Merlier wins sprint finish on stage 12 of Tour

Belgium's Tim Merlier came out on top in a chaotic sprint finish to clinch stage 12 and claim his third win at this year's Tour de France.

Merlier came from behind to beat countryman Jasper Philipsen and was able to avoid being caught up a late crash after Colombia's Fernando Gaviria hit the deck, which brought down several other riders including stage 11 winner Soren Waerenskjold.

Philipsen, who finished third, had looked in a good position going into the final couple of kilometres on a day where many teams had attempted attacks without being able to make any stick.

The stage victory comes after Merlier won stages seven and eight earlier in this year's race taking his overall tally to six.

"Today I was really focused on the guys who were boxed in yesterday," Merlier said. "I found some space and I launched."

He added that winning was "special" given his wife and young son were watching, adding that he is "still young but maybe he's going to remember this one".

Thursday's route from Circuit Nevers Magny-Cours to Chalon-sur-Saone proved to be unpredictable and often frantic, while heavy rain and changing winds disrupted plans in the middle of the race.

Tadej Pogacar remains comfortably in front in contention for the yellow jersey, still ahead of Jonas Vingegaard by 3mins 36secs.

The green jersey remains an unlikely target for Merlier as he is fourth in the rankings. Mads Pedersen's lead was reduced but he is still ahead of Eritrean Biniam Girmay by 40 points.

Thursday's stage represented one of the final clear opportunities for the Tour's sprinters before the race heads back into more demanding terrain.

The next three days include a hilly stage to Belfort followed by two mountain finishes, while Tuesday features an individual time trial will offer no opportunities for the fast riders.

The next potential chance for the sprinters could come in stage 17, but the testing opening of that stage could allow a breakaway to form.

The final stage is also no longer the haven for sprinters which it used to be, so stage 12 may well be the last we have seen from them.

Merlier has made the most of his opportunities and has cemented himself as one of the fastest sprinters at this year's Tour.

He has won three, while Olav Kooij and Waerenskjold have won one each this year.

His success is in sharp contrast with Philipsen and Girmay, who have 13 Tour stage wins between them but are still waiting for their first victories of this year's race