Tour de France 2026 stage 12 crash highlights German riders and fan focus

On stage 12 of the 2026 Tour de France, a high‑speed crash near Chalon‑sur‑Saône involved more than a dozen riders. Belgian Tim Merlier capitalised on the chaos to claim his third stage win, while Germany’s Max Kanter finished as the top German rider in seventh place. Former German champion Pascal Ackermann described the incident, saying “Ich zittere immer noch”.

The general classification remains unchanged, with Tadej Pogačar keeping a comfortable lead over Jonas Vingegaard. German hopeful Florian Lipowitz sits 4:44 behind the leader in sixth place.

Stage 13 will move into the Vosges, starting in Mulhouse and finishing near Belfort, less than 70 km from the German border. Riders and fans alike are looking forward to the “home‑like” terrain; former pro John Degenkolb said “Ich freue mich auf all die deutschen Fans”. The stage promises several first‑category climbs, including the Ballon d’Alsace, and is expected to shake up the overall standings.