final sprint that saw a major pile-up near the finish line along the Saône River.
The victory marked a hat-trick for the Belgian sprinter, who previously won stages in Bordeaux and Bergerac. Yellow jersey holder Tadej Pogacar safely retained his overall lead.
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A manic final hour featured relentless breakaway attempts before the first major sprint crash of the 2026 Tour brought down several competitors, including stage 11 winner Søren Wærenskjold and Netcompany Ineos rider Dorian Godon.
Merlier avoided the wreckage to defeat stage five winner Olav Kooij and defending green jersey holder Jasper Philipsen of Alpecin-Premier Tech, establishing himself as the premier sprinter of the current tour.
Merlier Adjusts Tactics After Previous Disappointment
"He is still young," said Merlier, speaking of his son who joined him on the podium. "But maybe he will remember it, and can watch it later.
It's extra motivation to win for them. This one is a special one, because they were here today."
The Belgian sprinter altered his tactical approach following a disappointing performance in the previous stage where he found himself blocked by rival riders.
"Yesterday, I was really focused on the guys who were in the move, and that was the reason I was boxed in.
So today, I tried to stay in front of them," said Merlier.
The sprinters faced additional communication hurdles during the fast-paced finale, which is anticipated to be their last opportunity for a flat victory before the race heads into the mountains.
