2012 Tour de France, Prologue to Stage 10

Prologue to Stage 10 of the 2012 Tour de France thumb|upright=1.5|350px|Overview of the stages; black lines represent distances covered in the individual stages, while dashed lines are the distances covered in transfers between the stages. The 2012 Tour de France began on 30 June, and stage 10 occurred on 11 July. The 2012 edition began with a prologue – a short individual time trial stage – where each member of the starting peloton of 198 riders competed against the clock – in Liège, Belgium with two more stages held in the country before moving back into France. The race resumed in Orchies for the start of the third stage; also during the first half of the race, the peloton visited Switzerland for the finish to the eighth stage in Porrentruy, and contested another individual time trial stage – having returned to France – the following day. Fabian Cancellara held the lead of the race throughout its opening Belgian leg; having won the race-commencing prologue, Cancellara defended it on the following two stages before the race returned to France. Cancellara maintained his overall lead for the rest of the race's first week, before eventually losing time on the first true mountain stage of the race – stage seven – as he was dropped on the closing climb to La Planche des Belles Filles. As a result, Bradley Wiggins assumed the maillot jaune, becoming the first British rider to wear the jersey since 2000. Wiggins maintained the lead for the following three stages, including his first victory at the Tour during the ninth stage individual time trial in Besançon. Wiggins held a lead of almost two minutes in the overall standings with the more mountainous second half of the Tour still to race. Two riders won multiple stages during the first half of the race; Peter Sagan, in his first Tour de France, won three stages and also held the lead of the points classification, while André Greipel took back-to-back stage victories on the fourth and fifth stages. World champion Mark Cavendish achieved one stage victory, while French riders Thibaut Pinot and Thomas Voeckler each took breakaway victories. The race was also marked by several large crashes, most notably on the sixth stage, when the majority of the field crashed with around 25 km 1 on remaining. In total, twelve riders had to abandon the race due to injuries suffered during the crash.http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/updated-list-of-abandons-after-stage-6-in-the-2012-tour-de-france_228083 Updated list of abandons after stage 6 in the 2012 Tour de France VeloNews Competitor Group, Inc. 7 July 2012 11 July 2012 Agence France-Presse 11 July 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120711203253/http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/updated-list-of-abandons-after-stage-6-in-the-2012-tour-de-france_228083 dead During the race's first rest day – held after the ninth stage individual time trial – the team hotel of the COF 2012 squad, in Bourg-en-Bresse, was searched by French police and gendarmerie.http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cofidis-hotel-raided-di-gregorio-arrested-at-tour-de-france Cofidis hotel raided, Di Grégorio arrested at Tour de France Cyclingnews.com Future plc 11 July 2012 11 July 2012 One of team's riders in the Tour, Rémy Di Gregorio, was arrested in relation to an ongoing anti-doping case, and was immediately suspended by the French team; although the case had been open since 2011, when Di Gregorio was a member of the AST 2011 team.http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12352/Cofidis-suspends-Di-Gregorio-and-will-fire-him-if-doping-is-proved.aspx Shane Stokes Cofidis suspends Di Gregorio and will fire him if doping is proved VeloNation VeloNation LLC 10 July 2012 11 July 2012 Classification standings LegendJerseys appearing in the table on the left of the page indicate those worn by the cyclist during the particular stage, while those appearing in the table on the right of the page indicate those awarded to the cyclist after the stage. n jerseys 20px|link=General classification in the Tour de France|alt=Yellow jersey Denotes the leader of the general classificationASO 2012 29 20px|link=Points classification in the Tour de France|alt=Green jersey Denotes the leader of the points classificationASO 2012 29 20px|link=Mountains classification in the Tour de France|alt=Polka dot jersey Denotes the leader of the mountains classificationASO 2012 29 20px|link=Young rider classification in the Tour de France|alt=White jersey Denotes the leader of the young rider classificationASO 2012 29 20px|link=Team classification in the Tour de France|alt=Jersey with a yellow background on the number bib. Denotes the leader of the team classificationASO 2012 29The bibs are designated to all remaining riders within the leading team.ASO 2012 29 n bibs Prologue 30 June 2012 — Liège (Belgium), 6.4 km 1 on, (ITT)Prologue: Liège – Liège http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/0/etape_par_etape.html Tour de France Amaury Sport Organisation 27 June 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120625093410/http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/0/etape_par_etape.html 25 June 2012 dead dmy-all thumb|Prologue route The prologue was a short and fairly flat circuit around Liège,http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/tour-de-france-2012-prologue-preview-42268 Tour de France 2012: Prologue preview Cycling Weekly IPC Media 15 June 2012 24 October 2015 19 September 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150919163759/http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/tour-de-france-2012-prologue-preview-42268 dead with expected stage times to be about eight minutes.https://www.sbnation.com/cycling/2012/6/30/3122482/2012-tour-de-france-tv-schedule-route-prologue Tour de France 2012, Prologue: Route, TV Coverage, Video And More Rodger Sherman SB Nation Vox Media 30 June 2012 24 October 2015 The start ramp was located at Avenue Rogier next to the Parc d'Avroy; the riders then headed north by the Boulevard d'Avroy and Boulevard de la Sauvenière. They then followed the Quai Roosevelt, along the Meuse, until the midway point when they returned on the opposite carriageway, before turning right towards Place Saint-Lambert, in front of the Palais des Princes-Évêques. From there, the riders rejoined the original route on the opposite carriageway of Boulevard de la Sauvenière before the finish line located on Boulevard d'Avroy on the opposite side of the Parc d'Avroy from the start. thumb|BMC 2012's Cadel Evans, the defending champion, warming up before the stage. He eventually finished the stage in thirteenth place, seventeen seconds down on stage winner Fabian Cancellara (RNT 2012). With several tight corners, the prologue was expected to favour riders with good bike handling skills.June 30, Prologue: Liège (ITT) 6.4km http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2012/prologue Cyclingnews.com Future plc 12 June 2012 27 June 2012 10 June 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130610071544/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2012/prologue dead The first rider to leave the start house in Liège was ARG 2012b's Tom Veelers,http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12255/Tour-de-France-History-repeats-itself-in-Liege-with-Fabian-Cancellara-prologue-victory.aspx History repeats itself in Liège with Fabian Cancellara prologue victory VeloNation VeloNation LLC 30 June 2012 1 July 2012 Ben Atkins with most of the general classification contenders going towards the end of the starting order, as rain was not scheduled to disrupt the race.Tour de France prologue start times http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tour-de-france-prologue-start-times Cyclingnews.com Future plc 30 June 2012 1 July 2012 Veelers set a time of 7' 47" for the course – which was near-identical to the 2004 prologue held in the city, won by then-FAS 2004 rider Fabian Cancellara,2012 Tour de France prologue in Liege extended by 300 meters http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/2012-tour-de-france-prologue-in-liege-extended-by-300-meters Cyclingnews.com Future plc 23 April 2012 1 July 2012 over a 6.1 km 1 on parcours – but this was immediately beaten by OGE 2012b rider Simon Gerrans, who went five seconds quicker around the course. Gerrans' lead was also not to last for long, as Ukrainian national champion Andriy Hryvko (AST 2012) bettered his mark by 14 seconds; the time was ultimately good enough for tenth place in the stage results. Hryvko held the lead for over an hour, as no other rider could get within three seconds of his time at that point. It was not until Gerrans' teammate Brett Lancaster, a former prologue winner at the Giro d'Italia, that Hryvko's time was beaten; Lancaster recorded a time four seconds quicker, crossing