Tim Merlier wins crash-marred Stage 12 of the Tour de France, Tadej Pogacar retains overall lead

Key Points:

• Belgian cyclist Tim Merlier secured his third stage win of the 2024 Tour de France on Stage 12, marking the sixth stage victory of his career, with Dutch rider Olav Kooij finishing second and fellow Belgian Jasper Philipsen third.
• A crash occurred near the finish line involving Colombian Fernando Gaviria and Norwegian Soeren Waerenskjold, along with four other riders; none sustained serious injuries, though Gaviria suffered a bloodied knee and a hurt arm.
• Defending champion Tadej Pogacar maintained his overall lead, staying 3 minutes and 36 seconds ahead of second-place Jonas Vingegaard after 12 stages, with Remco Evenepoel in third place.
• Stage 12 was a mostly flat 179-kilometer route, with early breakaway efforts neutralized by the peloton, leading to a tense sprint finish as teams positioned their sprinters, though Jasper Philipsen is still seeking his first win of the race.
• The 13th stage, scheduled for Friday, is the longest of the Tour at 206 kilometers and includes a challenging Category 1 climb near the end, with the race concluding in Paris on July 26.