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[cyclist]

2012 Tour de France Stage 9 results
July 9 Arc-et-Senans — Besancon 41.5km
Time trial specialists Fabian Cancellara, Tony Martin upstaged by Sky speedsters
Stage results
•   1. Bradley WIGGINS, Sky, in 51:24
•   2. Christopher FROOME, Sky, at :35
•   3. Fabian CANCELLARA, RadioShack-Nissan, at :57
•   4. Tejay VAN GARDEREN, BMC Racing, at 1:06
•   5. Sylvain CHAVANEL, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 1:24
•   6. Cadel EVANS, BMC Racing, at 1:43
•   9. Denis MENCHOV, Katusha, at 2:08
•   10. Andreas KLÖDEN, RadioShack-Nissan, at 2:09
•   16. Jens VOIGT, RadioShack-Nissan, at 2:44
•   30. Alexandr VINOKUROV, Astana, at 3:47
•   32. Levi LEIPHEIMER, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 3:48
•   34. Alejandro VALVERDE BELMONTE, Movistar, at 4:01
•   36. David MILLAR, Garmin-Sharp, at 4:14
•   44. Frank SCHLECK, RadioShack-Nissan, at 4:32
•   53. David ZABRISKIE, Garmin-Sharp, at 4:50
•   56. Ivan BASSO, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 4:54
•   62. George HINCAPIE, BMC Racing, at 5:16
•   66. Thomas VOECKLER, Europcar, at 5:22
•   67. Christopher HORNER, RadioShack-Nissan, at 5:24
•   87. Stuart O’GRADY, Orica-GreenEdge, at 6:08
•   104. Peter SAGAN, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 6:46
•   161. Mark CAVENDISH, Sky, at 8:43
•   166. Tyler FARRAR, Garmin-Sharp, at 8:55
•   178. Jimmy ENGOULVENT, Saur-Sojasun, at 11:10

GC Standings:

•   1. Bradley WIGGINS, Sky, at 39:09:20
•   2. Cadel EVANS, BMC Racing, at 1:53
•   3. Christopher FROOME, Sky, at 2:07
•   4. Vincenzo NIBALI, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 2:23
•   5. Denis MENCHOV, Katusha, at 3:02
•   8. Tejay VAN GARDEREN, BMC Racing, at 5:14
•   15. Andreas KLÖDEN, RadioShack-Nissan, at 6:33
•   16. Sylvain CHAVANEL, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 8:18
•   17. Frank SCHLECK, RadioShack-Nissan, at 8:19
•   19. Levi LEIPHEIMER, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 8:34
•   22. Ivan BASSO, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 9:06
•   23. Christopher HORNER, RadioShack-Nissan, at 9:07
•   28. Alejandro VALVERDE BELMONTE, Movistar, at 10:46
•   32. Fabian CANCELLARA, RadioShack-Nissan, at 14:33
•   41. Peter SAGAN, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 23:29
•   49. George HINCAPIE, BMC Racing, at 25:25
•   52. Thomas VOECKLER, Europcar, at 26:07
•   54. Alexandr VINOKUROV, Astana, at 26:34
•   61. Stuart O’GRADY, Orica-GreenEdge, at 30:37
•   72. Jens VOIGT, RadioShack-Nissan, at 33:02
•   81. Christian VANDEVELDE, Garmin-Sharp, at 36:16
•   116. David ZABRISKIE, Garmin-Sharp, at 44:12
•   132. David MILLAR, Garmin-Sharp, at 51:47
•   153. Mark CAVENDISH, Sky, at 1:00:42
•   177. Tyler FARRAR, Garmin-Sharp, at 1:18:32
•   178. Jimmy ENGOULVENT, Saur-Sojasun, at 1:19:33

Next Stage: July 10 Rest Day; July 11 Mâcon — Bellegarde-sur-Valserine 194.5km

Jerseys:

Yellow:      Bradley WIGGINS, Sky
Green:   
•   1. Peter SAGAN, Liquigas-Cannondale: 217 points
•   2. Matthew Harley GOSS, Orica-GreenEdge: 185 points
•   3. André GREIPEL, Lotto-Belisol: 172 points
 Polka Dot:
•   1. Fredrik Carl Wilhelm KESSIAKOFF, Astana: 21 points
•   2. Christopher FROOME, Sky: 20 points
•   3. Cadel EVANS, BMC Racing: 18 points
 White:       
•   1. Tejay VAN GARDEREN, BMC Racing, in 39:14:34
•   2. Rein TAARAMAE, Cofidis, at :42
•   3. Tony GALLOPIN, RadioShack-Nissan, at :45

Teams:       
•   1. RADIOSHACK-NISSAN, in 117:36:25
•   2. SKY PROCYCLING, at 1:25
•   3. OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP, at 13:25

 Lanterne Rouge:   Jimmy ENGOULVENT, Saur-Sojasun
Withdrawals:
Stage 8:
Samuel SANCHEZ GONZALEZ, Euskaltel-Euskadi: DNF
Gorka VERDUGO MARCOTEGUI, Euskaltel-Euskadi: DNF
Johannes FRÖHLINGER, Argos-Shimano: DNS

Stage 7:
Amets TXURRUKA, Euskaltel-Euskadi: DNS
Ryder HESJEDAL, Garmin-Sharp: DNS
Robert HUNTER, Garmin-Sharp: DNS
Hubert DUPONT, Ag2r La Mondiale: DNS
Anthony DELAPLACE, Saur-Sojasun: DNF
Oscar FREIRE GOMEZ, Katusha: DNS
Maarten WYNANTS, Rabobank: DNS
Imanol ERVITI, Movistar: DNS
José Ivan GUTIERREZ PALACIOS, Movistar: DNS

Stage 6:
Mikel ASTARLOZA CHAURREAU, Euskaltel-Euskadi: DNF
Davide VIGANO, Lampre-ISD: DNF
Thomas DANIELSON, Garmin-Sharp: DNF
Wouter POELS, Vacansoleil-DCM: DNF

Stage 5:
Marcel KITTEL, Argos-Shimano: DNF
Stage 4:

Maarten TJALLINGII, Rabobank: DNS

Stage 3:
Jose Joaquin ROJAS GIL, Movistar: DNF
Kanstantsin SIVTSOV, Sky: DNF

Stage 9  Review:
Time trial specialists Fabian Cancellara, Tony Martin upstaged by Sky speedsters
•   By Agence France Presse
•   Published Jul. 9, 2012
•   Updated 1 hour ago

BESANCON, France (AFP) — Time trial specialists Tony Martin and Fabian Cancellara found themselves upstaged on Monday as Team Sky scored another impressive result on the Tour de France.
In the first of two long time trials race leader Bradley Wiggins tightened his grip on the yellow jersey by claiming a maiden stage victory that piled more time on defending champion Cadel Evans (BMC Racing), who now sits second overall at 1 minute and 53 seconds behind the Team Sky captain.
Wiggins, a three-time Olympic pursuit champ on the track, clocked a winning time of 51:24 for the rolling, slightly technical 41.5km course between Arc-et-Senans and Besancon.
The icing on the cake for Sky was Chris Froome’s runner-up finish, just 35 seconds slower than Wiggins, two days after the Kenyan-born Briton claimed his maiden stage at the first hilltop finish at La Planche des Belles Filles.
Martin, the reigning world champion from Germany, set the early pace but by the end his time of 53:40 was over two minutes slower than Wiggins.
The Omega Pharma-Quick Step rider, who is hoping to challenge for Olympic gold in London later this month, did not expect to win. He has been racing with a broken scaphoid in his wrist since a crash early last week and lost time thanks to a puncture near the start.
“I felt not too bad, but I had a flat tire after about four or five kilometers, so I really lost my rhythm after that,” said the German. “But I know it wasn’t a good time for me.
“I suffered, but my hand was only really sore when I went over a hole in the road.”
Cancellara eventually took over as provisional leader. But first Froome, then Wiggins pushed him down a place each to third.
The RadioShack rider, who won the prologue on June 30 and wore the yellow jersey until handing it to Wiggins on Saturday, said the demands of Sunday’s hilly eighth stage in the Swiss Jura did not do him any favors.
“Yesterday was a really hard stage,” said Cancellara, another favorite for Olympic gold in London.
“Today I was totally focused and gave it everything I had. I’m happy because it was a difficult course for me, a typical Tour de France time trial.”

[cyclist]

Taking Stock: Halfway through the Tour, Sky is in the driver’s seat
By Andrew Hood
Published 9 hours ago

MACON, France (VN) – “You put two and two together, and it’s not going to be easy for Cadel.”
 
Those are the words of Sky sport director Sean Yates, stating the obvious moments after Bradley Wiggins knocked it out of the park in Monday’s decisive time trial.
 
Wiggins surpassed expectations in the race of truth, tightening his grip on the maillot jaune to secure perhaps an insurmountable lead of 1:53 to Cadel Evans (BMC Racing).

With 10 days of racing still to go, Yates knows better than to say the Tour’s already a wrap, but he’s also smart enough to know that Sky could not be in a better position.
 
“When you look at the course, and at Cadel taking that time back, the possibilities are relatively limited,” Yates told VeloNews. “In this day and age, especially when you have a strong team, it’s not on the climbs that you make the difference.”
 
The Tour’s main protagonists took stock on Tuesday’s rest day and punched the reset button on goals, ambitions and tactics going into the second half of the Tour.
 
Still ahead are the Tour’s hardest climbs across the Alps and Pyrénées and one long time trial, but many think the Tour is all but over.
 
Only Evans, second at 1:53 back, is within two minutes of Wiggins. Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale) and Denis Menchov (Katusha), fourth at 2:23 and fifth at 3:02, respectively, will now be fighting to get on the podium. Everyone else will be looking to take something out of the race to salvage a Tour thus far dominated by Sky.

BMC tried to put up a brave face despite the disappointment of ceding time to Wiggins that everyone admits will be extremely difficult to extract.
 
Evans and Wiggins are largely equal on the climbs, and with a flatter, 53.5km time trial still to come on the Tour’s penultimate stage, BMC knows there’s only one tactic.
 
“We have to go on the attack, that’s obvious,” said BMC sport director John Lelangue. “Cadel didn’t have his best time trial, but there is still terrain left to be aggressive. All is not lost.”
 
There’s some quiet optimism that Evans can still unnerve Wiggins, both on the grinding climbs still to come and on the harrowing descents. Evans will have to try something in the coming stages in the Alps if he holds any hope of becoming the first repeat Tour winner since Lance Armstrong in 2005.
 
Wednesday’s 10th stage heads over the Col du Grand Colombier for the first time in Tour history and Thursday’s 11th stage over the HC climbs at the Madeleine and Croix de Fer ends atop the La Toussuire finish climb.
 
Evans managed to ambush Wiggins at the Dauphiné on more technical descents, including that of the Grand Colombier, but those within Sky say that mistake will not happen again. Wiggins did not want to risk a crash in June on roads he was not completely familiar with.

With everything at stake in July, Sky will play the numbers game to snuff out any aggression from Evans.
 
For Yates, a former pro, who took the lead sports director slot at Sky in 2010, the final half of the Tour is all about control and measuring the efforts.
 
“There are still many days left in the Tour de France. There are still ‘X’ amount of stages to be won, either by a sprinter, by a breakaway or by a climber,” Yates said. “We have a team to control the situation.”

While Evans was licking his wounds, Nibali and the Liquigas squad left Monday’s time trial quietly optimistic.
 
Like everyone else, Nibali lost time to Wiggins and teammate Chris Froome, but gave up very little to Evans (24 seconds) and gained on all of his other GC rivals.
 
The 2010 Vuelta a España champion says there are still plenty of chances to attack in the coming days in the Alps and Pyrénées.
 
“It’s too early to throw in the towel,” Nibali said. “We will have to try to invent some action in the mountains. Evans will have to attack, too. There’s still some terrain to do it.”
 
Nibali will probably like the narrower, steep roads in the Pryénées to try to make a serious move. The race moves there in the middle of the final week.
 
Stage 16 ends with a descent off the Col de Peyresourde that favors Nibali’s downhill prowess, while stage 17 features a challenging final 50km, packed with three climbs and two technical descents to put Wiggins and Froome under pressure. The Peyragudes summit finish is new to the Tour and follows the race’s second ascent of the Peyresourde.
 
In fact, Nibali and Evans could become natural allies on the road. Both have strong teams and both have shared interests of unsettling Sky’s stranglehold on the GC.
 
Evans needs to get rid of Wiggins and Nibali needs to push past Froome if he hopes to earn his first-ever Tour podium.
 
