Animal cell cycle-en — Kelvinsong, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
STAGE RESULT
Merlier Completes Hat-Trick of Sprint Victories with Stage 12 Win in Chalon-sur-Saône
Tim Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep) secured his third stage victory at the 2026 Tour de France with a clinical sprint win in Chalon-sur-Saône on July 16. The Belgian edged out Olav Kooij (Decathlon CMA CGM) and Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech) in the stage 12 finish to complete a hat-trick of victories in this year’s race. Merlier found space in the final metres before launching his winning effort, crossing the line comfortably ahead of the chasing pair. Tadej Pogacar retained the yellow and polka-dot jerseys, and Juan Ayuso held the white jersey, with no changes to the General Classification.
INJURY
Gaviria and Berckmoes Abandon Tour de France After Broken Collarbones in Stage 12 Sprint Crash
A high-speed, domino-effect crash in the final 400 metres of stage 12 at the 2026 Tour de France has forced two riders to abandon the race. Fernando Gaviria (Caja Rural) and Jenno Berckmoes (Lotto-Intermaré) both fractured their collarbones in the sprint incident in Chalon-sur-Saône on July 16 and confirmed their withdrawals on Friday. Berckmoes will undergo surgery in Belgium. A third rider, Dorian Godon, sustained skin abrasions and muscular back pain. The crash occurred outside the 5-kilometre safe zone protecting General Classification riders and developed from a high-speed domino sequence involving multiple riders.
WORLD TOUR
Caja Rural’s Tour de France Debut Derailed as Crashes Leave Wildcard Team with Six Riders
Spanish wildcard team Caja Rural-Seguros RGA, making their long-awaited Tour de France debut, have been reduced to six riders after a brutal run of crashes. Alex Molenaar claimed the polka-dot jersey on stage 2 before crashing into a hay bale in the chaotic final kilometres of stage 5, fracturing a metacarpal in his right hand and abandoning the following morning. Sprinter Fernando Gaviria then broke his collarbone in the mass pileup in the final 400 metres of stage 12 in Chalon-sur-Saône on July 16. Sports directors confirmed the team must now “change our chip” and look at their other options including the climbers available to them.
GRAND TOUR
Pogacar Leads by 3:36 with Vingegaard and Evenepoel Locked in Battle for Second Place
Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) holds a commanding 3:36 lead over Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) in the General Classification after stage 12 of the 2026 Tour de France, with Cyclingnews describing the Slovenian’s performance as tension-draining dominance. Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) stands third at 4:06, Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek) fourth at 4:22, and Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM) fifth at 4:35. Vingegaard lost 54 seconds to Pogacar on the Bastille Day stage 10 alone and now leads Evenepoel by only 30 seconds, with two summit finishes this weekend set to reshape the podium battle. Pogacar has indicated he plans an easier day on Friday before the climbing stages.
STANDINGS
Mads Pedersen’s Green Jersey Lead All But Assured with One Sprint Stage Remaining
Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) leads the Tour de France green points jersey competition with 317 points after stage 12, with analysis from Cyclingnews describing the classification as his to lose. Biniam Girmay (NSN) stands second with 272 points, Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech) third with 255 points, and Tim Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep) fourth with 223 points after his stage 12 hat-trick. Pedersen’s lead over Girmay dropped from 54 to 45 points after Thursday’s sprint stage, but Girmay’s difficulties in the finish turned the outcome into a net success for the Lidl-Trek rider. With one sprint stage remaining in this year’s race, the green jersey appears firmly within Pedersen’s grasp.
ANALYSIS
After Sprint Hat-Trick, Merlier Sets Sights on Survival as Tour Turns to Mountains
After completing a hat-trick of sprint victories at the 2026 Tour de France, Tim Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep) has turned his attention to simply surviving the race’s upcoming mountain terrain. The Belgian spoke on July 17 ahead of stage 13, a hilly 205-kilometre ride from Dole to Belfort featuring the Ballon d’Alsace — an 8.9-kilometre climb averaging 6.9 per cent. Asked about his prospects on the day’s key ascent, Merlier said his goal was to “try to survive, maybe.” The comment signals a change of approach following three sprint wins in this year’s race, with Cycling Weekly reporting Merlier is changing tack ahead of the race’s tougher terrain.