the line at 7' 24".Cancellara wins 2012 Tour de France prologue in Liège http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2012/prologue/results Daniel Benson Cyclingnews.com Future plc 30 June 2012 1 July 2012 SKY 2012 rider Edvald Boasson Hagen marginally bettered Lancaster's time to assume the lead for a time, but French champion Sylvain Chavanel (OPQ 2012) set a mark of 7' 20" for the course. His time held until the final ten riders to take to the course; Bradley Wiggins (SKY 2012 yes) trailed Chavanel by six seconds at the intermediate time-checkhttp://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/cancellara-wins-tour-de-france-prologue-wiggins-second-41613 Cancellara wins Tour de France prologue, Wiggins second Nigel Wynn Cycling Weekly IPC Media 30 June 2012 1 July 2012 – coming around halfway through the test – but paced the second half better to negate the deficit, and beat the time of Chavanel by around half a second. Cancellara, the pre-stage favourite, recorded the fastest time of 3' 35" to the intermediate point, and extended his eventual stage-winning margin to seven seconds by the finish; in the process, Cancellara won his fifth Tour prologue stage, a record.http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/06/news/cancellara-wins-tour-prologue-wiggins-second_226617 Cancellara wins Tour prologue, Wiggins second VeloNews Competitor Group, Inc. 30 June 2012 1 July 2012 Agence France-Presse 2 July 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120702023329/http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/06/news/cancellara-wins-tour-prologue-wiggins-second_226617 dead Of other overall contenders, defending champion Cadel Evans (BMC 2012), LIQ 2012's Vincenzo Nibali and GRS 2012b rider Ryder Hesjedal, the winner of May's Giro d'Italia, all placing solidly inside the top twenty riders. Nibali's teammate Peter Sagan and world time trial champion Tony Martin (OPQ 2012 yes), who both had been tipped as favourites to win the stage, both encountered difficulties on the course during their respective runs. Sagan lost time after he overshot one of the 180-degree hairpin bends and had to clip out of the pedals, while Martin – who had set a similar time to teammate Chavanel at the intermediate time-check – suffered a puncture,http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12256/Tour-de-France-Tough-day-for-Tony-Martin-as-a-puncture-denies-him-possible-prologue-victory.aspx Tough day for Tony Martin as a puncture denies him possible prologue victory VeloNation VeloNation LLC 30 June 2012 1 July 2012 Ben Atkins and ultimately finished 23 seconds down on Cancellara's time. + Prologue result and general classification after the prologue Rank Rider Team Time 1 Fabian Cancellara SUI 20px|Yellow jersey 20px|Green jersey RNT 2012 7' 13" 2 Bradley Wiggins GBR 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey SKY 2012 + 7" 3 Sylvain Chavanel FRA OPQ 2012 + 7" 4 Tejay van Garderen USA 20px|White jersey BMC 2012 + 10" 5 Edvald Boasson Hagen NOR 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey SKY 2012 + 11" 6 Brett Lancaster AUS OGE 2012b + 11" 7 Patrick Gretsch GER ARG 2012b + 12" DSQ Denis Menchov RUSIn July 2014, Denis Menchov was retroactively disqualified from the 2012 Tour de France by cycling's governing body, Union Cycliste Internationale, for "abnormalities in his biological passport".Wynn Nigel Denis Menchov given two-year doping ban http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/denis-menchov-given-two-year-doping-ban-130083 25 August 2015 Cycling Weekly Time Inc. UK 14 July 2014 The riders positioned below Menchov were not upgraded.Classifications stage 20 – Rambouillet > Paris Champs-Élysées http://www.letour.fr/le-tour/2012/us/stage-20/classifications.html Tour de France Amaury Sport Organisation 12 August 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20141102182004/http://www.letour.fr/le-tour/2012/us/stage-20/classifications.html 2 November 2014 dead dmy-all n menchov KAT 2012 + 13" 9 Philippe Gilbert BEL BMC 2012 + 13" 10 Andriy Hryvko UKR AST 2012 + 15" Stage 1 1 July 2012 — Liège (Belgium) to Seraing (Belgium), 198 km 1 onStage 1: Liège – Seraing http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/100/etape_par_etape.html Tour de France Amaury Sport Organisation 27 June 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120623170101/http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/100/etape_par_etape.html 23 June 2012 dead dmy-all thumb|upright=1.5|Stage one profile The Tour remained in Belgium for the first full day's racing with a stage through the rolling countryside of the Ardennes. After four Category 4 climbs en route, the race finished at Seraing, a municipality just outside Liège. The finish was at the top of a long and fairly steep drag – the Côte de Seraing – rising for 2.4 km 1 on at an average of 4.7%, which was expected to suit the race's puncheurs such as BMC 2012 rider Philippe Gilbert,July 1, Stage 1: Liège – Seraing 198km http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2012/stage-1 Cyclingnews.com Future plc 13 June 2012 27 June 2012 who won a similar finish in the opening stage of the 2011 Tour at Mont des Alouettes.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/tour-de-france/8612941/Tour-de-France-2011-stage-one-Philippe-Gilbert-wins-on-Mont-des-Alouettes-as-Alberto-Contador-suffers-big-losses.html Philippe Gilbert wins on Mont des Alouettes as Alberto Contador suffers big losses The Daily Telegraph Telegraph Media Group 2 July 2011 2 July 2012 Mick Cleary thumb|The peloton passing through Hotton, Belgium, in the first stage. Fabian Cancellara (RNT 2012) can be seen wearing the race leader's yellow jersey. Six riders – Yohann Gène (EUC 2012), EUS 2012 rider Pablo Urtasun, ALM 2012's Maxime Bouet, Nicolas Edet of COF 2012, Anthony Delaplace (SAU 2012) and SAX 2012b rider Michael Mørkøvhttp://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2012/stage-1/results Sagan triumphs in Seraing Susan Westemeyer Cyclingnews.com Future plc 1 July 2012 2 July 2012 – advanced clear of the main field in the early running of the stage; the sextet managed to extend their advantage to a maximum of almost five minutes around a quarter of the way through the stage.http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12263/Tour-de-France-Peter-Sagan-makes-stage-one-victory-look-easy-on-the-Cote-de-Seraing.aspx Ben Atkins 1 July 2012 2 July 2012 VeloNation VeloNation LLC Peter Sagan makes stage one victory look easy on the Côte de Seraing By this point, Mørkøv and Urtasun had both scored a point towards the mountains classification, having led over the Côte de Cokaifagne and the Côte de Francorchamps respectively. Overall leader Fabian Cancellara was being paced by his RNT 2012 teammates, and help to stabilise the gap to the leaders at around three minutes. Mørkøv then proceeded to win the two remaining climbs on the day, to take the race's first polka-dot jersey, becoming only the third Danish rider to have held the lead of that classification.http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12267/Morkov-accomplishes-goal-with-Tour-de-France-podium-appearance.aspx Kyle Moore 1 July 2012 2 July 2012 VeloNation VeloNation LLC Morkov accomplishes goal with Tour de France podium appearance The breakaway also scored the major points at the stage's intermediate sprint point in Érezée, where Gène took the honours ahead of Urtasun and Edet, while in the main field, OGE 2012b's Matthew Goss out-sprinted his former teammates Mark Cavendish (SKY 2012) and André Greipel (LTB 2012) for seventh place. RNT 2012 yes were joined by Gilbert's BMC 2012 yes squad in order to reduce the lead advantage; it was cut to around a minute with 30 km 1 on to go, and the break was eventually caught inside of 10 km 1 on remaining. The field remained together onto the Côte de Seraing, but halfway up the climb, Cancellara attacked and only Peter Sagan (LIQ 2012) could hold pace with him. SKY 2012 yes's Edvald Boasson Hagen later bridged up to the duo, and it was left to the three riders to fight it out for the stage win, with the reduced peloton chasing behind. Cancellara attacked first, but Sagan came around the outside and freewheeled to his fourteenth victory of 2012,http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/1st-tour-de-france-stage-1st-win-is-there-anything-peter-sagan-cant-do_226950 1st Tour de France stage, 1st win — is there anything Peter Sagan can't do? VeloNews Competitor Group, Inc. 1 July 2012 2 July 2012 Matthew Beaudin 4 July 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120704084440/http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/1st-tour-de-france-stage-1st-win-is-there-anything-peter-sagan-cant-do_226950 dead ahead of Cancellara – who maintained his overall lead – and Boasson Hagen. Gilbert led home the peloton in