Nibali can count on the help of Ivan Basso and Sylvester Szmyd, while Evans can lean on Steve Cummings, Amael Moinard and a resurgent Tejay van Garderen, who punched back into the top 10 with a great TT on Monday. But both team leaders were isolated under Sky’s pressure on the race’s first summit finish, at La Planche des Belles Filles.
 
With only two summit finishes remaining between Wednesday’s push into the Alps and Paris, Nibali knows he has to make the most of favorable terrain.
 
“At the Tour, you have to search for the right moment,” Nibali said. “It’s not like Lombardia or Liège, when you can blindly attack with no thought of the consequences. Here, you have to be more calculating.”

So far, Sky has proven quite adept at handling what’s been an explosive race.
 
Wiggins and Froome both avoided disastrous crashes in the first week that took out the likes of Giro d’Italia champion Ryder Hesjdal (Garmin-Sharp) and Olympic champion Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi), though Froome did lose 1:25 when he punctured with 15km to go in stage 1 in Liège.
 
Sky’s dominance blew up the race unexpectedly Saturday on the road to Belles Filles and controlled a frenetic run across the Jura Mountains on Saturday that saw the peloton to come completely unglued.
 
The longer, grinding climbs looming in the Alps suit Wiggins and Froome even better, meaning that Evans, Nibali or anyone hoping to tip the Sky boat will have to pull something out of the hat. Sky, however, will not be taking it sitting down. Team principal David Brailsford said the best defense could be going back on the offensive.
 
“This is a long way from being a formality,” Brailsford said. “We cannot just sit back and wait for them to come at us. We are not afraid to stick our nose in the wind and we’ve shown we’ve been willing to do that all season.”
 
Froome, at least publicly, is committed to helping Wiggins win the yellow jersey. How that dynamic plays out over the coming days remains to be seen.

If someone like Nibali or van Garderen attacks, will Sky keep Froome with Wiggins, or send him up the road? The latter would provoke a move from Evans, so Sky will have to try to play a balancing act to keep Wiggins in yellow and his rivals at bay. That means they might have to sacrifice Froome’s podium spot.
 
“Our tactic is to try to win the Tour de France – full stop. You do not have to be Einstein to figure that out,” Yates said. “In all due respect, we are doing a good job. We are looking after Bradley, and we are doing it in the most economical way, with the long-term goal of winning in Paris.”
 
The opening 10 days of racing proved one thing: Wiggins is the strongest in the race and Sky is ready to back him in his historic bid to become the U.K.’s first Tour winner.
 
One question mark that remains, however, is Wiggins’ ability to carry the pressure of the yellow jersey for nearly two more weeks.
 
Wiggins has proven he can go the distance in a grand tour, finishing fourth in the 2009 Tour and earning his first grand tour podium with third last year at the Vuelta. But it’s a massive leap from following the wheels to defending yellow for more than two weeks at the Tour de France.
 
His major victories this season have come in week-long stage races, but during each of those wins, Sky worked hard to protect Wiggins through a variety of scenarios. Yates says the team is up to the task of carrying Wiggins victorious to Paris.
 
“You can never discount a bad day, can you?” Yates said. “Time will tell. This is what Bradley’s been training for. The plan all season long has been for Bradley to be at his strongest during the Tour. We have the team to protect him.”
 
In fact, that inevitable “bad day” could be the only hope that the likes of Evans and Nibali have to knock him off his game. A crash, a bonk, an illness or a loss of concentration have derailed greater men in the Tour’s past.

Wiggins says he’s trying to stay focused on the process of racing without letting himself get swept up with the euphoria that’s building across the English Channel. With half the Tour to go, Wiggins knows he’s still a very long way from Paris.
 
“I am not trying to get too carried away with the emotions,” Wiggins said. “I didn’t sleep that night after taking the jersey. I let that slightly get to me, but that’s why I do sport, that’s why I love it. I need to stay focused and check off the boxes one day at a time.”
 
Nothing’s won in cycling until crossing the finish line and Wiggins wants to keep reminding himself of that every day as he pedals closer to an historic win still nearly two weeks away in Paris.
 
If he can roll out of the Pyrénées with the yellow jersey still on his back, then the British can put the champagne on ice.

[cyclist]

2012 Tour de France Stage 10 results
July 11 Mâcon — Bellegarde-sur-Valserine 194.5km

Voeckler wins stage 10 of the Tour de France; Wiggins defends yellow
Stage results
•   1. Thomas VOECKLER, Europcar, in 4:46:26
•   2. Michele SCARPONI, Lampre-ISD, at :3
•   3. Jens VOIGT, RadioShack-Nissan, at :7
•   4. Luis Leon SANCHEZ GIL, Rabobank, at :23
•   5. Dries DEVENYNS, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at :30
•   6. Sandy CASAR, FDJ-BigMat, at 2:44
•   12. Cadel EVANS, BMC Racing, at 3:16
•   13. Bradley WIGGINS, Sky, at 3:16
•   16. Denis MENCHOV, Katusha, at 3:16
•   17. Alejandro VALVERDE BELMONTE, Movistar, at 3:16
•   18. Christopher FROOME, Sky, at 3:16
•   24. Andreas KLÖDEN, RadioShack-Nissan, at 3:16
•   26. Frank SCHLECK, RadioShack-Nissan, at 3:16
•   27. Tejay VAN GARDEREN, BMC Racing, at 3:33
•   31. Levi LEIPHEIMER, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 3:40
•   33. Ivan BASSO, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 3:40
•   34. Christopher HORNER, RadioShack-Nissan, at 3:54
•   43. Alexandr VINOKUROV, Astana, at 9:07
•   49. George HINCAPIE, BMC Racing, at 11:41
•   54. David ZABRISKIE, Garmin-Sharp, at 11:41
•   56. Peter SAGAN, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 12:25
•   59. David MILLAR, Garmin-Sharp, at 15:04
•   81. Sylvain CHAVANEL, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 19:05
•   107. Stuart O’GRADY, Orica-GreenEdge, at 27:27
•   109. Fabian CANCELLARA, RadioShack-Nissan, at 27:27
•   146. Tyler FARRAR, Garmin-Sharp, at 31:55
•   162. Mark CAVENDISH, Sky, at 31:55
•   175. Gorka IZAGUIRRE INSAUSTI, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 31:55

GC Standings:

•   1. Bradley WIGGINS, Sky, in 43:59:02
•   2. Cadel EVANS, BMC Racing, at 1:53
•   3. Christopher FROOME, Sky, at 2:07
•   4. Vincenzo NIBALI, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 2:23
•   5. Denis MENCHOV, Katusha, at 3:02
•   10. Tejay VAN GARDEREN, BMC Racing, at 5:31
•   14. Andreas KLÖDEN, RadioShack-Nissan, at 6:33
•   16. Frank SCHLECK, RadioShack-Nissan, at 8:19
•   19. Levi LEIPHEIMER, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 8:58
•   21. Ivan BASSO, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 9:30
•   22. Christopher HORNER, RadioShack-Nissan, at 9:45
•   23. Alejandro VALVERDE BELMONTE, Movistar, at 10:46
•   31. Thomas VOECKLER, Europcar, at 22:51
•   32. Sylvain CHAVANEL, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 24:07
•   37. Jens VOIGT, RadioShack-Nissan, at 29:53
•   40. Alexandr VINOKUROV, Astana, at 32:25
•   41. Peter SAGAN, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 32:38
•   43. George HINCAPIE, BMC Racing, at 33:50
•   52. Fabian CANCELLARA, RadioShack-Nissan, at 38:44
•   81. Christian VANDEVELDE, Garmin-Sharp, at 52:05
•   84. David ZABRISKIE, Garmin-Sharp, at 52:37
•   87. Stuart O’GRADY, Orica-GreenEdge, at 54:48
•   103. David MILLAR, Garmin-Sharp, at 1:03:35
•   157. Mark CAVENDISH, Sky, at 1:29:21
•   174. Tyler FARRAR, Garmin-Sharp, at 1:47:11
•   175. Jimmy ENGOULVENT, Saur-Sojasun, at 1:48:12

Next Stage: July 12 Albertville — La Toussuire-Les Sybelles 148km

Jerseys:

Yellow:      Bradley WIGGINS, Sky
Green:   
•   1. Peter SAGAN, Liquigas-Cannondale: 232 points
•   2. Matthew Harley GOSS, Orica-GreenEdge: 205 points
•   3. André GREIPEL, Lotto-Belisol: 172 points
 Polka Dot:
•   1. Thomas VOECKLER, Europcar: 28 points
•   2. Fredrik Carl Wilhelm KESSIAKOFF, Astana: 21 points
•   3. Michele SCARPONI, Lampre-ISD: 21 points
 White:       
•   1. Tejay VAN GARDEREN, BMC Racing, in 44:04:33
•   2. Rein TAARAMAE, Cofidis, at :25
•   3. Thibaut PINOT, FDJ-BigMat, at 3:22

Teams:       
•   1. Radioshack-Nissan, in132:02:22
•   2. Sky Procycling, at 4:58
•   3. Bmc Racing Team, at 22:06

 Lanterne Rouge:   Jimmy ENGOULVENT, Saur-Sojasun
Withdrawals:
Stage 10:
Matthew LLOYD, Lampre-ISD: DNS
Rémy DI GREGORIO, Cofidis: DNS
Tony MARTIN, Omega Pharma-Quick Step: DNS

Stage 8:
Samuel SANCHEZ GONZALEZ, Euskaltel-Euskadi: DNF
Gorka VERDUGO MARCOTEGUI, Euskaltel-Euskadi: DNF
Johannes FRÖHLINGER, Argos-Shimano: DNS

Stage 7:
Amets TXURRUKA, Euskaltel-Euskadi: DNS
Ryder HESJEDAL, Garmin-Sharp: DNS
Robert HUNTER, Garmin-Sharp: DNS
Hubert DUPONT, Ag2r La Mondiale: DNS
Anthony DELAPLACE, Saur-Sojasun: DNF
Oscar FREIRE GOMEZ, Katusha: DNS
Maarten WYNANTS, Rabobank: DNS
Imanol ERVITI, Movistar: DNS
José Ivan GUTIERREZ PALACIOS, Movistar: DNS

Stage 6:
Mikel ASTARLOZA CHAURREAU, Euskaltel-Euskadi: DNF
Davide VIGANO, Lampre-ISD: DNF
Thomas DANIELSON, Garmin-Sharp: DNF
Wouter POELS, Vacansoleil-DCM: DNF

Stage 5:
Marcel KITTEL, Argos-Shimano: DNF
Stage 4:

Maarten TJALLINGII, Rabobank: DNS

Stage 3:
Jose Joaquin ROJAS GIL, Movistar: DNF
Kanstantsin SIVTSOV, Sky: DNF

Stage 10  Review:
Voeckler wins stage 10 of the Tour de France; Wiggins defends yellow
•   By VeloNews.com
•   Published Jul. 11, 2012
•   Updated 2 hours ago