ANALYSIS
Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe: “Right Now the Fight Is for the Podium” as Evenepoel Eyes Vingegaard
Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe have acknowledged that Tadej Pogacar is “operating in another league” at the 2026 Tour de France, but said the fight for the overall podium has become “much more open” as the race enters its decisive mountain weekend. The team carries dual leaders in Remco Evenepoel, third at 4:06, and Florian Lipowitz, sixth at 4:44. A sports director told Cyclingnews: “Right now the fight is for the podium.” Evenepoel trails Jonas Vingegaard by just 30 seconds for second place. The team noted their two leaders are very different kinds of riders, giving them options and the ability to complement each other on the upcoming climbs.
Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey NHL alumni jerseys in the lower concourse of the Kohl Center IMG 8420 — SecretName101, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
NHL
NHL Releases Expanded 84-Game Schedule for 2026-27 Season, Opening Night Set for September 29
The NHL released its full 2026-27 regular-season schedule on Thursday, July 16, with the campaign expanded to 84 games — the first 84-game slate since 1993-94. The season opens September 29 with five games, led by the Carolina Hurricanes hosting the Florida Panthers for the Hurricanes’ Stanley Cup banner-raising at Lenovo Center in Raleigh. Three other nationally televised matchups round out opening night: Toronto–Montreal on Sportsnet, Rangers–Bruins on ESPN, and Edmonton–Vancouver on Sportsnet. The 32-team schedule includes more divisional games under the new collective bargaining agreement, with the regular season running through April 10.
NHLANALYSIS
Steve Yzerman Steps Down as Detroit Red Wings GM After Seven Seasons, Team Begins Search for Successor
Steve Yzerman stepped down as Detroit Red Wings general manager on July 15, 2026, ending a seven-year tenure that did not return the franchise to playoff contention. The Red Wings announced the Hall of Fame player will transition to a senior adviser role reporting to governor and CEO Chris Ilitch, while the organization begins a search for a new head of hockey operations. Yzerman returned to Detroit in 2019 as GM. The team’s postseason absence now stands at 10 consecutive seasons — the longest active playoff drought in the NHL.
TRANSACTIONS
Flyers Lock Up Trevor Zegras on Four-Year, $36.5 Million Extension, Avoiding Arbitration
The Philadelphia Flyers signed restricted free agent forward Trevor Zegras to a four-year, $36.5 million contract extension on July 15, with an average annual value of $9.125 million. The deal keeps the 25-year-old under contract through the 2029-30 season and avoids salary arbitration. Zegras posted career highs of 26 goals and 67 points in his first season with Philadelphia after being acquired from the Anaheim Ducks in June 2025. According to reporting, the Flyers’ offer sheet for Anaheim’s Leo Carlsson earlier this month reset the restricted free agent market and gave Zegras’s camp significant leverage in negotiations.
TRADETRANSACTIONS
Blues Sign Connor McMichael to Six-Year, $40.5 Million Extension After Kyrou Trade
The St. Louis Blues locked up restricted free agent center Connor McMichael to a six-year, $40.5 million contract extension on July 16, 2026, with an annual average value of $6.75 million, avoiding salary arbitration. McMichael, 25, arrived in St. Louis this summer from the Washington Capitals in a trade that sent high-scoring winger Jordan Kyrou to Washington; the Capitals also included prospect Milton Gastrin and a 2026 first-round draft pick in the deal. McMichael posted 46 points (14 goals, 32 assists) across 78 games for Washington during the 2025-26 season. Seven arbitration-eligible players remain unsigned ahead of hearings beginning July 20.
