Tadej Pogacar 'really bummed' as friend Fernando Gaviria withdraws from Tour de France after crashing out on Stage 12
Published 16/07/2026 at 21:54 GMT+1
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Race leader Tadej Pogacar has expressed his disappointment after Colombia's Fernando Gaviria dramatically crashed out of the Tour de France on Thursday, a second blow for Caja Rural-Seguros RGA at this year's race. The team had already lost Alex Molenaar last week.
Merlier trebles up with his third stage victory following crash in chaotic finish
Video credit: TNT Sports
Gaviria went down around 400m from the finish of Stage 12, after touching wheels with Bahrain Victorious rider Robert Stannard.
The former yellow jersey holder at the Tour emerged with his left shoulder heavily bandaged, and simply said "C'est la vie" before getting into a team car.
"They were going very fast at that point, and the fall was a very heavy one," Jose Miguel Fernandez, sports director of Caja Rural-Seguros RGA, told Cyclingnews.
"It's a real pity, if anyone really made us dream of doing something big in this Tour, it was him, and apart from the results in a sprint, he was a key rider for bringing the team together here in the Tour.
"He seems to be okay, his head's all right, but he's got a lot of cuts and bruises. The big thing, though, was his collarbone.
"We're all motivated, determined to be up there, and for the sprints we'll be looking to [Stefano] Oldani to see what he can do, even if he's not as fast as Fernando, he knows how to sprint as well. Day by day, and we'll see what we can do."
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Highlights: Merlier secures hat-trick of stage victories following crash-marred finish
Video credit: TNT Sports
For his part, the team's leadout man Oldani said: "I could tell Fernando was really not in a good place. He really hit the ground hard and he told me how much his collarbone hurt."
Pogacar voiced his disappointment at his friend Gaviria crashing out.
”My pick for today was Fernando," UAE Team Emirates-XRG leader Pogacar said. "He was riding really strong, so I was really happy to see him doing so well.
"That’s why I was really bummed when I saw him lying on the ground. Hopefully everyone involved in the crash is okay."
Belgium's Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) was first across the line to win Stage 12. Crucially, he avoided being caught up in the crash involving Gaviria.
Merlier had previously won Stage 6 and Stage 7, making this a golden summer for him in the iconic race, which will continue throughout this weekend on TNT Sports and HBO Max.
"Today I was really focused on the guys who were boxed in yesterday," Merlier said. "I found some space and I launched. I knew it was the kind of finish that suits me.”
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Pogacar remains comfortably in front overall, three minutes and 36 seconds ahead of Jonas Vingegaard.
Pogacar is aiming for his fifth win in the race, following successes in 2020, 2021, 2024 and 2025.
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