Thomas Voeckler won stage 10 of the Tour de France on Wednesday in Bellegarde-sur-Valserine from the day’s long breakaway. Voeckler (Europcar) rode a wave of late attacks by the escape’s final five survivors and topped Michele Scarponi (Lampre-ISD) and Jens Voigt (RadioShack-Nissan) in the uphill finish.
Voeckler and company rode away from a 25-man breakaway on the hors categorie Col du Grand Colombier. Luis León Sánchez (Rabobank) and Dries Devenyns (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) were the other riders to survive the first ascent of the 17km climb in Tour history.
A late counter-attack by Voigt threatened to steal Voeckler’s thunder, especially when the German went off in pursuit of Devenyns after the Belgian attacked with 3.5km to race. But on the small rise leading to the finish line Voeckler somehow found the strength to leave Scarponi and Sanchez in his wake to overtake both Voigt and Devenyns.
“I’m 33 years old and in my 10th Tour de France. I fully appreciate what’s happening to me,” said Voeckler. “It’s hard for me to recount. My knees hurt, everything hurts. Before this Tour started, Europcar was not in a great place. I saw my little boy and saw it in his eyes. I couldn’t give up.”
Bradley Wiggins and his Sky teammates Chris Froome and Richie Porte fended off a series of attacks to defend the yellow jersey. Second overall Cadel Evans (BMC Racing), fourth overall Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale) and fifth overall Denis Menchov (Katusha) finished with Wiggins to maintain their GC rankings ahead of Thursday’s 11th stage.
Nibali and Jurgen Van de Broeck (Lotto-Belisol) were among the riders to attack the yellow jersey group on the descent from the Grand Colombier, with the Sicilian building over a minute’s advantage at one point after catching teammate Peter Sagan, who dropped off the breakaway. Just has they did in a nearly identical fifth stage at the Critérium du Dauphiné in June, Wiggins and company caught the Italian near the summit of the Col de Richemond, 20km from the finish.
“I didn’t panic when he attacked,” said Wiggins. “He’s over two minutes behind me and I knew he’d have to be really strong in the valley if he was to stay away.”
But in a change from that Dauphiné stage, Evans did not attack on the descent, saying he “was a little bit hesitant.”
“Maybe it was a missed opportunity or something,” said Evans. “Sky really has the team for this course and this situation… So it leaves the opportunities few and far between. And with the wind and the climb that far from the finish, it was a bit difficult today.”
Van den Broeck attacked again over the top of the Richemond and took half-a-minute on the Wiggins group at the finish, taking back time in the race for the best young rider’s jersey from Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing), who struggled on the day’s final two climbs. Evans led the group to the finish after putting in a dig on the final ramp to the line.
“It was a tough day,” said van Garderen. “I was struggling out there, got dropped, trying to be there for Cadel, just give him a gel, do what I can, then dropped on the final kilometer of the climb. I thought I was dropped on descent, but saw the cars, and knew I could close it down.
Sagan launched the 25-man breakaway inside the stage’s first 5km, and Cyril Lemoine (Saur-Sojasun) and Andriy Grivko (Astana) quickly joined him. The move quickly ballooned in numbers, with Scarponi the best man on GC, at 10:27 back. The move built up a lead of seven minutes by the stage’s halfway point and carried more than six minutes onto the Grand Colombier. That’s where Voeckler unhitched 21 of the attackers, including Voigt, who chased for more than 35km before rejoining the front of the race inside 10km to go.
Devenyns set out, then Voigt, and finally Voeckler countered them.
“Today was a stage where, in this moment I have mixed feelings,” said Devenyns. “I don’t know if I should be happy for the performance or a little bit disappointed because I didn’t win. But honestly, I think I did the best I could with some of the best guys in the peloton.”
Voeckler cracked inside the final 300 meters and looked to be losing control as Scarponi surged up the right barriers. The Frenchman held on, however, and crossed the line in pieces.
“I was in extreme pain at the end. The only thing that kept me going was that I knew the others were feeling the same,” he said.
His efforts over the climbs won him the polka dot jersey, but Voeckler admitted his stage win had been hard to come by.
“I suffered a cramp when I went for the points at the summit of the Grand Colombier, but I thought ‘well at least that’s the jersey in the bag,’” he said. “I also wanted to contest the stage win but in the breakaway I felt like I was being marked. When Devenyns attacked, I said to the others ‘go after him.’
“If the finale had been on a flat stretch, it would have been over. Thankfully for me it was that little bit harder.”
Thursday’s 148km 11th stage takes the peloton from Albertville over 73km of climbing to the summit of La Toussuire ski station. Wiggins said he expects more of the same from his rivals.
“We knew coming into the Tour it was going to be like that. The leader’s jersey gets attacked, so I expect it really,” he said. “It would be a pretty poor mountain stage on the telly if everyone rode along all day and no one attacked.”
Evans agreed.
“You have to make opportunities for yourself,” he said. “Tomorrow, I think the attacking riders will be more rewarded. But we’ll have to see how the other teams react to the race.”

[cyclist]

2012 Tour de France Stage 11 results
July 12 Albertville — La Toussuire-Les Sybelles 148km

Questions dog Sky after Froome backs off late attack
Stage results
•   1. Pierre ROLLAND, Europcar in 4:43:54
•   2. Thibaut PINOT, FDJ-BigMat +55
•   3. Christopher FROOME, Sky +55
•   4. Jurgen VAN DEN BROECK, Lotto-Belisol +57
•   5. Vincenzo NIBALI, Liquigas-Cannondale +57
•   6. Bradley WIGGINS, Sky +57
•   10. Frank SCHLECK, RadioShack-Nissan +2:23
•   11. Cadel EVANS, BMC Racing +2:23
•   12. Tejay VAN GARDEREN, BMC Racing +2:23
•   13. Christopher HORNER, RadioShack-Nissan +3:53
•   14. Andreas KLÖDEN, RadioShack-Nissan +3:53
•   22. Alejandro VALVERDE BELMONTE, Movistar +8:21
•   24. Alexandr VINOKUROV, Astana +10:21
•   41. Denis MENCHOV, Katusha +14:15
•   49. Ivan BASSO, Liquigas-Cannondale +18:31
•   51. George HINCAPIE, BMC Racing +18:31
•   58. David MILLAR, Garmin-Sharp +23:48
•   59. Levi LEIPHEIMER, Omega Pharma-Quick Step +23:58
•   74. Thomas VOECKLER, Europcar +28:10
•   91. Stuart O’GRADY, Orica-GreenEdge +33:20
•   112. Peter SAGAN, Liquigas-Cannondale +33:20
•   137. Sylvain CHAVANEL, Omega Pharma-Quick Step +33:20
•   154. Mark CAVENDISH, Sky +33:35
•   164. Tyler FARRAR, Garmin-Sharp +34:26
•   167. Kenny Robert VAN HUMMEL, Vacansoleil-DCM +36:35

GC Standings:

•   1. Bradley WIGGINS, Sky in 48:43:53
•   2. Christopher FROOME, Sky +2:05
•   3. Vincenzo NIBALI, Liquigas-Cannondale +2:23
•   4. Cadel EVANS, BMC Racing +3:19
•   5. Jurgen VAN DEN BROECK, Lotto-Belisol +4:48
•   7. Tejay VAN GARDEREN, BMC Racing +6:57
•   11. Andreas KLÖDEN, RadioShack-Nissan +9:29
•   12. Frank SCHLECK, RadioShack-Nissan +9:45
•   15. Christopher HORNER, RadioShack-Nissan +12:41
•   16. Denis MENCHOV, Katusha +16:20
•   18. Alejandro VALVERDE BELMONTE, Movistar +18:10
•   23. Ivan BASSO, Liquigas-Cannondale +27:04
•   27. Sandy CASAR, FDJ-BigMat +30:46
•   30. Levi LEIPHEIMER, Omega Pharma-Quick Step +31:59
•   35. Alexandr VINOKUROV, Astana +41:49
•   38. Thomas VOECKLER, Europcar +50:04
•   40. George HINCAPIE, BMC Racing +51:24
•   42. Sylvain CHAVANEL, Omega Pharma-Quick Step +56:30
•   52. Jens VOIGT, RadioShack-Nissan +1:02:16
•   58. Peter SAGAN, Liquigas-Cannondale +1:05:01
•   92. David ZABRISKIE, Garmin-Sharp +1:25:00
•   93. David MILLAR, Garmin-Sharp +1:26:26
•   94. Stuart O’GRADY, Orica-GreenEdge +1:27:11
•   153. Mark CAVENDISH, Sky +2:01:59
•   167. Tyler FARRAR, Garmin-Sharp +2:20:40

Next Stage: July 13 Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne — Annonay Davezieux  226km
Jerseys:

Yellow:      Bradley WIGGINS, Sky
Green:   
•   1. Peter SAGAN, Liquigas-Cannondale: 232 points
•   2. Matthew Harley GOSS, Orica-GreenEdge: 205 points
•   3. André GREIPEL, Lotto-Belisol: 172 points
 Polka Dot:
•   1. Fredrik Carl Wilhelm KESSIAKOFF, Astana: 66 points
•   2. Pierre ROLLAND, Europcar: 55 points
•   3. Chris Anker SÖRENSEN, Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank: 39 points
 White:       
•   1. Tejay VAN GARDEREN, BMC Racing in 48:50:50
•   2. Thibaut PINOT, FDJ-BigMat +1:54
•   3. Rein TAARAMAE, Cofidis +23:50

Teams:       
•   1. RADIOSHACK-NISSAN in 146:24:13
•   2. SKY PROCYCLING +12:31
•   3. ASTANA PRO TEAM +31:59

 Lanterne Rouge:   Tyler FARRAR, Garmin-Sharp
Withdrawals:
State 11:
Gustav LARSSON, Vacansoleil-DCM: DNF
Mark RENSHAW, Rabobank: DNF
Lieuwe WESTRA, Vacansoleil-DCM: DNF
Rob RUIJGH, Vacansoleil-DCM: DNF
Bauke MOLLEMA, Rabobank: DNF
Fabian CANCELLARA, RadioShack-Nissan: DNS

Stage 10:
Matthew LLOYD, Lampre-ISD: DNS
Rémy DI GREGORIO, Cofidis: DNS
Tony MARTIN, Omega Pharma-Quick Step: DNS

Stage 8:
Samuel SANCHEZ GONZALEZ, Euskaltel-Euskadi: DNF
Gorka VERDUGO MARCOTEGUI, Euskaltel-Euskadi: DNF
Johannes FRÖHLINGER, Argos-Shimano: DNS

Stage 7:
Amets TXURRUKA, Euskaltel-Euskadi: DNS
Ryder HESJEDAL, Garmin-Sharp: DNS
Robert HUNTER, Garmin-Sharp: DNS
Hubert DUPONT, Ag2r La Mondiale: DNS
Anthony DELAPLACE, Saur-Sojasun: DNF
Oscar FREIRE GOMEZ, Katusha: DNS
Maarten WYNANTS, Rabobank: DNS
Imanol ERVITI, Movistar: DNS
José Ivan GUTIERREZ PALACIOS, Movistar: DNS

Stage 6:
Mikel ASTARLOZA CHAURREAU, Euskaltel-Euskadi: DNF
Davide VIGANO, Lampre-ISD: DNF
Thomas DANIELSON, Garmin-Sharp: DNF
Wouter POELS, Vacansoleil-DCM: DNF

Stage 5:
Marcel KITTEL, Argos-Shimano: DNF
Stage 4:

Maarten TJALLINGII, Rabobank: DNS

Stage 3:
Jose Joaquin ROJAS GIL, Movistar: DNF
Kanstantsin SIVTSOV, Sky: DNF

Stage 11  Review:
Questions dog Sky after Froome backs off late attack
•   By Matthew Beaudin
•   Published 46 mins ago


LA TOUSSUIRE, France (VN) — Two seconds. That’s all the time Chris Froome took from Bradley Wiggins, his teammate and maillot jaune, in the ski village of La Toussuire on Thursday. But he took much more than time.
The moment was there, for everyone to see. Froome attacked the yellow jersey group, his teammate’s group, four kilometers from the finish, 14km into the last of four categorized climbs. He established a gap and then tapped his ear.
It was Sky director Sean Yates telling the flying Froome to slow down and wait for Wiggins.
He looked behind him to see nobody. And then he sat up. Never mind what could have happened on the road in front of him. Froome’s leash was stretched.
“I follow orders at all costs,” Froome said. “I’m part of the team, and I have to do what the team asks me to do.
“He’s just as strong as me, I think, and stronger in the time trials. We’ve still got a 50-kilometer time trial coming… Our plan is to look after Bradley.”
Froome said he knew he’d ridden everyone — including Wiggins — off his wheel. Yates said he under no circumstances told Froome to attack, and that the plan was for Froome to open it up with 500 meters to the line. But make no bones about it: Froome delivered a proper dig high on the day’s final slopes, after being dropped earlier.
“I don’t know if he had a verbal conversation with Bradley not over the radio. I certainly didn’t hear anything,” Yates said at he team bus. “It wasn’t my instruction to attack.”
So this begs the question: what was Froome doing? When asked at the finish line initially, he said he wasn’t going to stop attacking until he realized the GC riders behind him weren’t together, and that Wiggins didn’t have a wheel to hold. The logic on that is unclear.
Froome knew — everyone knew, at that point — he could take time from Nibali and Evans; the voice in the radio, it seemed, worried he’d take too much time from Wiggins. Froome, at one point, slipped off the Sky message, indicating he had a certain “we’ll see” approach.
Yates doesn’t see it any other way than Wiggins.
“There’s no point in gambling. We don’t want to spin the roulette wheel, you know?” Yates said.
The moment was reminiscent of the Angliru climb at the Vuelta a España last year. Froome and Wiggins were together, but Wiggins was over-geared and couldn’t stay with his Kenya-born countryman and an attacking Juan Jose Cobo, who eventually won.
Froome left Wiggins on the road and ended up leapfrogging his captain on GC to move into second, where he finished. Wiggins ended up third overall.
Asked by VeloNews if Froome could win this Tour if he rode for a different team, Yates said, “I don’t know the answer… We basically, won’t know, will we? And we don’t know, because he’s on our team.”
Froome, for the time being, is toeing the line. He was asked if, in five year’s time, he would wonder about the races he could have won, like the 2012 Tour and the 2011 Vuelta. He was even told he was strong enough to win the Tour, so why not have a go?
“Thank you for the compliment,” he said. “But I think Bradley’s in a better position to win the Tour than I am, to be honest.
“That’s a thing I’m going to have to see in five or six years time. But I’m happy with the work I’m doing here. I think I’m doing a really good job. And what more can I say? I’m doing my job.”
Froome is now 2:05 back to Wiggins on GC. It could be much closer.
Froome suffered a flat tire late on stage 1 and wasn’t able to catch back on before the peloton attacked the steep finishing ramp at Seraing, Belgium. Without that, the Sky is awfully cloudy, and Yates has said as much.
“You can never have too much of a good thing, I reckon. Obviously, the fact that we’ve got such a strong rider on our team is great. The fact that he lost one-and-a-half minutes in Liége is really unfortunate for him, you know? Obviously, if he hadn’t it’d be a lot closer.”
Certainly, it’s something being discussed in the Sky bus. Normally, Sky manager Dave Brailsford is happy to chat with reporters before or after stages. But not this day. At the end of the stage, Brailsford spent long minutes in the bus, and came out and gave only a few short answers. The team roles, he said, were clarified by the time trial, and then ended the interviews.
“The fact of the matter is, your job is to make as much out of this as you can, isn’t it?” Brailsford asked a TV reporter, who said that in fact it was.
“We’re first and second in the Tour de France, and let’s look for a scandal. Let’s look for something that doesn’t work.”
And with that, Brailsford ducked back into the bus.