fourth,http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/sagan-wins-stage-1-of-the-2012-tour-de-france-cancellara-leads_226824 Sagan wins stage 1 of the 2012 Tour de France; Cancellara leads VeloNews Competitor Group, Inc. 1 July 2012 2 July 2012 Agence France-Presse 4 July 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120704091645/http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/sagan-wins-stage-1-of-the-2012-tour-de-france-cancellara-leads_226824 dead as 22-year-old Sagan became the youngest rider to win a Tour stage since Lance Armstrong in 1993.http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-cycling-tour-idUKBRE85T0HB20120701 Sagan wins first stage in first Tour Reuters Thomson Reuters 1 July 2012 2 July 2012 Gilles Le Roc'hSeptember 2024 medicmedichttps://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/18666130 Debutant Peter Sagan wins stage one BBC Sport BBC 1 July 2012 2 July 2012 + Stage 1 result Rank Rider Team Time 1 Peter Sagan SVK LIQ 2012 4h 58' 19" 2 Fabian Cancellara SUI 20px|Yellow jersey RNT 2012 + 0" 3 Edvald Boasson Hagen NOR 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey SKY 2012 + 0" 4 Philippe Gilbert BEL BMC 2012 + 0" 5 Bauke Mollema NED RAB 2012 + 0" 6 Alejandro Valverde ESP MOV 2012 + 0" 7 Robert Gesink NED RAB 2012 + 0" 8 Dan Martin IRL GRS 2012b + 0" 9 Ryder Hesjedal CAN GRS 2012b + 0" 10 Dries Devenyns BEL OPQ 2012 + 0"+ General classification after stage 1 Rank Rider Team Time 1 Fabian Cancellara SUI 20px|Yellow jersey 20px|Green jersey RNT 2012 5h 05' 32" 2 Bradley Wiggins GBR 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey SKY 2012 + 7" 3 Sylvain Chavanel FRA OPQ 2012 + 7" 4 Tejay van Garderen USA 20px|White jersey BMC 2012 + 10" 5 Edvald Boasson Hagen NOR 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey SKY 2012 + 11" DSQ Denis Menchov RUSn menchov KAT 2012 + 13" 7 Philippe Gilbert BEL BMC 2012 + 13" 8 Cadel Evans AUS BMC 2012 + 17" 9 Vincenzo Nibali ITA LIQ 2012 + 18" 10 Ryder Hesjedal CAN GRS 2012b + 18" Stage 2 2 July 2012 — Visé (Belgium) to Tournai (Belgium), 207.5 km 1 onStage 2: Visé – Tournai http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/200/etape_par_etape.html Tour de France Amaury Sport Organisation 27 June 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120629201946/http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/200/etape_par_etape.html 29 June 2012 dead dmy-all thumb|upright=1.5|Stage two profile The race remained in Belgium for one more day with a flat course heading almost due west from Visé. There was one fourth-category climb of the Côte de la Citadelle de Namur during the stage, but it was expected to ultimately result in a sprint finish in Tournai.July 2, Stage 2: Visé – Tournai 207.5km http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2012/stage-2 Cyclingnews.com Future plc 13 June 2012 27 June 2012 Three riders – French pairing Anthony Roux of FDJ 2012 and EUC 2012 rider Christophe Kern, along with Michael Mørkøv (SAX 2012b), wearing the polka-dot jersey as mountains classification leader following his part in the breakaway on the first stage – went clear around 25 km 1 on after the start of the stage, making the early breakaway from the field, and the trio managed to extend their advantage over the main field to around eight minutes, around 20 km 1 on later.http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12272/Tour-de-France-Mark-Cavendish-wins-a-stage-two-sprint-royale-in-Tournai.aspx Mark Cavendish wins a stage two sprint royale in Tournai VeloNation VeloNation LLC 2 July 2012 3 July 2012 Ben Atkins RNT 2012 took up duties at the front of the peloton in order to reduce the gap that the leaders had held; although by the time that Mørkøv scored the point for crossing the summit of the Côte de la Citadelle de Namur first,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2012/stage-2/results Cavendish claims first Tour de France stage win of 2012 Susan Westemeyer Cyclingnews.com Future plc 2 July 2012 3 July 2012 around 40 km 1 on later, the lead had only been reduced to around six-and-a-half minutes. Again, the breakaway took top points on offer at the intermediate sprint point in Soignies, with Kern taking maximum points for EUC 2012 yes for the second successive day. None of the trio elected to contest the sprint, while back in the main field, Matthew Goss (OGE 2012b) again won the sprint contest for fourth place ahead of RAB 2012 rider Mark Renshaw, Mark Cavendish of SKY 2012 and the previous day's stage winner, LIQ 2012's Peter Sagan. With around 30 km 1 on remaining of the stage, Roux attacked his two fellow breakaway companions, going off on his own as Mørkøv and Kern allowed themselves to fall back into the confines of the main field. thumb|SKY 2012's Mark Cavendish (pictured in stage eighteen) won the second stage from a bunch sprint. Roux managed to gain an advantage of almost a minute, but he too was brought back by the main field inside the final 15 km 1 on of the stage. OGE 2012b yes, OPQ 2012 and LTB 2012 held the front with ARG 2012b sprinter Marcel Kittel falling off the back of the field, as he was suffering from stomach problems; instead their focus would be left with his lead-out man Tom Veelers.http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12276/Plans-change-for-Argos-Shimano-as-Marcel-Kittel-suffers-from-stomach-virus.aspx Plans change for Argos-Shimano as Marcel Kittel suffers from stomach virus VeloNation VeloNation LLC 2 July 2012 3 July 2012 Ben Atkins The field remained together for the sprint finish in Tournai; LTB 2012 yes led it out for Greipel, with Sagan just behind. Cavendish moved up the order, behind two other riders – OGE 2012b yes's Daryl Impey and KAT 2012 rider Óscar Freirehttp://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/tour-de-france-analysis-how-the-sprinters-measure-up-41547 Tour de France analysis: How the sprinters measure up Gregor Brown Cycling Weekly IPC Media 2 July 2012 3 July 2012September 2024 InternetArchiveBot yes – and slid in behind Greipel with around 300 m on to go. Cavendish launched his sprint off Greipel's wheel with 200 m on left,http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/cavendish-wins-stage-2-of-the-tour-de-france-over-greipel_226989 Cavendish wins stage 2 of the Tour de France over Greipel Agence France-Presse VeloNews Competitor Group, Inc. 2 July 2012 3 July 2012 4 July 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120704140426/http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/cavendish-wins-stage-2-of-the-tour-de-france-over-greipel_226989 dead and got the better of him by half a wheelhttp://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/cavendish-exposes-his-one-stage-bluff-in-tournai_227116 Cavendish exposes his one-stage bluff in Tournai Matthew Beaudin VeloNews Competitor Group, Inc. 2 July 2012 3 July 2012 4 July 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120704135818/http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/cavendish-exposes-his-one-stage-bluff-in-tournai_227116 dead to take his 21st Tour stage victory, moving out of a tie with Luxembourg's Nicolas Frantz for sixth place on the all-time Tour stage wins list.https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/18676161 Mark Cavendish powers to 21st Tour stage win BBC Sport BBC 2 July 2012 3 July 2012 Greipel, Goss, Veelers and LAM 2012's Alessandro Petacchi completed the top five on the stage, with Sagan taking the points classification lead, and the green jersey,http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/cavendish-takes-21st-tour-de-france-stage-victory-in-tournai-41558 Cavendish takes 21st Tour de France stage victory in Tournai Nick Bull Cycling Weekly IPC Media 2 July 2012 3 July 2012 from RNT 2012 yes's Fabian Cancellara with sixth place. Cancellara maintained his seven-second overall lead over Cavendish's teammate Bradley Wiggins. + Stage 2 result Rank Rider Team Time 1 Mark Cavendish GBR 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey SKY 2012 4h 56' 59" 2 André Greipel GER LTB 2012 + 0" 3 Matthew Goss AUS OGE 2012b + 0" 4 Tom Veelers NED ARG 2012b + 0" 5 Alessandro Petacchi ITA LAM 2012 + 0" 6 Peter Sagan SVK LIQ 2012 + 0" 7 Yauheni Hutarovich BLR FDJ 2012 + 0" 8 Juan José Haedo ARG SAX 2012b + 0" 9 Mark Renshaw AUS RAB 2012 + 0" 10 Tyler Farrar USA GRS 2012b + 0"+ General classification after stage 2 Rank Rider Team Time 1 Fabian Cancellara SUI 20px|Yellow jersey RNT 2012 10h 02' 31" 2 Bradley Wiggins GBR 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey SKY 2012 + 7" 3 Sylvain Chavanel FRA OPQ 2012 + 7" 4 Tejay van Garderen USA 20px|White jersey BMC 2012 + 10" 5 Edvald Boasson Hagen NOR 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey SKY 2012 + 11" DSQ Denis Menchov RUSn menchov KAT 2012 + 13" 7 Philippe Gilbert BEL BMC 2012 + 13" 8 Cadel Evans AUS BMC 2012 + 17" 9 Vincenzo Nibali ITA LIQ 2012 + 18" 10 Ryder Hesjedal