ROSTER
Jets Sign Cole Perfetti to Five-Year, $30 Million Deal, Avoiding Salary Arbitration
The Winnipeg Jets signed restricted free agent forward Cole Perfetti to a five-year, $30 million contract extension on July 15, 2026, at an annual average value of $6 million per season. The deal allows both sides to avoid salary arbitration. Perfetti, 24, was selected by Winnipeg 10th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft and recorded 32 points (12 goals, 20 assists) in 68 games during the 2025-26 season. The signing came as several restricted free agents around the league settled contracts ahead of NHL salary arbitration hearings, which are scheduled to begin July 20 and run through August 1.
TRANSACTIONS
Canadiens Re-Sign Kirby Dach to One-Year, $3.6 Million Deal, Avoiding Arbitration
The Montreal Canadiens re-signed restricted free agent forward Kirby Dach to a one-year, $3.6 million contract on July 16, 2026, allowing both sides to avoid salary arbitration. Dach, 25, posted eight goals and 15 points in 37 games last season for Montreal before missing 31 games with a fractured foot. A salary arbitration hearing had been scheduled for July 30, but that proceeding was rendered unnecessary by the agreement. The one-way nature of the new contract was a key element in negotiations. Dach will be eligible for unrestricted free agency next summer.
2014 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix (13712612095) — Habeed Hameed, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
CHAMPIONSHIP
Antonelli’s 25-Point Championship Lead Under Pressure as Belgian GP Weekend Opens
Kimi Antonelli arrives at Spa-Francorchamps with a 25-point lead in the Drivers’ Championship over Mercedes team-mate George Russell, with Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton a further seven points back in third. The Italian teenager’s advantage has shrunk by 41 points over the previous three rounds, a slide that includes mechanical failure at Silverstone and a succession of costly errors. Despite those setbacks, Antonelli has demonstrated the fastest race pace on the grid across those rounds. Russell and Hamilton enter the Belgian Grand Prix viewing the pre-summer break double-header as their best opportunity to close the gap before racing stops.
GRID NEWS
Norris to Start Belgian Grand Prix 10 Places Back After McLaren Power Unit Change
Lando Norris will serve a 10-place grid penalty at the Belgian Grand Prix after McLaren fitted a fourth power electronics unit — one beyond the three permitted per season. The reigning world champion exhausted his allocation with reliability issues in China and Japan during the opening rounds. McLaren selected Spa over the subsequent Hungarian and Dutch rounds because the Ardennes circuit’s long straights and multiple overtaking zones give Norris the best chance of recovering positions from a rear-grid start. The fourth electronics unit will be used for the remainder of 2026 to avoid incurring additional penalties at future events.
TECHNICALSAFETY
Red Bull Abandons ‘Macarena’ Rear Wing at Spa After Two Consecutive Verstappen Crashes
Red Bull have reverted to a conventional DRS rear wing at the Belgian Grand Prix, abandoning their so-called ‘macarena’ design after it contributed to Max Verstappen crashing out of two consecutive race weekends. Team principal Laurent Mekies confirmed the change after Verstappen suffered a rear wing failure at the British Grand Prix, his second incident in as many rounds. Verstappen publicly declared himself “fed up” with the car after Silverstone, and the wing’s high-speed opening action had come under safety scrutiny. Red Bull enters Belgium with a more conventional aerodynamic configuration than originally planned for the Spa weekend.
DRIVER MARKET
Verstappen’s Red Bull Exit Clause Now Active as Manager Insists Champion Wants to Stay
Max Verstappen can activate an exit clause in his Red Bull contract after finishing the British Grand Prix last, making it mathematically impossible to be inside the top two in the championship at the summer break — a trigger condition of the clause. The four-time champion sits seventh, 103 points behind leader Kimi Antonelli. His manager Raymond Vermeulen issued a statement saying Verstappen wishes to complete his contract through 2028 and that the clause’s existence does not guarantee activation. Verstappen declined to address his future at the Belgian Grand Prix Thursday media day, telling reporters he had nothing to say.
TECHNICAL
McLaren Brings New Rear Wing and Updated Mercedes Engine to Belgian Grand Prix
McLaren will run a new rear wing and the latest Mercedes power unit specification at the Belgian Grand Prix, with both drivers receiving the engine upgrade simultaneously — two races after the works Mercedes team. Technical director Neil Houldey cautioned that Belgium’s circuit characteristics limit expectations for the package, saying the team is “not expecting any big change” in competitiveness at Spa following a difficult British Grand Prix in terms of raw pace. A more significant aerodynamic upgrade is planned for the Hungarian Grand Prix next week, which McLaren has confirmed will constitute a significant package before the summer break.