[cyclist]

2012 Tour de France Stage 12 results
July 13 Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne — Annonay Davezieux  226km

Millar wins stage 12 of the Tour de France; Wiggins retains yellow
Stage results
•   1. David MILLAR, Garmin-Sharp, in 5:42:46
•   2. Jean-Christophe PERAUD, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 0
•   3. Egoi MARTINEZ DE ESTEBAN, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at :5
•   4. Cyril GAUTIER, Europcar, at :5
•   5. Robert KISERLOVSKI, Astana, at :5
•   6. Peter SAGAN, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 7:53
•   9. Cadel EVANS, BMC Racing, at 7:54
•   12. Bradley WIGGINS, Sky, at 7:54
•   15. Christopher FROOME, Sky, at 7:54
•   17. Vincenzo NIBALI, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 7:54
•   21. Tejay VAN GARDEREN, BMC Racing, at 7:54
•   28. Jens VOIGT, RadioShack-Nissan, at 7:54
•   30. Christopher HORNER, RadioShack-Nissan, at 7:54
•   31. Andreas KLÖDEN, RadioShack-Nissan, at 7:54
•   36. Frank SCHLECK, RadioShack-Nissan, at 7:54
•   52. Alejandro VALVERDE BELMONTE, Movistar, at 8:39
•   57. George HINCAPIE, BMC Racing, at 8:54
•   58. Denis MENCHOV, Katusha, at 8:55
•   64. Levi LEIPHEIMER, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 9:08
•   84. Stuart O’GRADY, Orica-GreenEdge, at 10:15
•   85. Sylvain CHAVANEL, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 10:15
•   129. Ivan BASSO, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 11:59
•   132. Tyler FARRAR, Garmin-Sharp, at 11:59
•   136. Christian VANDEVELDE, Garmin-Sharp, at 11:59
•   142. David ZABRISKIE, Garmin-Sharp, at 11:59
•   157. Thomas VOECKLER, Europcar, at 11:59
•   161. Mark CAVENDISH, Sky, at 11:59
•   164. Christophe KERN, Europcar, at 19:15

GC Standings:

•   1. Bradley WIGGINS, Sky, in 54:34:33
•   2. Christopher FROOME, Sky, at 2:05
•   3. Vincenzo NIBALI, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 2:23
•   4. Cadel EVANS, BMC Racing, at 3:19
•   5. Jurgen VAN DEN BROECK, Lotto-Belisol, at 4:48
•   7. Tejay VAN GARDEREN, BMC Racing, at 6:57
•   11. Andreas KLÖDEN, RadioShack-Nissan, at 9:29
•   12. Frank SCHLECK, RadioShack-Nissan, at 9:45
•   15. Christopher HORNER, RadioShack-Nissan, at 12:41
•   16. Denis MENCHOV, Katusha, at 17:21
•   19. Alejandro VALVERDE BELMONTE, Movistar, at 18:55
•   26. Ivan BASSO, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 31:09
•   30. Levi LEIPHEIMER, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 33:13
•   36. Alexandr VINOKUROV, Astana, at 45:54
•   39. George HINCAPIE, BMC Racing, at 52:24
•   40. Thomas VOECKLER, Europcar, at 54:09
•   44. Sylvain CHAVANEL, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 59:11
•   50. Jens VOIGT, RadioShack-Nissan, at 1:02:16
•   55. Peter SAGAN, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 1:05:00
•   67. Christian VANDEVELDE, Garmin-Sharp, at 1:11:03
•   79. David MILLAR, Garmin-Sharp, at 1:18:32
•   91. David ZABRISKIE, Garmin-Sharp, at 1:29:05
•   92. Stuart O’GRADY, Orica-GreenEdge, at 1:29:32
•   152. Mark CAVENDISH, Sky, at 2:06:04
•   164. Tyler FARRAR, Garmin-Sharp, at 2:24:45

Next Stage: July 14 Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux — Le Cap d’Agde 217km
Jerseys:

Yellow:      Bradley WIGGINS, Sky
Green:   
•   1. Peter SAGAN, Liquigas-Cannondale: 252 points
•   2. Matthew Harley GOSS, Orica-GreenEdge: 198 points
•   3. André GREIPEL, Lotto-Belisol: 181 points
 Polka Dot:
•   1. Fredrik Carl Wilhelm KESSIAKOFF, Astana: 66 points
•   2. Pierre ROLLAND, Europcar: 55 points
•   3. Chris Anker SÖRENSEN, Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank: 39 points
 White:       
•   1. Tejay VAN GARDEREN, BMC Racing, in 54:41:30
•   2. Thibaut PINOT, FDJ-BigMat, at 1:54
•   3. Rein TAARAMAE, Cofidis, at 27:55

Teams:       
•   1. RADIOSHACK-NISSAN, in 163:56:13
•   2. SKY PROCYCLING, at 12:38
•   3. ASTANA PRO TEAM, at 24:33

 Lanterne Rouge:   Tyler FARRAR, Garmin-Sharp
Withdrawals:
Stage 12:
Tom VEELERS, Argos-Shimano: DNF
David MONCOUTIE, Cofidis: DNF
Robert GESINK, Rabobank: DNS

Stage 11:
Gustav LARSSON, Vacansoleil-DCM: DNF
Mark RENSHAW, Rabobank: DNF
Lieuwe WESTRA, Vacansoleil-DCM: DNF
Rob RUIJGH, Vacansoleil-DCM: DNF
Bauke MOLLEMA, Rabobank: DNF
Fabian CANCELLARA, RadioShack-Nissan: DNS

Stage 10:
Matthew LLOYD, Lampre-ISD: DNS
Rémy DI GREGORIO, Cofidis: DNS
Tony MARTIN, Omega Pharma-Quick Step: DNS

Stage 8:
Samuel SANCHEZ GONZALEZ, Euskaltel-Euskadi: DNF
Gorka VERDUGO MARCOTEGUI, Euskaltel-Euskadi: DNF
Johannes FRÖHLINGER, Argos-Shimano: DNS

Stage 7:
Amets TXURRUKA, Euskaltel-Euskadi: DNS
Ryder HESJEDAL, Garmin-Sharp: DNS
Robert HUNTER, Garmin-Sharp: DNS
Hubert DUPONT, Ag2r La Mondiale: DNS
Anthony DELAPLACE, Saur-Sojasun: DNF
Oscar FREIRE GOMEZ, Katusha: DNS
Maarten WYNANTS, Rabobank: DNS
Imanol ERVITI, Movistar: DNS
José Ivan GUTIERREZ PALACIOS, Movistar: DNS

Stage 6:
Mikel ASTARLOZA CHAURREAU, Euskaltel-Euskadi: DNF
Davide VIGANO, Lampre-ISD: DNF
Thomas DANIELSON, Garmin-Sharp: DNF
Wouter POELS, Vacansoleil-DCM: DNF

Stage 5:
Marcel KITTEL, Argos-Shimano: DNF
Stage 4:

Maarten TJALLINGII, Rabobank: DNS

Stage 3:
Jose Joaquin ROJAS GIL, Movistar: DNF
Kanstantsin SIVTSOV, Sky: DNF

Stage 12  Review:
Millar wins stage 12 of the Tour de France; Wiggins retains yellow
•   By VeloNews.com
•   Published Jul. 13, 2012
•   Updated 5 hours ago

ANNONAY DAVÉZIEUX, France (VN) — David Millar turned Garmin-Sharp’s fortunes around on Friday, winning stage 12 of the Tour de France from a breakaway in Annonay Davezieux. Millar outwitted Jean-Cristophe Péraud (Ag2r La Mondiale) after the pair left behind their three breakaway mates in the final kilometers.
Millar’s fourth career Tour stage comes in the wake of a “horrific” Tour campaign for his Garmin team, which has lost several riders, including team leader Ryder Hesjedal.
“It’s been a horrific Tour for our team,” said Millar. “I wanted to prove that we’re still here. I wanted to prove that Garmin-Sharp is still one of the strongest teams in the world.”
Bradley Wiggins’ Sky teammates controlled the peloton most of the day, allowing the escapees to ride with a gap of 10-12 minutes over the second half of the stage. Wiggins came through with the peloton, led by a points-chasing Matt Goss (Orica-GreenEdge), and kept his edge of more than two minutes over teammate Chris Froome.
The race jury relegated Goss for irregular sprinting, giving Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale) a 56-point advantage in the race for the green jersey.
“He didn’t stay in his line. He changed his line, then made quite a big mistake, it’s clear to see,” said race director Jean-Francois Pescheux. ”He has been relegated to last place on the stage.”
Getting established
A day after the toughest stage in the Alps and with the only two major climbs coming within the first 80km, the breakaway contenders were primed from the start of the race’s longest stage. After 20km of attacks and counter-attacks a 19-strong group that included the first five finishers managed to pull itself free of the peloton to begin the 12.5km climb to the summit of the Cucheron.
On the way to the summit the frontrunners split as the demands of the Cat. 1 climb took their toll.
Eleven leaders went over the summit with a lead of 53 seconds on the main peloton containing the yellow jersey and the big favorites and they would go on to increase their lead further. Millar was part of a five-man group that finally broke free of the other six riders on the descent of the day’s second climb with around 120km to race.
By then, Millar was already considering his options.
“When it whittled down to the five riders I didn’t expect to be at the front but I was feeling great,” he said. “Once we were in the group of five I knew I was the fastest sprinter there so I decided my tactics about 120km out, and that was to win the sprint.”
The five leaders went on to build a significant lead on the peloton, taking their advantage to nearly 13 minutes.
“They didn’t let us go, we really had to fight hard to build that advantage!” he said.
Millar for the sprint?
After collaborating all day, Spaniard Egoi Martinez of the crash-hit Euskaltel-Euskadi team began the hostilities with a brief attack 4km from the finish. But it was Peraud’s acceleration 2.7km from the slightly uphill finish that proved decisive.
“That was my best chance there,” explained Peraud. “Because I knew that I wouldn’t have the sprint finish to match Millar.”
Millar fought hard to get back on the wheel, and his efforts allowed the pair to open up a decisive gap on Martinez, Frenchman Cyril Gautier (Europcar) and Croatian Robert Kiserlovski (Astana).
At the end, Millar collapsed on the ground to soak up a victory that comes 45 years to the day after the death of British cycling giant Tom Simpson on Mont Ventoux.

