Results Tour de Hongrie 2026 stage 3 - Tim Merlier takes second win as Fernando Gaviria almost surprises Quick-Step rider

Stage 3 of the Tour de Hongrie suited the sprinters once again, and with an opportunity he could not miss, Tim Merlier stamped his authority over the peloton once again with a second sprint victory within three days.

The stage was marked by the breakaway of Erik Fetter, Michael Vanthourenhout, Victor Vercouillie, Bauke Mollema and Adam Revesz. The stage featured almost no climbs however and several teams interested in fighting for the stage win - Soudal - Quick-Step and UAE Team Emirates - XRG being the main ones - and so the hopes of the front group succeeding were never very high.

The final survivors of the breakaway were caught just outside the last 10 kilometers, with the strong winds also splitting the peloton slightly. The speeds were high and the rain also had a role in the finale.

In the final sprint then Fernando Gaviria launched first, and the Colombian looked to be taking the win. The overtake was made right in the final meters, as Merlier took the front and won the stage. Gaviria and Juan Sebastián Molano were second and third.