2011 Tour de France, Stage 12 to Stage 21#Stage 12

( 35.0 km / h )

The 12th stage of the Tour de France 2011 on July 14, the French national holiday, led about 211 km from Cugnaux to Luz Ardiden. On the first high mountain stage and summit finish of this discharge there was a sprint, and two climbs of the Hors Category and Category 1. The pass La Hourquette d' Ancizan (1538 m ) was first crossed for the first time in Tour history. After the Col du Tourmalet ( 2115 m) was on the agenda: Go to 77th and as the highest point of this year's Tour in the Pyrenees. The winner of the mountains classification at the pass received the special prize souvenir Jacques Goddet. There were still 176 of the 198 registered riders at the start.

Race course

Shortly after the start initiated Laurent Mangel an escape attempt, the Rubén Pérez, José Ivan Gutierrez, Blel Kadri, Geraint Thomas and Jeremy Roy followed. The Team Europcar First Thomas Voeckler was the total grant it, and then the lead increased to up to nine minutes. The initiator of the attack prevailed also in the intermediate sprint against Roy. Again Mark Cavendish happened first in the field sprint, this time followed by Mark Renshaw. Now the pace of the still guided by the Team Europcar field was strengthened and increased the BMC Racing Team. The projection of the group, which was led by Thomas on the first mountain, fell again, with Gutierrez could not follow the pace and fell back. Meanwhile sat from Johnny Hoogerland from the field, followed first by Sylvain Chavanel, and later by Roman Kreuziger. After a while Hoogerland fell but back again. At the Mountains classification was again lack of the maximum number of points claimed for himself and won.

In the descent Thomas had little trouble twice, so he lost the connection to the top. In the field Thomas Voeckler, Peter and Andreas Klöden Velits also fell to the ground, with Klöden injured. At the top of the field is now the Leopard Trek team sat. 50 km from the finish closed the relapsed Gutiérrez and Thomas back to the top on, Hoogerland, however, was again captured by the field. In the ascent to the Col du Tourmalet Kreuziger tried to catch up to the top. In the field once again led the field at Europcar briefly before Leopard Trek took over again. The intensification of the rate fell even Robert Gesink and Tony Martin to the victim. At the top, meanwhile, drove Pérez, Thomas and Roy alone before Thomas briefly alone, ran but was later caught up with Roy again. Behind them also Chavanel was again obtained from the field. Roy was first to the summit of the Tourmalet, followed by Thomas and Kadri. Laurens ten Dam secured first of the reduced field with sixth place the last point in between were just Pérez and Kreuziger.

On the descent Kreuziger was obtained from deficiency and Ten Dam, while Samuel Sanchez attacked together with Jelle Vanendert, also Philippe Gilbert sat easily with some companions from. Short term Klöden was again connected to the box that was headed for a time by Jens Voigt and Kreuziger caught shortly afterwards. The field in which still Voeckler was and was accompanied by Pierre Rolland, reduced steadily. In the attack of Dries Devenyns there was no reaction. Meanwhile, Sanchez and Vanendert had reached the top, where they were able to shake off both Thomas and Roy. The group around the yellow jersey in which there were frequent leadership changes, brought by one all outliers one up on Sanchez and Vanendert again, recently, Roy and Thomas, who was honored as kämpferischter driver.

Among the favorites for the overall title first attacked Andy Schleck, but Contador could not depend. Cadel Evans also attacked unsuccessfully. Then Fränk Schleck tried it three times. The third time he managed to get away when he noticed that one let go of him. He fought his way up to almost the top two zoom, but it reached no more. Sánchez won the stage ahead of Fränk Schleck and Vanendert, which he also secured the mountain jersey. Behind them, the other favorites now came into their own when Ivan Basso attacked. Also Evans and Andy Schleck went with and were able to settle some of Contador and drive out so 13 seconds on him, nor was Damiano Cunego to finish ahead of the. Voeckler lost a little more time, came along with Pierre Rolland to the finish and was able to defend his yellow jersey ninth of the stage.

Climbs

La Hourquette d' Ancizan, category 1 ( 141.5 km; 1538 m; 9.9 km at 7.5 %)

Col du Tourmalet, Hors Catégorie ( 175.5 km; 2115 m; 17.1 km at 7.3 %)

Luz Ardiden, Hors Catégorie ( 211 kilometers, 1715 meters, 13.4 km at 7.4 %)

Scoring

Intermediate sprint in Sarrancolin ( 119 km, 631 m)

Target in Luz Ardiden ( 211 kilometers; 1715 m)

Tasks

781296