TdF stage 12: Hat-trick for Merlier & relegations… or not

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Tim Merlier claimed the hat-trek for his third victory after an aggressive finale in Charon-sur-Saone. In the last kilometer a crash involving Fernando Gaviria shook the flow of the sprint. Jasper Philipsen was well positioned, but Merlier came from further back and carried the speed through the final metres. The Belgian powered past Olav Kooij and Philipsen to take the stage, with Girmay fourth and Milan Fretin completing the top five. 

Meanwhile, Mads Pedersen retains the green jersey, with a 40-point lead over Biniam Girmay, despite a controversial decision by the officials after the intermediate sprint. 

For the second time in 24 hours, the commissaries appeared to be on the brink of penalizing Pedersen for moving off his line during the intermediate sprint, before changing their minds, leaving the green jersey wearer to claim 20 points. 

Following on from the quickly revoked decision to relegate Jasper Philipsen for movement in the bunch sprint at the end of stage 11, has left me scratching my head. 

Confirmation by La Caja Rural-Seguros RGA: A fracture collarbone for Fernando Gaviria. 

The Colombian sprinter (31-years-old) is leaving the Tour de France, becoming the second rider on his team to withdraw after Alex Molenaar.