[cyclist]

2012 Tour de France Stage 13 results
July 14 Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux — Le Cap d’Agde 217km

Andre Greipel edges Peter Sagan to win stage 13 of the 2012 Tour de France

Stage results
•   1. André GREIPEL, Lotto-Belisol, in 4:57:59
•   2. Peter SAGAN, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 0
•   3. Edvald BOASSON HAGEN, Sky, at 0
•   4. Sébastien HINAULT, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 0
•   5. Daryl IMPEY, Orica-GreenEdge, at 0
•   11. Vincenzo NIBALI, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 0
•   12. Bradley WIGGINS, Sky, at 0
•   15. Christopher FROOME, Sky, at 0
•   16. Cadel EVANS, BMC Racing, at 0
•   18. Andreas KLÖDEN, RadioShack-Nissan, at 0
•   20. Tejay VAN GARDEREN, BMC Racing, at 0
•   30. Christopher HORNER, RadioShack-Nissan, at 0
•   36. Denis MENCHOV, Katusha, at 0
•   39. Christian VANDEVELDE, Garmin-Sharp, at 0
•   40. Frank SCHLECK, RadioShack-Nissan, at 0
•   45. Alexandr VINOKUROV, Astana, at :46
•   49. Thomas VOECKLER, Europcar, at 1:45
•   54. Jens VOIGT, RadioShack-Nissan, at 8:36
•   63. Sylvain CHAVANEL, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 8:36
•   67. Mark CAVENDISH, Sky, at 8:36
•   91. Stuart O’GRADY, Orica-GreenEdge, at 12:31
•   96. George HINCAPIE, BMC Racing, at 12:31
•   97. Tyler FARRAR, Garmin-Sharp, at 12:31
•   108. Sandy CASAR, FDJ-BigMat, at 12:31
•   121. Ivan BASSO, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 14:04
•   130. Alejandro VALVERDE BELMONTE, Movistar, at 14:04
•   133. David MILLAR, Garmin-Sharp, at 14:04
•   140. Levi LEIPHEIMER, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 14:04
•   151. David ZABRISKIE, Garmin-Sharp, at 14:04
•   163. Christophe KERN, Europcar, at 14:12

GC Standings:

•   1. Bradley WIGGINS, Sky, in 59:32:32
•   2. Christopher FROOME, Sky, at 2:05
•   3. Vincenzo NIBALI, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 2:23
•   4. Cadel EVANS, BMC Racing, at 3:19
•   5. Jurgen VAN DEN BROECK, Lotto-Belisol, at 4:48
•   7. Tejay VAN GARDEREN, BMC Racing, at 6:57
•   11. Andreas KLÖDEN, RadioShack-Nissan, at 9:29
•   12. Frank SCHLECK, RadioShack-Nissan, at 9:45
•   15. Christopher HORNER, RadioShack-Nissan, at 12:41
•   16. Denis MENCHOV, Katusha, at 17:21
•   24. Alejandro VALVERDE BELMONTE, Movistar, at 32:59
•   28. Sandy CASAR, FDJ-BigMat, at 44:31 
•   30. Ivan BASSO, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 45:13
•   31. Alexandr VINOKUROV, Astana, at 46:40
•   32. Levi LEIPHEIMER, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 47:17
•   35. Thomas VOECKLER, Europcar, at 55:54
•   41. George HINCAPIE, BMC Racing, at 1:04:55
•   42. Peter SAGAN, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 1:05:00
•   46. Sylvain CHAVANEL, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 1:07:47
•   49. Jens VOIGT, RadioShack-Nissan, at 1:10:52
•   50. Christian VANDEVELDE, Garmin-Sharp, at 1:11:03
•   83. David MILLAR, Garmin-Sharp, at 1:32:36
•   95. Stuart O’GRADY, Orica-GreenEdge, at 1:42:03
•   99. David ZABRISKIE, Garmin-Sharp, at 1:43:09
•   150. Mark CAVENDISH, Sky, at 2:14:40
•   163. Tyler FARRAR, Garmin-Sharp, at 2:37:16

Next Stage: July 15 Limoux — Foix 191km
Jerseys:

Yellow:      Bradley WIGGINS, Sky
Green:   
•   1. Peter SAGAN, Liquigas-Cannondale: 296 points
•   2. André GREIPEL, Lotto-Belisol: 232 points
•   3. Matthew Harley GOSS, Orica-GreenEdge: 203 points
 Polka Dot:
•   1. Fredrik Carl Wilhelm KESSIAKOFF, Astana: 66 points
•   2. Pierre ROLLAND, Europcar: 55 points
•   3. Chris Anker SÖRENSEN, Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank: 39 points
 White:       
•   1. Tejay VAN GARDEREN, BMC Racing, in 59:39:29
•   2. Thibaut PINOT, FDJ-BigMat, at 1:54
•   3. Rein TAARAMAE, Cofidis, at 41:59

Teams:       
•   1. Radioshack-Nissan, in 178:50:10
•   2. Sky Procycling, at 12:38
•   3. Astana Pro Team, at 25:19

 Lanterne Rouge:   Tyler FARRAR, Garmin-Sharp
Withdrawals:
Stage 13:
Tony GALLOPIN, RadioShack-Nissan: DNF
Stage 12:
Tom VEELERS, Argos-Shimano: DNF
David MONCOUTIE, Cofidis: DNF
Robert GESINK, Rabobank: DNS

Stage 11:
Gustav LARSSON, Vacansoleil-DCM: DNF
Mark RENSHAW, Rabobank: DNF
Lieuwe WESTRA, Vacansoleil-DCM: DNF
Rob RUIJGH, Vacansoleil-DCM: DNF
Bauke MOLLEMA, Rabobank: DNF
Fabian CANCELLARA, RadioShack-Nissan: DNS

Stage 10:
Matthew LLOYD, Lampre-ISD: DNS
Rémy DI GREGORIO, Cofidis: DNS
Tony MARTIN, Omega Pharma-Quick Step: DNS

Stage 8:
Samuel SANCHEZ GONZALEZ, Euskaltel-Euskadi: DNF
Gorka VERDUGO MARCOTEGUI, Euskaltel-Euskadi: DNF
Johannes FRÖHLINGER, Argos-Shimano: DNS

Stage 7:
Amets TXURRUKA, Euskaltel-Euskadi: DNS
Ryder HESJEDAL, Garmin-Sharp: DNS
Robert HUNTER, Garmin-Sharp: DNS
Hubert DUPONT, Ag2r La Mondiale: DNS
Anthony DELAPLACE, Saur-Sojasun: DNF
Oscar FREIRE GOMEZ, Katusha: DNS
Maarten WYNANTS, Rabobank: DNS
Imanol ERVITI, Movistar: DNS
José Ivan GUTIERREZ PALACIOS, Movistar: DNS

Stage 6:
Mikel ASTARLOZA CHAURREAU, Euskaltel-Euskadi: DNF
Davide VIGANO, Lampre-ISD: DNF
Thomas DANIELSON, Garmin-Sharp: DNF
Wouter POELS, Vacansoleil-DCM: DNF

Stage 5:
Marcel KITTEL, Argos-Shimano: DNF
Stage 4:

Maarten TJALLINGII, Rabobank: DNS

Stage 3:
Jose Joaquin ROJAS GIL, Movistar: DNF
Kanstantsin SIVTSOV, Sky: DNF

Stage 13  Review:
Andre Greipel edges Peter Sagan to win stage 13 of the 2012 Tour de France
•   By Agence France Presse
•   Published 5 hours ago

LE CAP D’AGDE, France (AFP) — Germany’s Andre Greipel claimed his third victory of this year’s Tour de France as Bradley Wiggins of Britain held on to the yellow jersey at the end of the 13th stage.
Greipel, who rides for Lotto, finished just ahead of Slovakian sprint rival Peter Sagan (Liquigas) in a tight finish in which Wiggins astonishingly tried to set up Sky teammate Edvald Boasson Hagen.
“Edvald’s done a lot of work for me in the mountains, so we tried to pay him back by setting him up there at the finish,” said Wiggins.
But Boasson Hagen could only finish third on the 217km stage, which began in Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux.
“I’m really happy with this victory,” said Greipel, one of the few sprinters able to successfully negotiate the Mont Saint Clair climb, whose summit was 20km from the finish.
“The team did a great job for me today. It’s amazing. You can be really happy with just one victory in the Tour de France, but this one is a bit special because of the Mont Saint Clair being there near the finish.
“We deserved this.”
Despite a potentially treacherous finale due to crosswinds leading to Cap d’Agde, Wiggins stayed out of danger to retain his lead of two minutes and five seconds over teammate Chris Froome.
Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale) is still third at 2:23 while defending champion Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) is fourth at 3:19.
Greipel won stages 4 and 5 in this year’s race and now has four in total, having claimed his maiden Tour stage in 2011.
World champion Mark Cavendish (Sky), the winner of 21 stages on the Tour but only one this edition, was one of a large bunch of riders left behind on the slopes of the Mont Saint Clair.
After an eight-man breakaway formed in the opening kilometers, they were allowed to go on and build a maximum lead of nine minutes on the peloton.
But with the stage win and points for the green jersey at stake, and the potential danger to the overall victory contenders, it wasn’t long before the peloton upped the pace.
The Orica-GreenEdge team of sprinter Matt Goss hit the front and with 70km to race the leaders’ gap had dropped to just over two minutes.
Minutes later, Michael Morkov (Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank) jumped away in the hope of taking his attack all the way to the finish in remembrance of his father, who died six years ago to the day.
But the first slopes of the Saint Clair ended his hopes and the peloton, which had also reeled in his seven companions, soon powered past.
Evans surged ahead in a bid to distance Wiggins and his Sky team. The move failed, but caused a split that left a select group at the front and Goss among those off the back.
Wiggins said the move had not scared him: “I don’t know if it was an attack, but it was far from the finish and I knew the climb because I’d raced it on the Midi Libre.”
With 16km remaining Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) launched his attack, joined by GreenEdge’s Michael Albasini.
Their two-man bid was doomed by the sustained efforts of Greipel’s Lotto team.
Although the Belgian outfit came apart in the closing kilometer when Wiggins made a rare appearance to lead out Boasson Hagen, Greipel finished the job off in style thanks to a timely lift of his front wheel at the finish.
Even Sagan, who has also won three stages, had to applaud.
“He lifted his bike faster than me, but that’s the way it is. He deserved it,” said Sagan.

[cyclist]

2012 Tour de France Stage 14 results
July 15 Limoux — Foix 191km

Luis Leon Sanchez solos to victory in stage 14 of the 2012 Tour de France

Stage results
•   1. Luis Leon SANCHEZ GIL, Rabobank, in 4:50:29
•   2. Peter SAGAN, Liquigas-Cannondale, at :47
•   3. Sandy CASAR, FDJ-BigMat, at :47
•   4. Philippe GILBERT, BMC Racing, at :47
•   5. Gorka IZAGUIRRE INSAUSTI, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at :47
•   15. Bradley WIGGINS, Sky, at 18:15
•   16. Cadel EVANS, BMC Racing, at 18:15
•   17. Vincenzo NIBALI, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 18:15
•   20. Christopher FROOME, Sky, at 18:15
•   41. Frank SCHLECK, RadioShack-Nissan, at 18:15
•   44. George HINCAPIE, BMC Racing, at 18:15
•   50. Tejay VAN GARDEREN, BMC Racing, at 18:15
•   51. Denis MENCHOV, Katusha, at 18:15
•   55. Andreas KLÖDEN, RadioShack-Nissan, at 18:15
•   58. Ivan BASSO, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 18:15
•   61. Alejandro VALVERDE BELMONTE, Movistar, at 18:15
•   68. Levi LEIPHEIMER, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 18:15
•   69. Thomas VOECKLER, Europcar, at 18:27
•   70. Jens VOIGT, RadioShack-Nissan, at 21:19
•   97. Sylvain CHAVANEL, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 28:18
•   130. Tyler FARRAR, Garmin-Sharp, at 28:18
•   143. David MILLAR, Garmin-Sharp, at 28:18
•   144. Stuart O’GRADY, Orica-GreenEdge, at 28:18
•   147. David ZABRISKIE, Garmin-Sharp, at 28:18
•   148. Mark CAVENDISH, Sky, at 28:18
•   151. Alexandr VINOKUROV, Astana, at 28:18
•   162. Christophe KERN, Europcar, at 31:53

GC Standings:

•   1. Bradley WIGGINS, Sky, in 64:41:16
•   2. Christopher FROOME, Sky, at 2:05
•   3. Vincenzo NIBALI, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 2:23
•   4. Cadel EVANS, BMC Racing, at 3:19
•   5. Jurgen VAN DEN BROECK, Lotto-Belisol, at 4:48
•   7. Tejay VAN GARDEREN, BMC Racing, at 6:57
•   11. Andreas KLÖDEN, RadioShack-Nissan, at 9:29
•   12. Frank SCHLECK, RadioShack-Nissan, at 9:45
•   15. Christopher HORNER, RadioShack-Nissan, at 12:41
•   16. Denis MENCHOV, Katusha, at 17:21
•   25. Alejandro VALVERDE BELMONTE, Movistar, at 32:59
•   28. Ivan BASSO, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 45:13
•   30. Levi LEIPHEIMER, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 47:17
•   31. Peter SAGAN, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 47:32
•   34. Thomas VOECKLER, Europcar, at 56:06
•   36. Alexandr VINOKUROV, Astana, at 56:43
•   41. George HINCAPIE, BMC Racing, at 1:04:55
•   52. Jens VOIGT, RadioShack-Nissan, at 1:13:56
•   61. Sylvain CHAVANEL, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 1:17:50
•   66. Christian VANDEVELDE, Garmin-Sharp, at 1:21:06
•   86. David MILLAR, Garmin-Sharp, at 1:42:39
•   100. Stuart O’GRADY, Orica-GreenEdge, at 1:52:06
•   103. David ZABRISKIE, Garmin-Sharp, at 1:53:12
•   115. André GREIPEL, Lotto-Belisol, at 2:03:38 
•   149. Mark CAVENDISH, Sky, at 2:24:43
•   162. Tyler FARRAR, Garmin-Sharp, at 2:47:29

