Szekszard (Hungary) - friday 15 may 2026 - Tim Merlier captured his fourth win of the season in Szekszard, where stage three of the Tour de Hongrie concluded after some hectic final 20 kilometers, marked by crosswinds that for the second day in a row fragmented the peloton. Soudal Quick-Step was on the right side of the split, keeping its sprinter well positioned at all times going into the closing kilometers. Just ahead of the flamme rouge, Yves Lampaert tried to surprise the bunch by launching a strong solo attack, but the others came back with just 500 meters to go, and for the second time in three days, the race concluded in a mass gallop.Despite the heavy rain and slippery roads, Merlier powered to another victory - his 70th in the pro ranks - after launching the sprint with 150 meters to go coming off the wheel of Fernando Gaviria (Caja Rural). It was a success that helped the 33-year-old regain the yellow jersey, but also increase his margin in the points classification with two stages to go.
“Hats off to my team, who did a great job to bring back the breakaway and then to control the race in the final part. It was cold, but also nervous in the end, due to the echelons. I didn’t know how I would react after such a day, but luckily, I had the legs to pass Fernando in the last meters. I’m happy with my second victory here and with having again the yellow jersey. It’s been a great week so far for us and we hope to do something nice also in the weekend”, Tim said after delivering Soudal Quick-Step’s tenth win of the season.

RESULTS Stage 3
1° Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step)
km 152.300 in 3h16'03" media 46.611 km/h
2° Fernando Gaviria (Caja Rural Seguros Rga)
3° Juan Sebastián Molano (Uae Team Emirates Xrg)
4° Max Kanter (Xds Astana Team)
5° Lorenzo De Longhi (Campana Imballagi Morbiato Trentino)
6° Oliver Ben (Modern Adventure Pro Cycling
7° Simone Buda (Solme Olmo Arvedi)
8° Alexis Renard (Cofidis)
9° Itamar Einhorn (Nsn Cycling Team)
10° Davide Persico (Mbh Bank Csb Telecom For)

 

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
1° Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick Step)
2° Benoît Cosnefroy (Uae Team Emirates Xrg) a 4″
3° Juan Sebastián Molano (Uae Team Emirates Xrg) a 10″
4° Victor Vercouillie (Team Flanders Baloise) a 13″
5° Fernando Gaviria (Caja Rural Seguros Rga) a 14″
6° Alexis Renard (Cofidis)
7° Mathias Sunekær Norsgaard (Lidl Trek)
8° Kay De Bruyckere (Pauwels Sauzen Altez Industriebouw Cycling Team) a 15″
9° Max Kanter (Xds Astana Team) a 16″
10° Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen Altez Industriebouw Cycling Team) a 18″