CAN GRS 2012b + 18" Stage 3 3 July 2012 — Orchies to Boulogne-sur-Mer, 197 km 1 onStage 3: Orchies – Boulogne-sur-Mer http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/300/etape_par_etape.html Tour de France Amaury Sport Organisation 27 June 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120629194938/http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/300/etape_par_etape.html 29 June 2012 dead dmy-all thumb|upright=1.5|Stage three profile Following its three-day opening salvo in Belgium, the Tour moved back to France, starting in Orchies – where the fifth stage team time trial of the 1982 race was abandoned in progress due to industrial actionhttps://books.google.com/books?id=V8mlwItBhhcC&pg=PA134 134 The Story of the Tour de France: 1965–2007 Bill McGann McGann Carol Dog Ear Publishing 2008 978-1-59858-608-4 3 July 2012 – before heading west towards Boulogne-sur-Mer. There were six climbs within the closing 65 km 1 on of the parcours – all 1.7 km 1 on long or shorter – including the final 700 m on long climb up to the finish, with an average gradient of 7.4%. Like the first stage, the course was ideally favoured towards the puncheurs.July 3, Stage 3: Orchies – Boulogne-sur-Mer 197km http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2012/stage-3 Cyclingnews.com Future plc 13 June 2012 27 June 2012 thumb|The breakaway in the commune of Aire-sur-la-Lys, around a third into the stage. Sébastien Minard leads Giovanni Bernaudeau, Rubén Pérez, Andriy Hryvko and Michael Mørkøv. There was a fast-paced start to the stage with several short and punchy attacks, but were closed down immediately. However, a five-rider move was allowed to be initiated after 8 km 1 on, with ALM 2012's Sébastien Minard, Rubén Pérez of EUS 2012, Andriy Hryvko representing the AST 2012 team, SAX 2012b rider Michael Mørkøv – continuing his run of being in the breakaway in each of the road stages so far – and Giovanni Bernaudeau of EUC 2012 all breaking free,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2012/stage-3/results Susan Westemeyer Sagan dances to second Tour de France stage win Cyclingnews.com Future plc 3 July 2012 3 July 2012 quickly gaining a lead of around two minutes.http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12282/Tour-de-France-Sagan-dominates-chaotic-climb-into-Boulogne-sur-Mer.aspx Kyle Moore Sagan dominates chaotic climb into Boulogne-sur-Mer VeloNation VeloNation LLC 3 July 2012 3 July 2012 Their lead eventually reached a maximum of over five-and-a-half minutes before RNT 2012 and LIQ 2012 made their presence at the front of the peloton, for their respective classification leaders Fabian Cancellara (overall) and Peter Sagan (points). The breakaway again scored the major points at the intermediate sprint point in Senlecques; SKY 2012 rider Mark Cavendish won the bunch sprint for sixth place, despite being boxed in by VCD 2012's Kenny van Hummel, with the two riders later exchanging words. Mørkøv extended his mountains lead by crossing each of the first two climbs ahead of his rivals, while behind, several large crashes in the peloton took down a number of riders. Two riders suffered fractures and had to abandon on the route: SKY 2012 yes's Kanstantsin Sivtsov (tibia) and MOV 2012's José Joaquín Rojas (collarbone).http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/sky-down-to-eight-after-siutsou-crashes-out-of-tour-41515 Gregor Brown Sky down to eight after Siutsou crashes out of Tour Cycling Weekly IPC Media 3 July 2012 24 October 2015 4 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304090324/http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/sky-down-to-eight-after-siutsou-crashes-out-of-tour-41515 deadhttp://www.movistarteam.com/news/2012-7-3/fateful-day-at-boulogne-sur-mer Fateful day at Boulogne-sur-Mer MOV 2012 Movistar 3 July 2012 3 July 2012 Mørkøv and Hryvko dropped their breakaway companions, and managed to hold off until 10 km 1 on to go when Mørkøv cracked on the Côte du Mont Lambert. Hryvko held off until the top of the climb, where he was then caught himself. OPQ 2012's Sylvain Chavanel attacked with 5.5 km 1 on to go, and at one point, put fifteen seconds between himself and the field, but he was caught 450 m on before the finish by the BMC 2012-led field.http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/sagan-runs-away-with-second-tour-stage-win-in-boulogne-41523 Andy McGrath Sagan runs away with second Tour stage win in Boulogne Cycling Weekly IPC Media 3 July 2012 3 July 2012 Sagan comfortably took the sprint for the line, holding enough of a lead to free-wheel the closing metres and performing a "running man" salute akin to Tom Hanks's character in 1994 film Forrest Gump.http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/sagan-taking-things-to-another-level-in-the-tour-41513 Gregor Brown Sagan taking things to another level in the Tour Cycling Weekly IPC Media 3 July 2012 3 July 2012 4 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304085815/http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/sagan-taking-things-to-another-level-in-the-tour-41513 dead A one-second time difference between Sagan and the field – led home by SKY 2012 yes's Edvald Boasson Hagen, Peter Velits (OPQ 2012 yes) and Cancellarahttp://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/race-report/sagan-wins-stage-3-of-the-tour-de-france-cancellara-retains-lead_227216 Sagan wins stage 3 of the Tour de France; Cancellara retains lead VeloNews Competitor Group, Inc. 3 July 2012 3 July 2012 – was announced by the organisers, with all riders that were delayed in a crash in the closing metres, given the same time as Boasson Hagen et al. + Stage 3 result Rank Rider Team Time 1 Peter Sagan SVK 20px|Green jersey LIQ 2012 4h 42' 58" 2 Edvald Boasson Hagen NOR 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey SKY 2012 + 1" 3 Peter Velits SVK OPQ 2012 + 1" 4 Fabian Cancellara SUI 20px|Yellow jersey RNT 2012 + 1" 5 Michael Albasini SUI OGE 2012b + 1" 6 Cadel Evans AUS BMC 2012 + 1" 7 Nicolas Roche IRL ALM 2012 + 1" 8 Samuel Sánchez ESP EUS 2012 + 1" 9 Bauke Mollema NED RAB 2012 + 1" 10 Vincenzo Nibali ITA LIQ 2012 + 1"+ General classification after stage 3 Rank Rider Team Time 1 Fabian Cancellara SUI 20px|Yellow jersey RNT 2012 14h 45' 30" 2 Bradley Wiggins GBR 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey SKY 2012 + 7" 3 Sylvain Chavanel FRA OPQ 2012 + 7" 4 Tejay van Garderen USA 20px|White jersey BMC 2012 + 10" 5 Edvald Boasson Hagen NOR 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey SKY 2012 + 11" DSQ Denis Menchov RUSn menchov KAT 2012 + 13" 7 Cadel Evans AUS BMC 2012 + 17" 8 Vincenzo Nibali ITA LIQ 2012 + 18" 9 Ryder Hesjedal CAN GRS 2012b + 18" 10 Andreas Klöden GER RNT 2012 + 19" Stage 4 4 July 2012 — Abbeville to Rouen, 214.5 km 1 onStage 4: Abbeville – Rouen http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/400/etape_par_etape.html Tour de France Amaury Sport Organisation 27 June 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120618121146/http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/400/etape_par_etape.html 18 June 2012 dead dmy-all thumb|upright=1.5|Stage four profile The first half of the stage followed the coast of Picardy and Normandy along the English Channel through Dieppe to the intermediate sprint point of Fécamp, before turning inland towards the finish at Rouen, with four fourth-category climbs during the 214.5 km 1 on parcours. The wind on the coast was expected to have an influence on the race, while the two tight turns to get over the Guillaume le Conquérant Bridge with 1 km 1 on to go, were potentially disruptive for the lead-outs ahead of an expected sprint finish along the quayside in Rouen.July 4, Stage 4: Abbeville – Rouen 214.5km http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2012/stage-4 Cyclingnews.com Future plc 13 June 2012 27 June 2012 thumb|Fourth placed overall and young rider classification leader Tejay van Garderen (center) of BMC 2012 before the start of the stage A three-rider breakaway was formed in the early kilometres of the stage, with the riders all representing French-licensed Professional Continental teams. Home riders David Moncoutié (COF 2012) and Anthony Delaplace (SAU 2012) were joined by Japan's Yukiya Arashiro representing EUC 2012, as they set about gaining an advantage of over eight-and-a-half minutes from the main field.http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12290/Andre-Greipel-scoops-Tour-de-France-stage-four-in-crash-affected-finale.aspx André Greipel scoops Tour de France stage four in crash affected finale Kyle Moore VeloNation VeloNation LLC 4 July 2012 5 July 2012 On the day, Moncoutié and Delaplace would ultimately share the four categorised climbs between them, each scoring two points towards the mountains classification; while Arashiro, the best sprinter among the trio, took maximum points at Fécamp.