Thursday, July 16th, 12th stage: Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours > Chalon-sur-Saône – A day starting at the Nevers Magny-Cours motorsports circuit led to fast and furious racing, with a flurry of attacks and a final sprint that crowned the fastest man of the Tour de France 2026: Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step), the winner in Chalon-sur-Saône. Already crowned in Bordeaux and Bergerac, the Belgian sprinter takes his third victory in his third participation in the event, after claiming one in 2021 (in Pontivy) and two in 2025 (Dunkerque, Châteauroux). Baptiste Veistroffer (Lotto Intermarché) animated the day again, and many attackers shook the race in the finale, with Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) himself putting the hammer down. But the sprinters’ teams maintained control and Merlier proved the fastest on the 1.6 km final straight. The Belgian rider narrowly got the better of Olav Kooij (Decathlon CMA CGM) and Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech) before heading back into the mountains on stage 13.
Veistroffer rode solo as sprinters denied late attacks
Although breakaway riders had not found success earlier in the race, attackers again animated the flat stage, hoping to upset the sprinters on the road to Chalon-sur-Saône. Dutch sprinter Dylan Groenewegen was the most recent stage winner in the city in 2019, though Chalon-sur-Saône also had a history of rewarding breakaway specialists, dating back to Brian Robinson’s victory in 1959 as the first British rider to win a Tour de France stage.
Mauro Schmid (Jayco AlUla) attacked immediately after the start, followed by Marco Haller (Tudor), Baptiste Veistroffer (Lotto Intermarché), Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility) and several others. After a succession of attacks and counterattacks, Veistroffer emerged alone at the front at kilometer 27. The French rider entered his third breakaway of his debut Tour de France after earlier escape attempts on Stages 5 and 7.
Veistroffer gained company before attacking again
The sprinters’ teams quickly assumed control at the head of the peloton, allowing Veistroffer’s advantage to grow to no more than two minutes before the intermediate sprint in Decize. Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) won the sprint to strengthen his position in the green jersey competition.
As the pace increased behind, Veistroffer’s lead began to shrink, prompting counterattacks from the peloton. Damiano Caruso (Bahrain Victorious), Ewen Costiou (Groupama-FDJ United) and Matteo Vercher (TotalEnergies) bridged across to the lone leader at kilometer 57.
The quartet remained clear through Luzy, the hometown of Jean-François Bernard, while Soudal Quick-Step, Intermarché-Wanty and Alpecin-Deceuninck shared the workload at the front of the peloton to keep the breakaway within reach.
Peloton reeled in final attacks
Veistroffer attacked again with 62 kilometers remaining, and only Costiou initially matched his acceleration. Costiou soon eased up, however, leaving Veistroffer alone at the front once more as the race entered its final 50 kilometers.
After spending another 15 kilometers solo, Veistroffer’s advantage had nearly disappeared. Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) launched a late attack in an attempt to disrupt the sprinters’ teams, while teammates Mathias Vacek and Derek Gee also increased the pace on the Côte de Montagny-lès-Buxy, the day’s final classified climb. Pedersen made several attacks on the approach to Chalon-sur-Saône, but the peloton remained firmly in control.
Alpecin-Deceuninck led the field into the final kilometer, with Mathieu van der Poel delivering Jasper Philipsen into the sprint. Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step), however, came around his Belgian rival to claim the stage victory, with Olav Kooij (Visma-Lease a Bike) finishing second. Behind the sprint, Fernando Gaviria (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) and Dorian Godon (Ineos Grenadiers) crashed heavily in the closing meters.
Stage 12 Finish Video:
Stage 12 Results:
| 1 | T. MERLIER | SOUDAL QUICK-STEP | 03h 38′ 53” | – | B : 10” | – |
| 2 | O. KOOIJ | DECATHLON CMA CGM TEAM | 03h 38′ 53” | – | B : 6” | – |
| 3 | J. PHILIPSEN | ALPECIN-PREMIER TECH | 03h 38′ 53” | – | B : 4” | – |
| 4 | B. GIRMAY | NSN CYCLING TEAM | 03h 38′ 53” | – | – | – |
| 5 | M. FRETIN | COFIDIS | 03h 38′ 53” | – | – | – |
| 6 | A. TURGIS | TOTALENERGIES | 03h 38′ 53” | – | – | – |
| 7 | M. KANTER | XDS ASTANA TEAM | 03h 38′ 53” | – | – | – |
| 8 | C. RUSSO | GROUPAMA-FDJ UNITED | 03h 38′ 53” | – | – | – |
| 9 | M. PEDERSEN | LIDL-TREK | 03h 38′ 53” | – | – | – |
| 10 | H. ARTZ | LOTTO INTERMARCHE | 03h 38′ 53” | – | – | – |
General Classification after Stage 12:
| 1 | T. POGACAR | UAE TEAM EMIRATES XRG | 43h 04′ 01” | – | B : 36” | – |
| 2 | J. VINGEGAARD | TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE | 43h 07′ 37” | + 00h 03′ 36” | B : 12” | – |
| 3 | R. EVENEPOEL | RED BULL – BORA – HANSGROHE | 43h 08′ 07” | + 00h 04′ 06” | B : 10” | – |
| 4 | J. AYUSO | LIDL-TREK | 43h 08′ 23” | + 00h 04′ 22” | – | – |
| 5 | P. SEIXAS | DECATHLON CMA CGM TEAM | 43h 08′ 36” | + 00h 04′ 35” | B : 4” | – |
| 6 | F. LIPOWITZ | RED BULL – BORA – HANSGROHE | 43h 08′ 45” | + 00h 04′ 44” | – | – |
| 7 | I. DEL TORO | UAE TEAM EMIRATES XRG | 43h 09′ 09” | + 00h 05′ 08” | B : 14” | – |
| 8 | M. SKJELMOSE | LIDL-TREK | 43h 09′ 46” | + 00h 05′ 45” | – | – |
| 9 | L. MARTINEZ | BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS | 43h 10′ 35” | + 00h 06′ 34” | – | – |
| 10 | T. PIDCOCK | PINARELLO-Q36.5 PRO CYCLING TEAM | 43h 15′ 50” | + 00h 11′ 49” | B : 4” | – |