DRIVER MARKET
Piastri Confirms McLaren 2027 Drive, Firmly Closing Door on Verstappen Speculation
Oscar Piastri confirmed he will race for McLaren in 2027, delivering a one-word “Yes” when asked directly at the Belgian Grand Prix media day. The response defused weeks of speculation linking Max Verstappen to a potential seat swap. Piastri said CEO Zak Brown and principal Andrea Stella had been “great” and “very reassuring” through the transfer rumours. The Australian’s existing contract with McLaren runs until at least 2028. Verstappen’s camp has separately held talks with McLaren, though those conversations concern a potential 2027 drive rather than an exchange involving Piastri.
TECHNICAL
Aston Martin Saves Major AMR26 Upgrade for Hungary as Honda Engine Follows at Dutch GP
Aston Martin will not bring its anticipated AMR26 chassis upgrade to Spa-Francorchamps, instead debuting the reworked car at the Hungarian Grand Prix next week. The team is working flat out on the Hungary package while managing a limited supply of spare parts. Honda’s updated power unit will arrive at the Dutch Grand Prix after the summer break, with Honda trackside chief Orihara confirming two more races remain before the engine upgrade. Designer Adrian Newey described the AMR26 rework as a large structural change. Without a stronger engine, the team expects Spa’s high-speed straights to prove difficult.
TECHNICAL
Vowles Launches Williams Development Review After Upgrade Rate Fails to Move Car Forward
Williams principal James Vowles has ordered a two-week development review after conceding the car’s upgrade rate is failing to move it forward. Speaking on his podcast ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix, Vowles said performance gains are arriving at a rate “not at the rate required” to improve the team’s position. Williams has scored only 11 constructor points through nine races, compared with 54 at the same stage last season. A front wing introduced at the British Grand Prix failed to produce the expected performance gains. The review will define the team’s technical direction for Spa, Budapest, and the remainder of 2026.
GRID NEWS
Red Bull’s Hadjar to Start Belgian GP from Back of Grid After Power Unit Change
Isack Hadjar will start the Belgian Grand Prix from the back of the grid after Red Bull opted to take a full power unit change at Spa-Francorchamps. The French driver, eighth in the Drivers’ Championship with 52 points, expects to line up 22nd. Red Bull chose Belgium for the strategic penalty because the circuit’s long straights and multiple overtaking zones give Hadjar the best opportunity for a recovery drive to the points. The decision mirrors McLaren’s reasoning for Norris’s electronics penalty at the same event, leaving two top-ten championship contenders at the rear of the Belgian GP grid.
DRIVER MARKET
Perez Reveals Horner Told Him ‘Everything Goes to Max’ Before Red Bull Signing
Sergio Perez revealed at the Belgian Grand Prix that Christian Horner told him before joining Red Bull that the team operated entirely around Verstappen. “Everything goes to Max, around Max. We want to win the championship,” Perez quoted Horner as saying at their first meeting. Now driving for Cadillac in his F1 return after a year away, Perez described the final six months at Red Bull as “toxic” and mentally damaging. His comeback to F1 was motivated by a desire to prove he remains among the sport’s best drivers. Cadillac enters Belgium still seeking its first championship point after nine races.
Drivers' Championship
- 1. Kimi Antonelli — 179 pts
- 2. George Russell — 154 pts
- 3. Lewis Hamilton — 147 pts
- 4. Charles Leclerc — 108 pts
- 5. Lando Norris — 97 pts
- 6. Oscar Piastri — 82 pts
Constructors' Championship
- 1. Mercedes — 333 pts
- 2. Ferrari — 255 pts
- 3. McLaren — 179 pts
- 4. Red Bull — 128 pts
- 5. Alpine — 60 pts
- 6. Racing Bulls — 59 pts