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2012/stage-4/results Greipel wins Tour de France stage in Rouen Daniel Benson Cyclingnews.com Future plc 4 July 2012 5 July 2012 The now-customary bunch sprint for the minor points was again taken by SKY 2012's Mark Cavendish, after launching his sprint off the rear wheel of OGE 2012b's Matthew Goss. RAB 2012's Mark Renshaw just edged out points leader Peter Sagan of LIQ 2012 for sixth place points. A light rain shower hit the race with around 50 km 1 on remaining, before the first crash of the day with SAX 2012b's Jonathan Cantwell and Sagan's teammate Vincenzo Nibali among those delayed, but both would later rejoin the main field. The lead gap continued to dwindle as the race wore on, with Delaplace eventually leaving his breakaway companions behind with 10 km 1 on to go. Six more riders looked to join the leading trio but all riders were eventually brought back 3.5 km 1 on ahead of the finish. Inside the final 3 km 1 on, another crash took down a number of riders including Cavendish and lead-out man Bernhard Eisel,http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/cav-bernie-down-but-not-out_227548 Cav, Bernie down, but not out Andrew Hood VeloNews Competitor Group, Inc. 4 July 2012 5 July 2012 5 July 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120705001808/http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/cav-bernie-down-but-not-out_227548 dead as well as the GRM 2012b duo Robert Hunter and Tyler Farrar. The final sprint was between the sprint trains of LTB 2012, ARG 2012b and OGE 2012b yes; Jürgen Roelandts, Marcel Sieberg and Greg Henderson set the tempo for André Greipel to lead it out from the front,http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/greipel-wins-stage-4-of-the-2012-tour-de-france-cancellara-retains-yellow_227460 Greipel wins stage 4 of the 2012 Tour de France; Cancellara retains yellow VeloNews Competitor Group, Inc. 4 July 2012 5 July 2012 and Greipel achieved a stage victory at the Tour for the second consecutive year, the first such occurrence for a German rider since Erik Zabel.http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/greipel-dodges-crash-win-stage-four-144604562.html Greipel dodges crash to win stage four Felix Lowe Yahoo! Eurosport TF1 Group 4 July 2012 5 July 2012 Alessandro Petacchi (LAM 2012) beat ARG 2012b yes's Tom Veelers to the line for second,http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/greipel-wins-tour-de-france-stage-four-after-cavendish-caught-in-crash-41497 Nigel Wynn Greipel wins Tour de France stage four after Cavendish caught in crash Cycling Weekly IPC Media 4 July 2012 5 July 2012 3 October 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141003121147/http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/greipel-wins-tour-de-france-stage-four-after-cavendish-caught-in-crash-41497 dead with Goss and Sagan – the latter despite being delayed by the late-stage crashhttp://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12291/Cancellara-and-Sagan-have-near-miss-in-relation-to-stage-four-crash.aspx Cancellara and Sagan have near miss in relation to stage four crash Shane Stokes VeloNation VeloNation LLC 4 July 2012 5 July 2012 – rounding out the top five. + Stage 4 result Rank Rider Team Time 1 André Greipel GER LTB 2012 5h 18' 32" 2 Alessandro Petacchi ITA LAM 2012 + 0" 3 Tom Veelers NED ARG 2012b + 0" 4 Matthew Goss AUS OGE 2012b + 0" 5 Peter Sagan SVK 20px|Green jersey LIQ 2012 + 0" 6 Jonathan Cantwell AUS SAX 2012b + 0" 7 Daryl Impey RSA OGE 2012b + 0" 8 Kris Boeckmans BEL VCD 2012 + 0" 9 Edvald Boasson Hagen NOR 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey SKY 2012 + 0" 10 Rubén Pérez ESP EUS 2012 + 0"+ General classification after stage 4 Rank Rider Team Time 1 Fabian Cancellara SUI 20px|Yellow jersey RNT 2012 20h 04' 02" 2 Bradley Wiggins GBR 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey SKY 2012 + 7" 3 Sylvain Chavanel FRA OPQ 2012 + 7" 4 Tejay van Garderen USA 20px|White jersey BMC 2012 + 10" 5 Edvald Boasson Hagen NOR 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey SKY 2012 + 11" DSQ Denis Menchov RUSn menchov KAT 2012 + 13" 7 Cadel Evans AUS BMC 2012 + 17" 8 Vincenzo Nibali ITA LIQ 2012 + 18" 9 Ryder Hesjedal CAN GRS 2012b + 18" 10 Andreas Klöden GER RNT 2012 + 19" Stage 5 5 July 2012 — Rouen to Saint-Quentin, 196.5 km 1 onStage 5: Rouen – Saint-Quentin http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/500/etape_par_etape.html Tour de France Amaury Sport Organisation 27 June 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120630082936/http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/500/etape_par_etape.html 30 June 2012 dead dmy-all thumb|upright=1.5|Stage five profile This was a very flat day's racing heading in a north-easterly direction with no rated climbs, with a wide straight finish in the Champs-Élysées Park. As a result, the stage was expected to favour the sprinters.July 5, Stage 5: Rouen – Saint-Quentin 196.5km http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2012/stage-5 Cyclingnews.com Future plc 23 June 2012 27 June 2012 Almost immediately after the peloton rolled out of the start in Rouen, FDJ 2012's Mathieu Ladagnous, was the first rider to break the confines of the main field and was allowed to go clear without resistance. He was joined by three more riders over the next few kilometres, as Pablo Urtasun of EUS 2012, SAU 2012's Julien Simon and COF 2012 rider Jan Ghyselinck provided assistance, and soon the quartet held an advantage of 5' 30" after 40 km 1 on of the stage.Greipel goes two out of two in false flat drag race Kyle Moore http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12300/Tour-de-France-Greipel-goes-two-out-of-two-in-false-flat-drag-race.aspx VeloNation VeloNation LLC 5 July 2012 6 July 2012 It was at that point that Marcel Kittel, ARG 2012b's main sprinter, abandoned the race due to his ongoing gastroenteritis.Greipel doubles up on Tour de France stage 5 http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2012/stage-5/results Cyclingnews.com Future plc 5 July 2012 6 July 2012 The leaders held an advantage of around three minutes as they approached the intermediate sprint point in Breteuil, coming after 107.5 km 1 on of the parcours. Ladagnous took the maximum points on offer, as the four leaders rolled through the line without competition. As it was the previous day, Mark Cavendish (SKY 2012) led the main field across the line, ahead of OGE 2012b's Matthew Goss and RAB 2012 rider Mark Renshaw. The gap remained around the three-minute mark until 40 km 1 on to go, when it was gradually brought back by the peloton. At 3 km 1 on, the lead quartet held a lead of 20 seconds, while in the peloton, another big crash occurred; among those hitting the tarmac were points leader Peter Sagan (LIQ 2012) and GRS 2012b's Tyler Farrar.Crash ruins Sagan's chance at Saint-Quentin Barry Ryan http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/crash-ruins-sagans-chance-at-saint-quentin Cyclingnews.com Future plc 5 July 2012 6 July 2012 thumb|upright|LTB 2012 rider André Greipel (pictured in 2012) gained a second successive win in the fifth stage. Farrar, suffering his fourth crash of the race,Fourth Tour crash for Farrar Sophie Smith http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/fourth-tour-crash-for-farrar-41450 Cycling Weekly IPC Media 5 July 2012 6 July 2012 10 July 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150710082634/http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/fourth-tour-crash-for-farrar-41450 dead fell after a clash of elbows with ARG 2012b yes rider Tom Veelers; after the stage, an angered Farrar tried to board the ARG 2012b yes team bus to voice his feelings towards Veelers, but was escorted away by GRM 2012b yes staff, including general manager Jonathan Vaughters.Bus stop: Tyler Farrar escorted to Garmin camp after seeking a word with Argos sprinter Tom Veelers Chris Case http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/bus-stop-tyler-farrar-escorted-to-garmin-camp-after-seeking-a-word-with-argos-sprinter-tom-veelers_227722 VeloNews Competitor Group, Inc. 5 July 2012 6 July 2012 8 July 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120708000232/http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/bus-stop-tyler-farrar-escorted-to-garmin-camp-after-seeking-a-word-with-argos-sprinter-tom-veelers_227722 dead Ghyselinck attacked with just 1.1 km 1 on remaining,Greipel wins stage 5 of the Tour de France; Cancellara retains overall lead http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/greipel-wins-stage-5-of-the-tour-de-france-cancellara-retains-overall-lead_227666 VeloNews Competitor Group, Inc. 5 July 2012 6 July 2012 8 July 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120708075651/http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/greipel-wins-stage-5-of-the-tour-de-france-cancellara-retains-overall-lead_227666 