Next Stage: July 16 Samatan — Pau 158.5km

 Jerseys:

Yellow:      Bradley WIGGINS, Sky
Green:   
•   1. Peter SAGAN, Liquigas-Cannondale: 333 points
•   2. André GREIPEL, Lotto-Belisol: 236 points
•   3. Matthew Harley GOSS, Orica-GreenEdge: 203 points
 Polka Dot:
•   1. Fredrik Carl Wilhelm KESSIAKOFF, Astana: 69 points
•   2. Pierre ROLLAND, Europcar: 55 points
•   3. Chris Anker SÖRENSEN, Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank: 39 points
 White:       
•   1. Tejay VAN GARDEREN, BMC Racing, in 64:48:13
•   2. Thibaut PINOT, FDJ-BigMat, at 1:54
•   3. Peter SAGAN, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 40:35

Teams:       
•   1. RADIOSHACK-NISSAN, in 194:16:22
•   2. SKY PROCYCLING, at 12:38
•   3. BMC RACING TEAM, at 17:46

 Lanterne Rouge:   Tyler FARRAR, Garmin-Sharp
Withdrawals:
Stage 14:
Robert KISERLOVSKI, Astana: DNF
Stage 13:
Tony GALLOPIN, RadioShack-Nissan: DNF
Stage 12:
Tom VEELERS, Argos-Shimano: DNF
David MONCOUTIE, Cofidis: DNF
Robert GESINK, Rabobank: DNS

Stage 11:
Gustav LARSSON, Vacansoleil-DCM: DNF
Mark RENSHAW, Rabobank: DNF
Lieuwe WESTRA, Vacansoleil-DCM: DNF
Rob RUIJGH, Vacansoleil-DCM: DNF
Bauke MOLLEMA, Rabobank: DNF
Fabian CANCELLARA, RadioShack-Nissan: DNS

Stage 10:
Matthew LLOYD, Lampre-ISD: DNS
Rémy DI GREGORIO, Cofidis: DNS
Tony MARTIN, Omega Pharma-Quick Step: DNS

Stage 8:
Samuel SANCHEZ GONZALEZ, Euskaltel-Euskadi: DNF
Gorka VERDUGO MARCOTEGUI, Euskaltel-Euskadi: DNF
Johannes FRÖHLINGER, Argos-Shimano: DNS

Stage 7:
Amets TXURRUKA, Euskaltel-Euskadi: DNS
Ryder HESJEDAL, Garmin-Sharp: DNS
Robert HUNTER, Garmin-Sharp: DNS
Hubert DUPONT, Ag2r La Mondiale: DNS
Anthony DELAPLACE, Saur-Sojasun: DNF
Oscar FREIRE GOMEZ, Katusha: DNS
Maarten WYNANTS, Rabobank: DNS
Imanol ERVITI, Movistar: DNS
José Ivan GUTIERREZ PALACIOS, Movistar: DNS

Stage 6:
Mikel ASTARLOZA CHAURREAU, Euskaltel-Euskadi: DNF
Davide VIGANO, Lampre-ISD: DNF
Thomas DANIELSON, Garmin-Sharp: DNF
Wouter POELS, Vacansoleil-DCM: DNF

Stage 5:
Marcel KITTEL, Argos-Shimano: DNF
Stage 4:

Maarten TJALLINGII, Rabobank: DNS

Stage 3:
Jose Joaquin ROJAS GIL, Movistar: DNF
Kanstantsin SIVTSOV, Sky: DNF

Stage 14  Review:
•   Luis Leon Sanchez solos to victory in stage 14 of the 2012 Tour de France
•   By Agence France Presse
•   Published 4 hours ago

FOIX, France (AFP) — Spaniard Luis Leon Sanchez handed his stricken Rabobank team a welcome boost by soloing to victory on Sunday in stage 14 of the Tour de France.
Sanchez, whose team has been decimated by crashes, had been part of an 11-man break that built a 16-minute lead on the peloton well before the end of the 191km stage from Limoux to Foix.
And after counter-attacking Sandy Casar (FDJ-Big Mat) on the 38km descent towards the finish, the Spaniard made a decisive move with just over 11km to race.
Sanchez went on unchallenged to finish 47 seconds ahead of Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale)) with Casar in third. The main peloton, including race leader Bradley Wiggins (Sky), finished 18 minutes in arrears.
“I started the day with victory in mind but given the company I was in I knew I’d have to attack from far out to have any chance,” said Sanchez, whose team has only four remaining members from nine starters.
Although the early breakaway had built a significant lead that never looked under threat, they were given further room by the dramatics going on in their wake —and which showed Wiggins’ sense of fair play.
Defending champion Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) started the day three minutes and 19 seconds adrift, but could have finished it far worse off after falling victim to a series of flats said to have been caused by tacks on the road.
First, he was left waiting at the summit of the last, brutal climb, the Peguere, for nearly two minutes. Looking flustered and gesturing in despair as he held his bike minus its back wheel, a teammate pulled alongside — but he, too, had a flat. After Evans finally got a serviceable wheel he suffered another puncture on the descent, during which time the yellow jersey group sat up and waited for him to catch back on as his BMC squad ran a team time trial to regain the bunch.
Wiggins, who took the yellow jersey after stage 7 last Saturday, will take a 2:05 lead over teammate Chris Froome into Monday’s mainly flat stage from Samatan to Pau.
Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) is still third overall at 2:23 with Evans fourth at 3:19.

[cyclist]

2012 Tour de France Stage 15 results
July 16 Samatan — Pau 158.5km

Fedrigo wins fourth career Tour stage as Wiggins defends yellow

Stage results
•   1. Pierrick FEDRIGO, FDJ-BigMat, in 3:40:15
•   2. Christian VANDEVELDE, Garmin-Sharp, at 0
•   3. Thomas VOECKLER, Europcar, at :12
•   4. Nicki SÖRENSEN, Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank, at :12
•   5. Dries DEVENYNS, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at :21
•   7. André GREIPEL, Lotto-Belisol, at 11:50
•   8. Tyler FARRAR, Garmin-Sharp, at 11:50
•   9. Peter SAGAN, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 11:50
•   21. Cadel EVANS, BMC Racing, at 11:50
•   22. Bradley WIGGINS, Sky, at 11:50
•   23. Christopher FROOME, Sky, at 11:50
•   24. Vincenzo NIBALI, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 11:50
•   35. Tejay VAN GARDEREN, BMC Racing, at 11:50
•   37. Andreas KLÖDEN, RadioShack-Nissan, at 11:50
•   40. Christopher HORNER, RadioShack-Nissan, at 11:50
•   42. Frank SCHLECK, RadioShack-Nissan, at 11:50
•   46. George HINCAPIE, BMC Racing, at 11:50
•   47. Denis MENCHOV, Katusha, at 11:50
•   82. Mark CAVENDISH, Sky, at 11:50
•   112. Ivan BASSO, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 11:50
•   115. Alejandro VALVERDE BELMONTE, Movistar, at 11:50
•   140. Stuart O’GRADY, Orica-GreenEdge, at 11:50
•   148. Jens VOIGT, RadioShack-Nissan, at 12:21
•   149. David MILLAR, Garmin-Sharp, at 12:21
•   150. David ZABRISKIE, Garmin-Sharp, at 12:21
•   153. Alexandr VINOKUROV, Astana, at 12:35
•   156. Alessandro VANOTTI, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 15:31

GC Standings:

•   1. Bradley WIGGINS, Sky, in 68:33:21
•   2. Christopher FROOME, Sky, at 2:05
•   3. Vincenzo NIBALI, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 2:23
•   4. Cadel EVANS, BMC Racing, at 3:19
•   5. Jurgen VAN DEN BROECK, Lotto-Belisol, at 4:48
•   7. Tejay VAN GARDEREN, BMC Racing, at 6:57
•   11. Andreas KLÖDEN, RadioShack-Nissan, at 9:29
•   12. Frank SCHLECK, RadioShack-Nissan, at 9:45
•   15. Christopher HORNER, RadioShack-Nissan, at 12:41
•   16. Denis MENCHOV, Katusha, at 17:21
•   25. Alejandro VALVERDE BELMONTE, Movistar, at 32:59
•   27. Thomas VOECKLER, Europcar, at 44:28
•   29. Ivan BASSO, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 45:13
•   31. Levi LEIPHEIMER, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 47:17
•   32. Peter SAGAN, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 47:32
•   36. Alexandr VINOKUROV, Astana, at 57:28
•   42. George HINCAPIE, BMC Racing, at 1:04:55
•   45. Christian VANDEVELDE, Garmin-Sharp, at 1:09:16
•   56. Jens VOIGT, RadioShack-Nissan, at 1:14:27
•   85. David MILLAR, Garmin-Sharp, at 1:43:10
•   98. Stuart O’GRADY, Orica-GreenEdge, at 1:52:06
•   103. David ZABRISKIE, Garmin-Sharp, at 1:53:43
•   144. Mark CAVENDISH, Sky, at 2:24:43
•   155. Jimmy ENGOULVENT, Saur-Sojasun, at 2:43:46
•   156. Tyler FARRAR, Garmin-Sharp, at 2:47:29

Next Stage: July 17 Rest Day, then July 18 Pau — Bagneres-de-Luchon 197km

 Jerseys:

Yellow:      Bradley WIGGINS, Sky
Green:   
•   1. Peter SAGAN, Liquigas-Cannondale: 356 points
•   2. André GREIPEL, Lotto-Belisol: 254 points
•   3. Matthew Harley GOSS, Orica-GreenEdge: 203 points
 Polka Dot:
•   1. Fredrik Carl Wilhelm KESSIAKOFF, Astana: 69 points
•   2. Pierre ROLLAND, Europcar: 55 points
•   3. Chris Anker SÖRENSEN, Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank: 39 points
 White:       
•   1. Tejay VAN GARDEREN, BMC Racing, in 68:40:18
•   2. Thibaut PINOT, FDJ-BigMat, at 1:54
•   3. Peter SAGAN, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 40:35

Teams:       
•   1. Radioshack-Nissan, in 205:52:34
•   2. Sky Procycling, at 12:38
•   3. Bmc Racing Team, at 17:46

 Lanterne Rouge:   Tyler FARRAR, Garmin-Sharp
Withdrawals:
Stage 15:
Kenny Robert VAN HUMMEL, Vacansoleil-DCM: DNF
Vincent JEROME, Europcar: DNF
Brett LANCASTER, Orica-GreenEdge: DNF
Giovanni BERNAUDEAU, Europcar: DNF
Sylvain CHAVANEL, Omega Pharma-Quick Step: DNF

Stage 14:
Robert KISERLOVSKI, Astana: DNF
Stage 13:
Tony GALLOPIN, RadioShack-Nissan: DNF
Stage 12:
Tom VEELERS, Argos-Shimano: DNF
David MONCOUTIE, Cofidis: DNF
Robert GESINK, Rabobank: DNS

Stage 11:
Gustav LARSSON, Vacansoleil-DCM: DNF
Mark RENSHAW, Rabobank: DNF
Lieuwe WESTRA, Vacansoleil-DCM: DNF
Rob RUIJGH, Vacansoleil-DCM: DNF
Bauke MOLLEMA, Rabobank: DNF
Fabian CANCELLARA, RadioShack-Nissan: DNS

Stage 10:
Matthew LLOYD, Lampre-ISD: DNS
Rémy DI GREGORIO, Cofidis: DNS
Tony MARTIN, Omega Pharma-Quick Step: DNS

Stage 8:
Samuel SANCHEZ GONZALEZ, Euskaltel-Euskadi: DNF
Gorka VERDUGO MARCOTEGUI, Euskaltel-Euskadi: DNF
Johannes FRÖHLINGER, Argos-Shimano: DNS

