Merlier wins Tour stage 12 as Pogacar avoids sprint crash

Merlier takes the sprint, Pogacar stays clear

Tim Merlier won the 12th stage of the Tour de France in Chalon-sur-Saone, taking another stage victory on a day shaped as much by the final sprint chaos as by the result itself.

Several riders fell as the race accelerated toward the line on Thursday, turning what should have been a straightforward finish into a reminder of how fragile position and timing can be in the final metres. For Merlier, the outcome reinforces his ability to convert when the race comes down to a high-pressure sprint. For the wider race, the more important GC note is that defending champion Tadej Pogacar avoided the crash.

That distinction matters. A stage win changes the day’s narrative, but a crash involving the overall leader can reshape the entire Tour. Instead, Pogacar kept his significant overall lead, meaning the race exits stage 12 with the yellow jersey situation intact despite the late disruption.

Full details are at the linked Yahoo Entertainment source.