dead gaining some space from his three breakaway companions. He faded on the finishing incline, as Urtasun and Ladagnous both passed him; Urtasun was ultimately passed by the sprinters with 200 m on to go. Goss launched his sprint first, with Ghyselinck's teammate Samuel Dumoulin on his wheel; but for the second stage running, it was André Greipel (LTB 2012) who took victory ahead of Goss, SAX 2012b's Juan José Haedo, Dumoulin and Cavendish.Greipel wins second successive Tour stage as Cavendish fades Richard Abraham http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/greipel-wins-second-successive-tour-stage-as-cavendish-fades-41458 Cycling Weekly IPC Media 5 July 2012 6 July 2012 28 September 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150928031320/http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/greipel-wins-second-successive-tour-stage-as-cavendish-fades-41458 dead RNT 2012's Fabian Cancellara maintained the yellow jersey – earning the 27th of his career – which set a record for a rider not to have won the Tour, surpassing France's René Vietto.Cancellara: winning the Tour is a dream not a goal Peter Cossins http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cancellara-winning-the-tour-is-a-dream-not-a-goal Cyclingnews.com Future plc 5 July 2012 6 July 2012 + Stage 5 result Rank Rider Team Time 1 André Greipel GER LTB 2012 4h 41' 30" 2 Matthew Goss AUS OGE 2012b + 0" 3 Juan José Haedo ARG SAX 2012b + 0" 4 Samuel Dumoulin FRA COF 2012 + 0" 5 Mark Cavendish GBR 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey SKY 2012 + 0" 6 Tom Veelers NED ARG 2012b + 0" 7 Óscar Freire ESP KAT 2012 + 0" 8 Alessandro Petacchi ITA LAM 2012 + 0" 9 Sébastien Hinault FRA ALM 2012 + 0" 10 Yohann Gène FRA EUC 2012 + 0"+ General classification after stage 5 Rank Rider Team Time 1 Fabian Cancellara SUI 20px|Yellow jersey RNT 2012 24h 45' 32" 2 Bradley Wiggins GBR 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey SKY 2012 + 7" 3 Sylvain Chavanel FRA OPQ 2012 + 7" 4 Tejay van Garderen USA 20px|White jersey BMC 2012 + 10" 5 Edvald Boasson Hagen NOR 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey SKY 2012 + 11" DSQ Denis Menchov RUSn menchov KAT 2012 + 13" 7 Cadel Evans AUS BMC 2012 + 17" 8 Vincenzo Nibali ITA LIQ 2012 + 18" 9 Ryder Hesjedal CAN GRS 2012b + 18" 10 Andreas Klöden GER RNT 2012 + 19" Stage 6 6 July 2012 — Épernay to Metz, 205 km 1 onStage 6: Épernay – Metz http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/600/etape_par_etape.html Tour de France Amaury Sport Organisation 27 June 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120710062547/http://www.letour.fr/le-tour/2012/fr/etape-6.html 10 July 2012 dead dmy-all thumb|upright=1.5|Stage six profile This was the last flat stage before the race entered the mountains; during the 205 km 1 on parcours, there was one fourth-category climb of the Côte de Buxières, around 10 km 1 on after the intermediate sprint point, coming at 135.5 km 1 on in the commune of Saint-Mihiel. The race finished near the Centre Pompidou where another bunch sprint was expected.July 6, Stage 6: Épernay – Metz 196.5km http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2012/stage-6 Cyclingnews.com Future plc 23 June 2012 27 June 2012 Once again, it was a four-rider breakaway that was allowed to be instigated in the early kilometres. David Zabriskie (GRS 2012b) was the first rider to go off the front, and he was later bolstered by EUC 2012's Davide Malacarne, COF 2012 rider Romain Zingle and SAX 2012b's Karsten Kroon, who joined him after around 10 km 1 on of racing.Sagan wins Tour de France stage 6 in Metz Les Clarke http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2012/stage-6/results Cyclingnews.com Future plc 6 July 2012 7 July 2012 They later established a maximum lead of around six-and-a-half minutes early in the stage.Sagan blasts to stage six win as crash tears GC to shreds Kyle Moore http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12308/Tour-de-France-Sagan-blasts-to-stage-six-win-as-crash-tears-GC-to-shreds.aspx VeloNation VeloNation LLC 6 July 2012 7 July 2012 Around 35 km 1 on into the stage, there was a minor crash involving the winner of the previous two stages, André Greipel (LTB 2012), and overall contenders Robert Gesink (RAB 2012) and Alejandro Valverde (MOV 2012) amongst others. Greipel suffered a dislocated shoulder in the crash,Dislocated shoulder hinders Greipel sprint Richard Abraham http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/dislocated-shoulder-hinders-greipel-sprint-41397 Cycling Weekly IPC Media 6 July 2012 7 July 2012 although all riders would later rejoin the main field; Greipel did not contest the intermediate sprint for points, where Kroon led over the line in the breakaway, while behind, it was OGE 2012b's Matthew Goss that took the most available points from the main field – eleven for fifth – ahead of SKY 2012's Mark Cavendish and points leader Peter Sagan of LIQ 2012. Zabriskie crossed the summit of the Côte de Buxières first to claim the point on offer for the mountains classification, while in the peloton, there was another minor crash; Greipel was involved again, as were his teammate Jelle Vanendert and RAB 2012 yes's Bauke Mollema. Again, the peloton splintered due to the crashes, but due to a reduction in pace, those delayed were able to rejoin the main field. thumb|upright=1.5|The leaders of the team classification SKY 2012 being awarded after the stage With 25 km 1 on of the day's stage remaining, a much larger crash delayed the majority of the field. According to LAM 2012's Danilo Hondo, the crash was caused by his teammate Davide Viganò while adjusting his jersey and fell into a ditch, causing other riders to stack up behind.Fractures, bruises and bumps: A stage six injury report http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/fractures-bruises-and-bumps-a-stage-six-injury-report/ 22 September 2015 Cyclingnews.com Immediate Media Company 2 February 2015 Amongst the riders that were delayed by the crash were Fränk Schleck (RNT 2012), Steven Kruijswijk (RAB 2012 yes), Gesink, Mollema, Valverde, Vanendert, LAM 2012 yes's Michele Scarponi, EUC 2012 yes's Pierre Rolland and the entire GRM 2012b yes team with the exception of Zabriskie.Black day for the black and blue as crashes splinter Garmin-Sharp on stage 6 http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/black-day-for-the-black-and-blue-as-entire-garmin-sharp-team-crashes-on-stage-6_227988 Andrew Hood VeloNews VeloNation LLC 6 July 2012 7 July 2012 8 July 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120708225427/http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/black-day-for-the-black-and-blue-as-entire-garmin-sharp-team-crashes-on-stage-6_227988 dead'Metz Massacre' rips through the Tour's GC ranks http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/metz-massacre-rips-through-the-tours-gc-ranks_228056 Andrew Hood VeloNews VeloNation LLC 6 July 2012 7 July 2012 8 July 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120708224948/http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/metz-massacre-rips-through-the-tours-gc-ranks_228056 dead Cavendish was also delayed, but although he was able to avoid the crash, he picked up a puncture in the process.Wiggins avoids Tour carnage http://www.skysports.com/cycling/news/17578/7875864/wiggins-avoids-tour-carnage Sky Sports BSkyB 7 July 2012 24 October 2015 Four riders abandoned the race on the route due to injuries suffered; GRS 2012b yes's Tom DanielsonFreire, Viganò and others out of Tour de France as crash toll continues in race Shane Stokes http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12310/Freire-Vigano-and-others-out-of-Tour-de-France-as-crash-toll-continues-in-race.aspx VeloNation VeloNation LLC 6 July 2012 7 July 2012 – who had already been racing with a separated shoulder – suffered trauma to his other shoulder,Hesjedal hoping to continue in Tour de France tomorrow Shane Stokes http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12315/Hesjedal-hoping-to-continue-in-Tour-de-France-tomorrow.aspx VeloNation VeloNation LLC 6 July 2012 7 July 2012 hip and arm, and was sent to hospital; he was joined there by Viganò (damaged shoulder), EUS 2012's Mikel Astarloza (dislocated elbow), and VCD 2012's Wout Poels, who tried to ride on for 10 km 1 on but eventually had to abandon; he was later diagnosed with a ruptured spleen and kidney, as well as three broken ribs and bruised lungs. After completing the stage, KAT 2012's Óscar Freire (broken rib and punctured lung), Imanol Erviti of the MOV 2012 yes ("loss of muscle mass"),Erviti abandons; Gutiérrez in serious doubt http://www.movistarteam.com/news/2012-7-6/erviti-abandons-gutierrez-in-serious-doubt Movistar Team Movistar 6 July 2012 7 July 2012 and Maarten Wynants of RAB 2012 yes (broken ribs