- Stage 12: Circuit Nevers Magny-Cours - Chalon-sur-Saône
- Date: July 16, 2026
- Distance: 179.1km
- Start time: 13:30 CET
- Finish time: 17:49 CET
The start of the second week of the Tour de France has given sprinters double opportunities. After the previous day's bunch kick to the line won by Søren Wærenskjold on what was the fastest road stage ever at the French Grand Tour, the sprinters will get another chance in Chalon-sur-Saône on Thursday - but this could be the last chance.
Though the final climb, the category 4 Côte de Montagny-lès-Buxy, will probably tempt a few riders to try a late-stage attack, the sprinters’ teams will have 20 kilometres to reel any attackers back in.
Starting from the Magny-Cours motor racing circuit, a former Formula 1 venue, the 179.1km route heads east, crossing the Loire near Decize, 45.8 kilometres in for the intermediate sprint. Next, two category 4 climbs carry the riders towards the former mining town of Montceau-les-Mines, and into the southern Morvan, a northerly extension of the Massif Central.
From there, the Côte de Montagny-lès-Buxy and a sweeping descent through the Chalonnais vineyards set up the finish in Chalon-sur-Saône, where a bunch sprint is anticipated.
Look out for another surprise victory, perhaps even from Wærenskjold, stage 5 winner Olav Kooij (Decathlon CMA CGM Team), stage 7 and stage 8 winner Tim Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep), stage 4 winner Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek), and those who are still searching for that victory: Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Permier Tech), Biniam Girmay (NSN Cycling) and more.
And, of course, the opportunistic riders are not going to just hand the stage to the sprinters. So, also watch for the threat of a breakaway.
Although some of these riders might try again in Paris on stage 21, the addition of the Montmartre circuit will make it much more challenging.
- Points at finish : 70-50-40-35-30-26-24-22-20-18-16-14-12-10-8-6-4-2
Mountains
-
Côte de Lanty (cat. 4, 2km at 4%), km. 76.5
- 1 pt
-
Côte de Cuzy (cat. 4, 2.4km at 4.5%), km. 97.8
- 1 pt
-
Côte de Montagny-les-Buxy (cat. 4, 2.6km at 4.3%), km. 159.4
- 1 pt
Sprints
-
Decize, km. 45.8
- 25-20-16-14-12-10-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 pts
Time limit
Est. Speed |
Est. Winner Time |
Limit % |
Max Time Cut |
|---|---|---|---|
46 km/h |
3:53:37 |
9% |
0:21:01 |
45 km/h |
3:58:48 |
9% |
0:21:30 |
44 km/h |
4:04:14 |
8% |
0:19:32 |
43 km/h |
4:09:54 |
8% |
0:20:00 |
42 km/h |
4:15:51 |
7% |
0:17:55 |