Stage 7:
Amets TXURRUKA, Euskaltel-Euskadi: DNS
Ryder HESJEDAL, Garmin-Sharp: DNS
Robert HUNTER, Garmin-Sharp: DNS
Hubert DUPONT, Ag2r La Mondiale: DNS
Anthony DELAPLACE, Saur-Sojasun: DNF
Oscar FREIRE GOMEZ, Katusha: DNS
Maarten WYNANTS, Rabobank: DNS
Imanol ERVITI, Movistar: DNS
José Ivan GUTIERREZ PALACIOS, Movistar: DNS

Stage 6:
Mikel ASTARLOZA CHAURREAU, Euskaltel-Euskadi: DNF
Davide VIGANO, Lampre-ISD: DNF
Thomas DANIELSON, Garmin-Sharp: DNF
Wouter POELS, Vacansoleil-DCM: DNF

Stage 5:
Marcel KITTEL, Argos-Shimano: DNF
Stage 4:

Maarten TJALLINGII, Rabobank: DNS

Stage 3:
Jose Joaquin ROJAS GIL, Movistar: DNF
Kanstantsin SIVTSOV, Sky: DNF

Stage 15  Review:
Fedrigo wins fourth career Tour stage as Wiggins defends yellow
•   By VeloNews.com
•   Published Jul. 16, 2012
•   Updated 3 hours ago

PAU, France (AFP) — French rider Pierrick Fedrigo (FDJ-BigMat) gave the hosts their fourth win of the Tour de France when he beat American Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Sharp) to win the 158.5km 15th stage between Samatan and Pau on Monday.
Race leader Bradley Wiggins (Sky) and the main peloton came over the finish line nearly 12 minutes behind a six-man breakaway that had fought hard to form in a frantic opening to the race.
Wiggins, who took the race lead at the end of stage 7, came under no threat during the undulating stage from the Gers department to the foot of the Pyrénées, where the peloton will spend the race’s second rest day Tuesday.
The Team Sky leader still has a 2:05 lead over teammate Chris Froome, with Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale) in third at 2:23 and Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) fourth at 3:19.
On what was one of the last chances for the sprinters to shine on a flat finish, it became clear that the yellow jersey takes precedence for Wiggins’ Sky team. After a blistering opening 90 minutes, Sky and backed off and allowed the six-man breakaway to go up the road, taking a maximum advantage of more than 12 minutes. Asked why Sky had not helped the other sprinters’ teams to form an effective chase, world champion Mark Cavendish snapped: “It wasn’t flat. There were 2000 meters of climbing in 150km!
“GreenEdge … said they didn’t want to ride today. Lotto initially said they didn’t want to ride and after the feed they put two riders up to ride, so we had four.
“Then we made the decision that with four guys chasing six in front we were never going to get it back quick enough on those roads, because it was so up and down. So we shut it down and then Lotto soon shut it down. So that was the end of that.”
It left the six-man group, which contained another two Frenchmen in Europcar’s Thomas Voeckler and Samuel Dumoulin of Cofidis, to ride into Pau unhindered.
Fedrigo attacked with 6.5km remaining and when Vande Velde caught on, the pair rode away from Voeckler, Dumoulin, Nicki Sørensen (Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank) and Dries Devenyns (Omega Pharma-Quick Step). Vande Velde followed the Frenchman into the finish straight, but couldn’t come around in the two-up sprint. It was Fedrigo’s fourth career victory in the Tour, but first since 2010 and his return to cycling after a six-month spell on the sidelines. It is also the second for his FDJ team after Thibaut Pinot won stage 8 in Porrentruy, Switzerland.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Fedrigo, whose last win on the race was in Pau in 2010. “The last time I won on the Tour was here. When you’re racing the Tour, you need luck. And some days you just get the feeling it can be your day.
“The closer we got to the finish line, the more I believed in my chances.”
After that 2010 victory, the Frenchman — who is a keen hunter — came down with Lyme’s disease, keeping him off the Tour and off the bike for six months.
“I caught Lyme’s disease, a virus which is caused by a tick. You can catch it in the fields or in the woods. I came back to cycling determined to find my level again.”
The race resumes Wednesday when the mountainous 197km 16th stage takes the peloton over two hors categorie and two Cat. 1 climbs to a downhill finish in Bagneres-de-Luchon.

[cyclist]

2012 Tour de France Stage 16 results
July 18 Pau — Bagneres-de-Luchon 197km

Voeckler wins stage 16 of the Tour de France; Wiggins defends yellow

Stage results
•   1. Thomas VOECKLER, Europcar, in 5:35:02
•   2. Chris Anker SÖRENSEN, Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank, at 1:40
•   3. Gorka IZAGUIRRE INSAUSTI, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 3:22
•   4. Alexandr VINOKUROV, Astana, at 3:22
•   5. Brice FEILLU, Saur-Sojasun, at 3:58
•   6. Jens VOIGT, RadioShack-Nissan, at 4:18
•   11. Vincenzo NIBALI, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 7:09
•   12. Bradley WIGGINS, Sky, at 7:09
•   13. Christopher FROOME, Sky, at 7:09
•   15. Tejay VAN GARDEREN, BMC Racing, at 8:07
•   20. Christopher HORNER, RadioShack-Nissan, at 8:07
•   33. Andreas KLÖDEN, RadioShack-Nissan, at 10:54
•   34. Levi LEIPHEIMER, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 10:54
•   35. Cadel EVANS, BMC Racing, at 11:56
•   36. George HINCAPIE, BMC Racing, at 11:56 
•   44. Ivan BASSO, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 14:07
•   65. Stuart O’GRADY, Orica-GreenEdge, at 22:15
•   73. Peter SAGAN, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 22:15
•   116. David ZABRISKIE, Garmin-Sharp, at 30:11
•   132. Tyler FARRAR, Garmin-Sharp, at 33:04
•   133. David MILLAR, Garmin-Sharp, at 33:04
•   134. Mark CAVENDISH, Sky, at 33:04
•   153. Jan GHYSELINCK, Cofidis, at 43:38

GC Standings:

•   1. Bradley WIGGINS, Sky, in 74:15:32
•   2. Christopher FROOME, Sky, at 2:05
•   3. Vincenzo NIBALI, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 2:23
•   4. Jurgen VAN DEN BROECK, Lotto-Belisol, at 5:46
•   5. Haimar ZUBELDIA AGIRRE, RadioShack-Nissan, at 7:13
•   6. Tejay VAN GARDEREN, BMC Racing, at 7:55
•   7. Cadel EVANS, BMC Racing, at 8:06
•   12. Andreas KLÖDEN, RadioShack-Nissan, at 13:14
•   13. Christopher HORNER, RadioShack-Nissan, at 13:39
•   23. Thomas VOECKLER, Europcar, at 37:19
•   29. Levi LEIPHEIMER, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 51:02
•   30. Ivan BASSO, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 52:11
•   32. Alexandr VINOKUROV, Astana, at 53:41
•   36. Peter SAGAN, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 1:02:38
•   38. George HINCAPIE, BMC Racing, at 1:09:42
•   41. Jens VOIGT, RadioShack-Nissan, at 1:11:36
•   50. Christian VANDEVELDE, Garmin-Sharp, at 1:24:22
•   89. Stuart O’GRADY, Orica-GreenEdge, at 2:07:12
•   93. David MILLAR, Garmin-Sharp, at 2:09:05
•   105. David ZABRISKIE, Garmin-Sharp, at 2:16:45
•   144. Mark CAVENDISH, Sky, at 2:50:38
•   152. Tyler FARRAR, Garmin-Sharp, at 3:13:24
•   153. Jan GHYSELINCK, Cofidis, at 3:14:45

Next Stage: July 19 Bagneres-de-Luchon — Peyragudes 143.5km

 Jerseys:

Yellow:      Bradley WIGGINS, Sky
Green:   
•   1. Peter SAGAN, Liquigas-Cannondale: 356 points
•   2. André GREIPEL, Lotto-Belisol: 254 points
•   3. Matthew Harley GOSS, Orica-GreenEdge: 203 points
 Polka Dot:
•   1. Thomas VOECKLER, Europcar: 107 points
•   2. Fredrik Carl Wilhelm KESSIAKOFF, Astana: 103 points
•   3. Chris Anker SÖRENSEN, Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank: 77 points
 White:       
•   1. Tejay VAN GARDEREN, BMC Racing, in 74:23:27
•   2. Thibaut PINOT, FDJ-BigMat, at 3:48
•   3. Steven KRUIJSWIJK, Rabobank, at 45:26

Teams:       
•   1. Radioshack-Nissan, in 222:58:15
•   2. Sky Procycling, at 17:18
•   3. Astana Pro Team, at 28:53

 Lanterne Rouge:   Jan GHYSELINCK, Cofidis
Withdrawals:
Stage 16:
Grega BOLE, Lampre-ISD: DNF
Vladimir GUSEV, Katusha: DNF
Frank SCHLECK, RadioShack-Nissan: DNS

Stage 15:
Kenny Robert VAN HUMMEL, Vacansoleil-DCM: DNF
Vincent JEROME, Europcar: DNF
Brett LANCASTER, Orica-GreenEdge: DNF
Giovanni BERNAUDEAU, Europcar: DNF
Sylvain CHAVANEL, Omega Pharma-Quick Step: DNF

Stage 14:
Robert KISERLOVSKI, Astana: DNF
Stage 13:
Tony GALLOPIN, RadioShack-Nissan: DNF
Stage 12:
Tom VEELERS, Argos-Shimano: DNF
David MONCOUTIE, Cofidis: DNF
Robert GESINK, Rabobank: DNS

Stage 11:
Gustav LARSSON, Vacansoleil-DCM: DNF
Mark RENSHAW, Rabobank: DNF
Lieuwe WESTRA, Vacansoleil-DCM: DNF
Rob RUIJGH, Vacansoleil-DCM: DNF
Bauke MOLLEMA, Rabobank: DNF
Fabian CANCELLARA, RadioShack-Nissan: DNS

Stage 10:
Matthew LLOYD, Lampre-ISD: DNS
Rémy DI GREGORIO, Cofidis: DNS
Tony MARTIN, Omega Pharma-Quick Step: DNS

Stage 8:
Samuel SANCHEZ GONZALEZ, Euskaltel-Euskadi: DNF
Gorka VERDUGO MARCOTEGUI, Euskaltel-Euskadi: DNF
Johannes FRÖHLINGER, Argos-Shimano: DNS

Stage 7:
Amets TXURRUKA, Euskaltel-Euskadi: DNS
Ryder HESJEDAL, Garmin-Sharp: DNS
Robert HUNTER, Garmin-Sharp: DNS
Hubert DUPONT, Ag2r La Mondiale: DNS
Anthony DELAPLACE, Saur-Sojasun: DNF
Oscar FREIRE GOMEZ, Katusha: DNS
Maarten WYNANTS, Rabobank: DNS
Imanol ERVITI, Movistar: DNS
José Ivan GUTIERREZ PALACIOS, Movistar: DNS

Stage 6:
Mikel ASTARLOZA CHAURREAU, Euskaltel-Euskadi: DNF
Davide VIGANO, Lampre-ISD: DNF
Thomas DANIELSON, Garmin-Sharp: DNF
Wouter POELS, Vacansoleil-DCM: DNF

Stage 5:
Marcel KITTEL, Argos-Shimano: DNF
Stage 4:

Maarten TJALLINGII, Rabobank: DNS

Stage 3:
Jose Joaquin ROJAS GIL, Movistar: DNF
Kanstantsin SIVTSOV, Sky: DNF

Stage 16  Review:
Voeckler wins stage 16 of the Tour de France; Wiggins defends yellow
•   By VeloNews.com
•   Published Jul. 18, 2012
•   Updated 7 hours ago