and punctured lung) had to withdraw as well.Rabobank trying to salvage their Tour de France after stage six catastrophe Kyle Moore http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12316/Rabobank-trying-to-salvage-their-Tour-de-France-after-stage-six-catastrophe.aspx VeloNation VeloNation LLC 6 July 2012 7 July 2012 After the crash, the race had split into many distinct groups; the breakaway still held a minute's lead over a reduced peloton of around sixty riders, with those delayed in several more groups a few minutes and more behind. With nearly all of their riders able to get through the chaos, OGE 2012b yes took up pace-making on the front of the peloton, in the hopes of getting Goss the stage victory. The breakaway held a 15-second lead with 10 km 1 on to go, but it took until the final 2.5 km 1 on to catch them, with Zabriskie holding off to 1.3 km 1 on remaining.Sagan wins stage 6 of the Tour de France as late crashes rock the GC standings http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/sagan-wins-stage-6-of-the-tour-de-france-as-late-crashes-rock-the-gc-standings_227924 VeloNews VeloNation LLC Agence France-Presse 6 July 2012 7 July 2012 8 July 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120708224439/http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/sagan-wins-stage-6-of-the-tour-de-france-as-late-crashes-rock-the-gc-standings_227924 dead This set up the sprint, with Goss going first, while Sagan was nearly boxed in by VCD 2012 yes's Kris Boeckmans as he suffered a snapped chain with 400 m on to go; he made it round him and soon passed Greipel, who faded in the closing stages, and he picked up his third stage victory of his début Tour, becoming the fifteenth rider to do so.Sagan wins third Tour stage Sophie Smith http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/sagan-wins-third-tour-stage-41406 Cycling Weekly IPC Media 6 July 2012 7 July 2012 With Edvald Boasson Hagen (SKY 2012 yes) and Ryder Hesjedal (GRS 2012b yes) among those delayed, Sagan moved into the top ten overall along with Maxime Monfort (RNT 2012 yes), as Monfort's teammate Fabian Cancellara maintained the overall lead once again. + Stage 6 result Rank Rider Team Time 1 Peter Sagan SVK 20px|Green jersey LIQ 2012 4h 37' 00" 2 André Greipel GER LTB 2012 + 0" 3 Matthew Goss AUS OGE 2012b + 0" 4 Kenny van Hummel NED VCD 2012 + 0" 5 Juan José Haedo ARG SAX 2012b + 0" 6 Greg Henderson NZL LTB 2012 + 0" 7 Alessandro Petacchi ITA LAM 2012 + 0" 8 Luca Paolini ITA KAT 2012 + 0" 9 Daryl Impey RSA OGE 2012b + 0" 10 Brett Lancaster AUS OGE 2012b + 4"+ General classification after stage 6 Rank Rider Team Time 1 Fabian Cancellara SUI 20px|Yellow jersey RNT 2012 29h 22' 36" 2 Bradley Wiggins GBR 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey SKY 2012 + 7" 3 Sylvain Chavanel FRA OPQ 2012 + 7" 4 Tejay van Garderen USA 20px|White jersey BMC 2012 + 10" DSQ Denis Menchov RUSn menchov KAT 2012 + 13" 6 Cadel Evans AUS BMC 2012 + 17" 7 Vincenzo Nibali ITA LIQ 2012 + 18" 8 Peter Sagan SVK 20px|Green jersey LIQ 2012 + 19" 9 Andreas Klöden GER RNT 2012 + 19" 10 Maxime Monfort BEL RNT 2012 + 22" Stage 7 7 July 2012 — Tomblaine to La Planche des Belles Filles, 199 km 1 onStage 7: Tomblaine – La Planche des Belles Filles http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/700/etape_par_etape.html Tour de France Amaury Sport Organisation 27 June 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120701152830/http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/700/etape_par_etape.html 1 July 2012 dead dmy-all thumb|upright=1.5|Stage seven profile The race entered the high mountains with a first-time finish at 1035 m 0 on at the ski resort of La Planche des Belles Filles in the Vosges. After two third-category climbs, the final climb was 5.9 km 1 on long and averaged 8.5% with places of the climbs reaching 14–20% in the closing stages.July 7, Stage 7: Tomblaine – La Planche des Belles Filles 199km http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2012/stage-7 Cyclingnews.com Future plc 23 June 2012 27 June 2012 Following on from the crash the previous day, five more riders abandoned the race prior to the stage; Giro d'Italia winner Ryder Hesjedal of GRS 2012b (hip and leg),http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/hesjedal-pulls-out-of-the-tour-de-france Hesjedal pulls out of the Tour de France Cyclingnews.com Future plc 7 July 2012 7 July 2012 was joined on the sidelines by teammate Robert Hunter (vertebrae), ALM 2012's Hubert Dupont (sprained ankle, fractures to vertebrae and radius), MOV 2012's Iván Gutiérrez (knee), and EUS 2012's Amets Txurruka, who fractured his collarbone.http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/the-pain-continues-tour-de-france-stage-6-injury-update The pain continues: Tour de France stage 6 injury update Cyclingnews.com Future plc 7 July 2012 7 July 2012 thumb|The peloton climbing the Col de Grosse Pierre on the seventh stage An initial breakaway of nineteen riders went clear after 11 km 1 on,http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12322/Tour-de-France-Froome-climbs-to-la-Planche-des-Belle-Filles-win-puts-Wiggins-in-yellow.aspx Froome climbs to la Planche des Belle Filles win, puts Wiggins in yellow Ben Atkins VeloNation VeloNation LLC 7 July 2012 7 July 2012 but it was eventually reduced to seven riders, representing seven different teams, by the time the race reached the 20 km 1 on mark.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2012/stage-7/results Froome leads double Sky success on La Planche des Belles Filles Susan Westemeyer Cyclingnews.com Future plc 7 July 2012 7 July 2012 They eventually established a lead of nearly six minutes around a third of the way through the stage; by the intermediate sprint point in Gérardmer, it had been reduced by a minute, as Cyril Gautier (EUC 2012) took the twenty points for first over the line, and Peter Sagan (LIQ 2012) extended his points lead by one, as he beat Matthew Goss (OGE 2012b) in the main field sprint, for eighth place. SAX 2012b's Chris Anker Sørensen crossed both of the third-category climbs first ahead of RAB 2012's Luis León Sánchez, but the peloton started reducing their advantage by each passing kilometre. AST 2012's Dmitry Fofonov launched an attack at the front, which dislodged Gautier from the lead group; the peloton remained a minute in arrears, with SKY 2012 holding station and setting the tempo, protecting Bradley Wiggins from any danger. Jurgen Van den Broeck of LTB 2012, MOV 2012 yes rider Alejandro Valverde, and RAB 2012 yes's Robert Gesink encountered difficulties at this point, and would lose over a minute by the end of the day. Sørensen and OGE 2012b yes's Michael Albasini were the last of the leaders to be caught, with just over 5 km 1 on remaining. SKY 2012 yes continued to break the peloton apart, and by the time the leaders had reached the flamme rouge, only five riders remained at the front – Wiggins and his teammate Chris Froome, BMC 2012's Cadel Evans, LIQ 2012 yes rider Vincenzo Nibali and Rein Taaramäe of COF 2012 – for the closing kilometre. Evans hit the final corner first, but Froome looked strongest on the steepest part of the climb, and he eventually went past him and Wiggins, accelerating away to a two-second time gap over his rivals. With RNT 2012's Fabian Cancellara losing almost two minutes on the day, he surrendered the yellow jersey to Wiggins, who became the fifth British rider to wear the jersey, and first since David Millar in 2000.Bradley Wiggins takes yellow jersey https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/18755896 22 August 2015 BBC Sport BBC 7 July 2012 Froome assumed the polka-dot jersey thanks to the stage victory,http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/froome-on-tour-stage-win-i-had-the-legs-and-went-for-it-41383 Froome on Tour stage win: 'I had the legs and went for it' Cycling Weekly IPC Media 7 July 2012 7 July 2012 Gregor Brown 3 October 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141003115458/http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/froome-on-tour-stage-win-i-had-the-legs-and-went-for-it-41383 dead while Taaramäe took the white jersey from Evans' teammate Tejay van Garderen.http://www.podiumcafe.com/2012/7/7/3143030/tour-de-france-stage-7-froome-delivers-victory-for-himself-yellow-for Tour de France Stage 7: Froome Delivers Victory for Himself, Yellow for Wiggins Podium Cafe Vox Media 7 July 2012 7 July 2012 Chris FontecchioAugust 2026 InternetArchiveBot + Stage 7 result Rank Rider Team Time 1 Chris Froome GBR 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey SKY 2012 4h 58' 35" 2 Cadel Evans AUS BMC 2012 + 2" 3 Bradley Wiggins GBR 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey SKY 2012 + 2" 4 Vincenzo Nibali ITA LIQ 2012 + 7" 5 Rein Taaramäe EST COF 2012 + 19" 6 Haimar Zubeldia ESP RNT 2012 + 44" 7 Pierre Rolland FRA EUC 2012 + 