2012 Tour de France, Stage 11 to Stage 20#Stage 16

(35,3 km / h)

Thomas Voeckler (EUC )

The 16th stage of the 2012 Tour de France was held on 18 July 2012 and led from Pau to Bagneres- de -Luchon. She was the second stage in the Pyrenees. With a length of 197 kilometers, there were two climbs of two Hors Category and Category 1. The winner of the mountains classification at the Col du Tourmalet received the special prize souvenir Jacques Goddet.

Route

From the north of the Pyrenees located Pau ( 161 m ) led the first stage in a southerly direction into the mountains and then went east to Bagneres- de -Luchon ( 682 m). The department of Pyrénées- Atlantiques, Hautes -Pyrenees and Haute -Garonne were passed. Before after 40 kilometers in Laruns ( 499 m ), the first increase in the Hors Category Col d' Aubisque to (1709 m) began, was extended in Bielle (436 m) at kilometer 26 nor the intermediate sprint. In the descent of the Aubisque you crossed the border between Pyrénées- Atlantiques and Hautes -Pyrenees. The official feed zone was located at kilometer 87 in Adast ( 439 m). 14 km later, the track rose in Luz -Saint -Sauveur (711 m) to the Col du Tourmalet at ( 2115 m). Following the descent to Sainte -Marie -de- Campan ( 859 m) began the same as the increase in the first category up to the Col d' Aspin ( 1489 m). At kilometer 162, the last climb of the day was tackled in Arreau (706 m). It led to the Col de Peyresourde up ( 1569 m), where the boundary between Hautes -Pyrenees and Haute -Garonne runs. From there, scarce 16 km has been covered to the destination Bagneres- de -Luchon.

Race course

Were still 155 of the original 198 riders at the start. In the first few kilometers, there were some breakaways, but were unsuccessful. At kilometer 20, the field was divided into two major groups. The front consisted of 38 riders and was soon able to open a lead of over three minutes. The intermediate sprint happened Sérgio Paulinho first. The front group closed reached the summit of the Col d' Aubisque, where Thomas Voeckler decided the mountain classification before Fredrik Kessiakoff for themselves. The residue of the second group has now grown to over five minutes.

In the ascent to the Col du Tourmalet different drivers from the leading group fell out. A trio with Daniel Martin, Kessiakoff Laurens ten Dam and was formed at the tip. A little later they were joined by 13 other riders, including Voeckler, Chris Anker Sørensen, Brice Feillu, Gorka Izagirre, Alexander Vinokourov and Jens Voigt. After half of the climb Voeckler pulled on the pace, only Feillu could follow him. The second climb of the day Voeckler won; the pursuers followed with a minute behind, while the peloton already lagged ten minutes.

Voeckler also passed the Col d' Aspin first. Meanwhile, the team Liquigas -Cannondale forced to Vincenzo Nibali the pace in the peloton. Cadel Evans could not keep up and lost in the meantime almost a minute on the top three in the overall standings. On the descent, but he managed to catch up to them again. The ascent to the Col de Peyresourde also participated Voeckler and Feillu in the first attack. Just one minutes later, the first chase group with Voigt, Izagirre, Sørensen and Vinokourov. Seven kilometers below the summit Voeckler launched an attack and let stand Feillu. The latter was overtaken by Sørensen, but soon was behind his hand, a minute behind Voeckler.

In the main field Cadel Evans could not counter a pace more tightening of the team Lotto - Belisol. It was formed a group with three first place overall ( Vincenzo Nibali, Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome ), which further distanced the previous year's Tour winner Evans. With 1:30 minutes ahead of Sørensen Voeckler crossed the last pass of the day. After the 15 km long downhill, he celebrated his second solo stage victory (after the 10th stage ). From Kessiakoff he also took the lead in the Mountains classification. Nibali, Wiggins and Froome came with seven minutes down on the winner, while Evans was nearly five minutes longer go.

Climbs

Scoring

Tasks

• 011 - Fränk Schleck Luxembourg ( RNT ): Do not begun to stage; withdrawn on the rest day after a positive test for the diuretic xipamide by the team.
• 042 - Slovenia Grega Bole (LAM ): task during the stage.
• 134 - Russia Vladimir Gusev (KAT ): After falling during the stage abandoned.