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.
Another sprint on the cards? After Soren Wærenskjold (Uno-X Mobility) powered to a spectacular success in Nevers, the peloton roll from the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours motor racing track and head to Chalon-sur-Saône. The route is a bit hillier than on Wednesday, with three cat. 4 ascent and a total elevation gain of 1,800 metres across 179.1 km of racing.
Veistroffer alone…
Although they haven’t been successful so far, attackers have brought in fierce battles in flat stages, and they’re intent on trying their luck en route to Chalon-sur-Saône. Dutch sprinter Dylan Groenewegen is the last winner here (2019) but the city also has a history of favouring attackers, starting with Brian Robinson, the first British Tour stage winner and the winner of the first stage that finished in Chalon-sur-Saône (1959).
Mauro Schmid (Jayco AlUla) sets off as soon as the flag drops. He's 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 opens a gap at km 27. The French baroudeur is 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).
Some support for Veistroffer…
Sprinters’ teams rapidly set the pace at the front of the bunch. The graphite a maximum of 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 decreases and counter-attackers are inspired to close the gap to the lonesome leader. Several contenders try. 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 collaborate to control the attackers.
Sprinters fends off late attackers
Veistroffer accelerates 62 kilometres from the finish and only Costiou follows him. The first attacker of the day is alone again as his companion sits up to wait for the bunch as the race enters the final 50 kilometres of the day.
After 15 kilometres alone at the front, Veistroffer’s lead is minimal. Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) puts 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) attacks himself several times on the run-in to Chalon-sur-Saône, but the peloton stay in control.
Alpecin-Premier Tech take the lead into the final kilometre and Mathieu Van der Poel launches 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.
