2010 Tour de France, Stage 11 to Stage 20#Stage 12

The 12th stage of the Tour de France 2010 on July 16, led over 210.5 km from Bourg -de- Péage to Mende. In this mountainous stage, there were two intermediate sprints and five mountain stages, two of the second category and three of the third category. After the exclusion of Mark Renshaw and the task of Samuel Dumoulin 177 of the 198 registered participants were at the start.

Race course

After almost seven kilometers of driving through the neutral zone, the real start was reached at 12:05 clock. Fabian Wegmann tried at the beginning to settle, however, was not omitted from the field. The same thing happened Lars Boom by five kilometers. Due to the fast pace of the field also failed more breakaways. The field thus tore in two parts at the second part there were, among others, Lance Armstrong and Andreas Klöden. In the first group were still about 20 riders, including Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck.

Ryder Hesjedal, Pierrick Fedrigo and Rui Costa were allowed to settle later from the field. They were followed by two other riders, but were recaptured. In the field there was a fall, were involved in the inter alia Geraint Thomas and Jerome Pineau. Fedrigo drove first on the first mountain stage, the field took a clean Taaramäe to the last point. After the mountains classification after Hesjedal the other two drivers were caught again when the team RadioShack made the pace of work, while Armstong and Klöden there were again at the forefront of the field. After 42 kilometers, a new triad of Sylvain Chavanel, Benoît Vaugrenard Damiano Cunego and that has already been set back some kilometers later formed. Sandy Casar was able to before the second mountain stage and do not settle. Then broke up just before the mountain classification, a 18-strong group from the field, Anthony Charteau drove this was the first over the top. Due to the high pace over 49 kilometers were covered in the first hour of the race.

The breakaway group, in which Alexander Vinokourov and Andreas Klöden were, among others, could now continue to settle and could pull a gap of over two minutes. At the first sprint was able to prevail against Thor Hushovd also located in the group Petacchi's teammate Grega Bole. Sandy Casar won the third mountain stage before Charteau. The Team Saxo Bank and Lampre made in the field now the work and reduced the projection of the breakaway group from time to time again to under two minutes. Charteau crossed the fourth mountain stage first and fought his way back and the mountain jersey of Pineau. He also picked up the sprint for Hushovd at the second sprint standings, this therefore could win before Bole. This Hushovd won back the green jersey, as there would be no Sprinter arrival at this stage because of a steep hill before the finish. As Christophe Kern Hushovd could be then fall back into the field. At the top Vinokourov now increased the pace, it formed a triad with Vasil Kiryjenka and Ryder Hesjedal, followed by Andreas Klöden, who was able to join the group. This group was able to extend their lead over the field briefly to about four minutes, then he shrank back, as several teams made up the pace. Meanwhile, Tyler Farrar left the tour. The now twelve-man chase group was found a short time later.

After the group of four at the top first reached the ascent to the final mountain stage in Mende, followed just a minute later, already the field. There Cunego tried to settle, but could not. John Gadret was the next attacker, who was also caught up. In the top group initially could not follow Hesjedal and then Kloden. Meanwhile, Armstrong dropped out of the field. Vinokourov broke away at the top of Kiryjenka. In the field attacked Joaquim Rodríguez, followed by Jurgen Van Den Broeck. Then Alberto Contador attacked, the Andy Schleck could not follow. Contador was able to overtake with Rodríguez Vinokourov after he had already left Kloden and Kiryjenka behind. Contador crossed the mountains classification first. His companion Rodríguez won the final sprint and secured the victory. Andy Schleck lost ten seconds on his toughest competitors for the Tour victory.

Sprints

Second intermediate sprint in Langogne ( 158.5 km ) ( 906 m)

Target in Mende ( 210.5 km ) (1050 m)

Climbs

Côte de Saint- Barthélemy- le -Plain, Category 3 ( 31 kilometers; 489 m; 10.7 km à 3,1 %)

Col de Nonières, Category 3 ( 59 kilometers; 671 m; 5.7 km à 3,8 %)

Suc de Montivernoux, Category 2 ( 96 km; 1315 m; 13.7 km à 4,4 %)

Côte de la Mouline, Category 3 ( 133 km, 1085 m, 3.9 km à 5%)

Côte de la Croix- Neuve ( Montée Laurent Jalabert ), Category 2 ( 208.5 km; 1047 m; 3.1 km à 10.1%)

Tasks

053 - Tyler Farrar (Garmin -Transitions): task during the stage
173 - Samuel Dumoulin ( Cofidis Équipe ): Not competing in the National Stage

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