Thomas Voeckler won his second stage of the 2012 Tour de France on Wednesday, arriving victorious to Bagnères-de-Luchon to take stage 16. Voeckler’s win was the third in two weeks for Europcar at the Tour and came on arguably the Tour’s hardest day.
Chris Anker Sørensen (Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank) tried to bridge to Voeckler late, but came up short, finishing second, at 1:43 back.
Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome (Sky) fought off a number of hard attacks from Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale) to defend their top two places on the general classification.
Defending champion Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) finished nearly 12 minutes behind Voeckler and nearly five minutes behind Wiggins’ group after being dropped on the Col du Peyresourde. It means Evans drops from fourth overall to seventh, at 8:06 behind Wiggins and virtually ends his bid to defend his 2011 title.
“We saw at the end, it was just down to three, there’s not many people left in the race. The team was incredible again today, from the start,” said Wiggins. “I’m just glad that day is out of the way… It was hot out there, everyone reacts differently to it. We’re nearly three weeks into this race. Everyone is going through different things with their bodies, and everyone reacts differently after the rest day. I’m just glad we passed the test as a team… It was tough going out there.”
Evans started trailing on the Col d’Aspin, came over the summit of the penultimate climb with a 45-second deficit to Wiggins and then fought to get back on before the final climb to the summit of the Peyresourde. Not long after the road started rising, however, the Australian lost touch
with Wiggins’ group when a turn of pace by Jurgen Van den Broeck’s Lotto-Belisol teammate Jelle Vanendert split the group and just proved too much.
“Cadel was maybe suffering from the heat and had some stomach problems. It was just a bad day,” said BMC’s Tejay van Garderen, the race’s best young rider, who stuck with Van den Broeck.
“I think now it’s more of co-leadership. (Evans is) still only one place behind me.”
Voeckler, meanwhile, grabbed his second stage win of the race and the fourth of his career after leaving breakaway companion Brice Feillu (Saur-Sojasun) behind with 22km remaining. After the pair rode clear of the day’s breakaway on the Col du Tourmalet, Voeckler upped the pace 7km from the summit of the Col du Peyresourde and left Feillu behind.
Although Sørensen, the Dane who is famous for his lively grimacing as he pulls himself up the climbs, rode alone in pursuit of Voeckler, he was never a threat to the Frenchman.
Sørensen eventually came over the finish nearly two minutes behind the Frenchman, giving the Europcar rider plenty of time to savor his second victory in Luchon, two years after winning stage 15 in 2010.
It was also the fifth victory of the race for the hosts, following victories for Thibaut Pinot (FDJ-BigMat), Pierre Rolland (Europcar) and Pierrick Fedrigo (FDJ).
“For me it was like four races today,” said Voeckler. “And each one was a climb. I never go and look at stages beforehand but I’ve been racing these mountains since I was 19 years old,” said Voeckler. “I knew this stage off by heart. I was leading each time I went over a mountain pass.”
Voeckler’s efforts meant he clocked major points at each summit, and he took over possession of the King of the Mountains polka dot jersey from Astana’s Fredrik Kessiakoff.
The 17th stage on Thursday is a 143.5km ride from Luchon to the summit of Peyragudes and is the last climbing stage of the race.

[cyclist]

2012 Tour de France Stage 17 results
July 19 Bagneres-de-Luchon — Peyragudes 143.5km

Alejandro Valverde uses brains, legs and powers of persuasion to win stage 17 of the 2012 Tour de France

Stage results
•   1. Alejandro VALVERDE BELMONTE, Movistar, in 4:12:11
•   2. Christopher FROOME, Sky, at :19
•   3. Bradley WIGGINS, Sky, at :19
•   4. Thibaut PINOT, FDJ-BigMat, at :22
•   5. Pierre ROLLAND, Europcar, at :26
•   7. Vincenzo NIBALI, Liquigas-Cannondale, at :37
•   8. Tejay VAN GARDEREN, BMC Racing, at :54
•   9. Christopher HORNER, RadioShack-Nissan, at 1:02
•   11. Andreas KLÖDEN, RadioShack-Nissan, at 1:14
•   15. Denis MENCHOV, Katusha, at 1:55
•   18. Cadel EVANS, BMC Racing, at 2:10
•   20. Ivan BASSO, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 2:37
•   34. Levi LEIPHEIMER, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 8:19
•   48. Thomas VOECKLER, Europcar, at 16:01 
•   55. George HINCAPIE, BMC Racing, at 16:06
•   56. Philippe GILBERT, BMC Racing, at 16:06
•   89. Peter SAGAN, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 30:57
•   119. Christian VANDEVELDE, Garmin-Sharp, at 30:57
•   121. Jens VOIGT, RadioShack-Nissan, at 30:57
•   125. Stuart O’GRADY, Orica-GreenEdge, at 30:57
•   127. David MILLAR, Garmin-Sharp, at 30:57
•   138. David ZABRISKIE, Garmin-Sharp, at 30:57
•   144. Tyler FARRAR, Garmin-Sharp, at 30:57
•   152. Mark CAVENDISH, Sky, at 31:32
•   153. Alessandro VANOTTI, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 31:32

GC Standings:

•   1. Bradley WIGGINS, Sky, in 78:28:02
•   2. Christopher FROOME, Sky, at 2:05
•   3. Vincenzo NIBALI, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 2:41
•   4. Jurgen VAN DEN BROECK, Lotto-Belisol, at 5:53
•   5. Tejay VAN GARDEREN, BMC Racing, at 8:30
•   6. Cadel EVANS, BMC Racing, at 9:57
•   12. Andreas KLÖDEN, RadioShack-Nissan, at 14:09
•   13. Christopher HORNER, RadioShack-Nissan, at 14:22
•   15. Denis MENCHOV, Katusha, at 22:42
•   20. Alejandro VALVERDE BELMONTE, Movistar, at 33:38
•   26. Thomas VOECKLER, Europcar, at 53:01
•   27. Ivan BASSO, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 54:29
•   30. Levi LEIPHEIMER, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 59:02
•   32. Alexandr VINOKUROV, Astana, at 1:08:24
•   39. George HINCAPIE, BMC Racing, at 1:25:29
•   42. Philippe GILBERT, BMC Racing, at 1:32:30
•   43. Peter SAGAN, Liquigas-Cannondale, at 1:33:16
•   53. Jens VOIGT, RadioShack-Nissan, at 1:42:14
•   96. Stuart O’GRADY, Orica-GreenEdge, at 2:37:50
•   97. David MILLAR, Garmin-Sharp, at 2:39:43
•   108. David ZABRISKIE, Garmin-Sharp, at 2:47:23
•   145. Mark CAVENDISH, Sky, at 3:21:51
•   152. Tyler FARRAR, Garmin-Sharp, at 3:44:02
•   153. Jan GHYSELINCK, Cofidis, at 3:45:23

Next Stage: July 20 Blagnac — Brive-la-Gaillarde 222.5km

 Jerseys:

Yellow:      Bradley WIGGINS, Sky
Green:   
•   1. Peter SAGAN, Liquigas-Cannondale: 356 points
•   2. André GREIPEL, Lotto-Belisol: 254 points
•   3. Matthew Harley GOSS, Orica-GreenEdge: 203 points
 Polka Dot:
•   1. Thomas VOECKLER, Europcar: 134 points
•   2. Fredrik Carl Wilhelm KESSIAKOFF, Astana: 123 points
•   3. Chris Anker SÖRENSEN, Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank: 77 points
 White:       
•   1. Tejay VAN GARDEREN, BMC Racing, in 78:36:32
•   2. Thibaut PINOT, FDJ-BigMat, at 3:16
•   3. Steven KRUIJSWIJK, Rabobank, at 1:00:38

Teams:       
•   1. Radioshack-Nissan, in 235:40:21
•   2. Sky Procycling, at 14:09
•   3. Bmc Racing Team, at 36:21

 Lanterne Rouge:   Jan GHYSELINCK, Cofidis
Withdrawals:
Stage 16:
Grega BOLE, Lampre-ISD: DNF
Vladimir GUSEV, Katusha: DNF
Frank SCHLECK, RadioShack-Nissan: DNS

Stage 15:
Kenny Robert VAN HUMMEL, Vacansoleil-DCM: DNF
Vincent JEROME, Europcar: DNF
Brett LANCASTER, Orica-GreenEdge: DNF
Giovanni BERNAUDEAU, Europcar: DNF
Sylvain CHAVANEL, Omega Pharma-Quick Step: DNF

Stage 14:
Robert KISERLOVSKI, Astana: DNF
Stage 13:
Tony GALLOPIN, RadioShack-Nissan: DNF
Stage 12:
Tom VEELERS, Argos-Shimano: DNF
David MONCOUTIE, Cofidis: DNF
Robert GESINK, Rabobank: DNS

Stage 11:
Gustav LARSSON, Vacansoleil-DCM: DNF
Mark RENSHAW, Rabobank: DNF
Lieuwe WESTRA, Vacansoleil-DCM: DNF
Rob RUIJGH, Vacansoleil-DCM: DNF
Bauke MOLLEMA, Rabobank: DNF
Fabian CANCELLARA, RadioShack-Nissan: DNS

Stage 10:
Matthew LLOYD, Lampre-ISD: DNS
Rémy DI GREGORIO, Cofidis: DNS
Tony MARTIN, Omega Pharma-Quick Step: DNS

Stage 8:
Samuel SANCHEZ GONZALEZ, Euskaltel-Euskadi: DNF
Gorka VERDUGO MARCOTEGUI, Euskaltel-Euskadi: DNF
Johannes FRÖHLINGER, Argos-Shimano: DNS

Stage 7:
Amets TXURRUKA, Euskaltel-Euskadi: DNS
Ryder HESJEDAL, Garmin-Sharp: DNS
Robert HUNTER, Garmin-Sharp: DNS
Hubert DUPONT, Ag2r La Mondiale: DNS
Anthony DELAPLACE, Saur-Sojasun: DNF
Oscar FREIRE GOMEZ, Katusha: DNS
Maarten WYNANTS, Rabobank: DNS
Imanol ERVITI, Movistar: DNS
José Ivan GUTIERREZ PALACIOS, Movistar: DNS

Stage 6:
Mikel ASTARLOZA CHAURREAU, Euskaltel-Euskadi: DNF
Davide VIGANO, Lampre-ISD: DNF
Thomas DANIELSON, Garmin-Sharp: DNF
Wouter POELS, Vacansoleil-DCM: DNF

Stage 5:
Marcel KITTEL, Argos-Shimano: DNF
Stage 4:

Maarten TJALLINGII, Rabobank: DNS

Stage 3:
Jose Joaquin ROJAS GIL, Movistar: DNF
Kanstantsin SIVTSOV, Sky: DNF

Stage 17  Review:
Alejandro Valverde uses brains, legs and powers of persuasion to win stage 17 of the 2012 Tour de France
•   By Agence France Presse
•   Published 4 hours ago

PEYRAGUDES, France (AFP) — Alejandro Valverde admitted he had to use his powers of persuasion as well as his head and legs as he capped a brave attack with victory on stage 17 of the Tour de France.
With hopes of a top finish this year dashed by several crashes in the first week, the Movistar rider turned his attention to winning a stage on his first Tour participation since a doping ban ended in January.
Stage 17 was the last mountain stage of the race, and with a summit finish it suited the two-time Liège-Bastogne-Liège winner to perfection.
But after fighting to get into an early breakaway, Valverde’s bid to keep the peloton at bay hit a major obstacle: the presence of Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale).
The Italian started the day third overall and, at only 2:23 behind race leader Bradley Wiggins (Sky), he was still a threat to the yellow jersey.
“It was very hard from the start. The race was on as soon as the flag dropped and so we had to fight hard to get in the breakaway,” Nibali recounted.
“On the descent of the first climb it was also very cloudy and raining a little bit, but the big problem was Nibali. Because he was there the peloton wouldn’t let us go. I ended up having to speak with him, and he finally agreed to go back to the bunch.”
From there Valverde played his hand to perfection.
With two other Movistar riders among the frontrunners, he sent teammate Rui Costa on the attack, a tactic that allowed him to sit on the wheels of the Portuguese rider’s pursuers.
Shortly afterwards Valverde made his own move, joining Costa and then dropping him 3.5km from the summit of the steep Port de Bales.
By the time he crested the summit Valverde led Costa and Euskaltel’s Egoi Martinez by more than 30 seconds, with the yellow jersey group more than two minutes behind.
With 32km still to race, including the 15.4km climb to the summit of Peyragudes, his victory was far from guaranteed.
Having started the final climb with a 2:35 lead over Wiggins and a select group of contenders, Valverde soon came under threat as Wiggins and Sky teammate Chris Froome upped the pace in the closing kilometers.
In the end, he dug deep to come over the finish line 19 seconds ahead of the British pair to take his first win on the race since 2008. It was his fourth career Tour stage victory.
“I was lucky because I had two teammates with me today — Ruben Plaza and Rui Costa — and they did a great job. This victory goes to them and all my other teammates, the ones that are still here and the ones at home,” said Valverde.
The crashes that marred the first week led to Imanol Erviti, Jose Ivan Gutierrez and Jose Joaquin Rojas quitting the race early.
But Valverde said his resolve remained intact.
“I crashed myself three times in the first week, and that put paid to my hopes for the general classification,” he added.
“But not once did I want to stop the race. We really wanted to get that stage win. It was hard to come by, but we finally got it.”