46" 8 Janez Brajkovič SLO AST 2012 + 46" DSQ Denis Menchov RUSn menchov KAT 2012 + 50" 10 Maxime Monfort BEL RNT 2012 + 56"+ General classification after stage 7 Rank Rider Team Time 1 Bradley Wiggins GBR 20px|Yellow jersey 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey SKY 2012 34h 21' 20" 2 Cadel Evans AUS BMC 2012 + 10" 3 Vincenzo Nibali ITA LIQ 2012 + 16" 4 Rein Taaramäe EST 20px|White jersey COF 2012 + 32" DSQ Denis Menchov RUSn menchov KAT 2012 + 54" 6 Haimar Zubeldia ESP RNT 2012 + 59" 7 Maxime Monfort BEL RNT 2012 + 1' 09" 8 Nicolas Roche IRL ALM 2012 + 1' 22" 9 Chris Froome GBR 20px|Polka-dot jersey 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey SKY 2012 + 1' 32" 10 Michael Rogers AUS 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey SKY 2012 + 1' 40" Stage 8 8 July 2012 — Belfort to Porrentruy (Switzerland), 157.5 km 1 onStage 8: Belfort – Porrentruy http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/800/etape_par_etape.html Tour de France Amaury Sport Organisation 27 June 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120705014026/http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/800/etape_par_etape.html 5 July 2012 dead dmy-all thumb|upright=1.5|Stage eight profile The race entered Switzerland after 65 km 1 on of the parcours, going through the Jura Mountains with a total of seven rated climbs including the first-category Col de la Croix – the summit of which was at 789 m 0 on after a 3.7 km 1 on, 9.2% average gradient climb – 16 km 1 on before the finish in Porrentruy.July 8, Stage 8: Belfort – Porrentruy 157.5km http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2012/stage-8 Cyclingnews.com Future plc 23 June 2012 28 June 2012 Ten riders made the immediate breakaway from the peloton,Pinot rides to glory in Porrentruy http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2012/stage-8/results Mark Robinson Cyclingnews.com Future plc 8 July 2012 25 August 2013 but the gap that they had achieved was closed down by the AST 2012 team ahead of the day's first climb, the Côte de Bondeval. Jens Voigt of RNT 2012 attacked off the front of the lead group to take the point on offer for the mountains classification, and was joined by several more riders on the descent; however, the group only held a gap of twenty seconds at the 50 km 1 on mark.Thibaut Pinot escapes the break to take stage eight into Porrentruy http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12332/Tour-de-France-Thibaut-Pinot-escapes-the-break-to-take-stage-eight-into-Porrentruy.aspx Ben Atkins VeloNation VeloNation LLC 8 July 2012 8 July 2012 Jérémy Roy attacked from the peloton for FDJ 2012, and soon caught and passed Voigt on the road; while in the peloton, Samuel Sánchez (EUS 2012) had to abandon the race, after crashing with teammate Jorge Azanza and MOV 2012's Alejandro Valverde, and suffered a fractured metacarpal in his left hand.Fractured hand for Samuel Sánchez but collarbone appears unbroken http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12335/Tour-de-France-Fractured-hand-for-Samuel-Sanchez-but-collarbone-appears-unbroken.aspx Ben Atkins VeloNation VeloNation LLC 8 July 2012 8 July 2012 Roy was joined by AST 2012 yes rider Fredrik Kessiakoff on the day's fourth climb, the Côte de Saignelégier, while a 22-rider chase group formed behind the duo. Steven Kruijswijk (RAB 2012) and OPQ 2012's Kevin De Weert left that group, and soon joined up with the two leaders on the Côte de Saulcy, before Kessiakoff left them behind, after attacking once again. He held a lead of 1' 45" over the dwindling chase group on the penultimate climb, the Côte de la Caquerelle, and eventually the group had reduced to just French pairing Tony Gallopin (RNT 2012 yes) and Roy's teammate Thibaut Pinot, the youngest rider in the Tour.Pinot wins stage 8 of the Tour de France; Wiggins defends yellow http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/pinot-wins-stage-8-of-the-tour-de-france-wiggins-defends-yellow_228224 VeloNews Competitor Group, Inc. Agence France-Presse 8 July 2012 8 July 2012 thumb|FDJ 2012's Thibaut Pinot (pictured in the next stage), the winner of stage eight Gallopin lost ground to Pinot on the final climb, and soon Pinot was chasing after Kessiakoff on the climb itself; he ultimately caught him towards the summit of the climb. Kessiakoff could not stick with Pinot on the climb, with Pinot crossing the summit with a 12-second advantage over Kessiakoff. The group of overall contenders had also been reduced, with LTB 2012's Jelle Vanendert setting the tempo for teammate Jurgen Van den Broeck, around a minute-and-a-half behind Pinot. With boisterous support from his team manager Marc Madiot,Pinot takes stylish win in Porrentruy http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/pinot-takes-stylish-win-in-porrentruy Barry Ryan Cyclingnews.com Future plc 8 July 2012 8 July 2012 Pinot maintained an advantage of a minute into the final 5 km 1 on, as Kessiakoff was swept up by the small chasing group. Van Den Broeck and Cadel Evans (BMC 2012) looked to go clear in the closing stages, but they were brought back; while at the front, Pinot soloed to a 26-second margin of victory, ahead of Evans, Gallopin and the rest of the group.Pinot solos to Tour de France stage eight win as Wiggins fights off attacks http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/pinot-solos-to-tour-de-france-stage-eight-win-as-wiggins-fights-off-attacks-41369 Nigel Wynn Cycling Weekly IPC Media 8 July 2012 8 July 2012 3 October 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141003115507/http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/pinot-solos-to-tour-de-france-stage-eight-win-as-wiggins-fights-off-attacks-41369 dead Kessiakoff took the polka-dot jersey from Chris Froome (SKY 2012), as Froome's teammate Bradley Wiggins maintained the overall lead into the following day's individual time trial. + Stage 8 result Rank Rider Team Time 1 Thibaut Pinot FRA FDJ 2012 3h 56' 10" 2 Cadel Evans AUS BMC 2012 + 26" 3 Tony Gallopin FRA RNT 2012 + 26" 4 Bradley Wiggins GBR 20px|Yellow jersey 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey SKY 2012 + 26" 5 Vincenzo Nibali ITA LIQ 2012 + 26" 6 Jurgen Van den Broeck BEL LTB 2012 + 26" 7 Chris Froome GBR 20px|Polka-dot jersey 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey SKY 2012 + 26" DSQ Denis Menchov RUSn menchov KAT 2012 + 26" 9 Haimar Zubeldia ESP RNT 2012 + 26" 10 Fränk Schleck LUX RNT 2012 + 30"+ General classification after stage 8 Rank Rider Team Time 1 Bradley Wiggins GBR 20px|Yellow jersey SKY 2012 38h 17' 56" 2 Cadel Evans AUS BMC 2012 + 10" 3 Vincenzo Nibali ITA LIQ 2012 + 16" DSQ Denis Menchov RUSn menchov KAT 2012 + 54" 5 Haimar Zubeldia ESP 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey RNT 2012 + 59" 6 Chris Froome GBR SKY 2012 + 1' 32" 7 Maxime Monfort BEL 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey RNT 2012 + 2' 08" 8 Jurgen Van den Broeck BEL LTB 2012 + 2' 11" 9 Nicolas Roche IRL ALM 2012 + 2' 21" 10 Rein Taaramäe EST 20px|White jersey COF 2012 + 2' 27" Stage 9 9 July 2012 — Arc-et-Senans to Besançon, 41.5 km 1 on, (ITT)Stage 9: Arc-et-Senans – Besançon http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/900/etape_par_etape.html Tour de France Amaury Sport Organisation 27 June 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120701154205/http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/900/etape_par_etape.html 1 July 2012 dead dmy-all thumb|upright=1.5|Stage nine profile The first of two lengthy individual time trial stages was fairly flat with rolling hills in the early kilometres before the parcours entered the valley of the River Doubs at Boussières. It was expected that the main contenders for the general classification were to emerge after this stage.July 9, Stage 9: Arc-et-Senans – Besançon (ITT) 41.5km http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2012/stage-9 Cyclingnews.com Future plc 23 June 2012 28 June 2012 As was customary of time trial stages, the riders set off in reverse order from where they were ranked in the general classification at the end of the previous stage. Thus, Brice Feillu of SAU 2012, who, in 178th place, trailed overall leader Bradley Wiggins (SKY 2012) by one hour, eleven minutes and thirty-nine seconds, was the first rider to set off on the stage.http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/tour-de-france-stage-9-time-trial-start-order Tour de France stage 9 time trial start order Cyclingnews.com Future plc 9 July 2012 9 July 2012 Feillu ultimately recorded a time of 57' 33" for the course,http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12342/Tour-de-France-Bradley-Wiggins-crushes-the-field-in-stage-nine-time-trial.aspx Ben Atkins Bradley Wiggins crushes the field in stage nine time trial VeloNation VeloNation LLC 9 July 2012 9 July 2012 which was not bettered until the thirteenth rider to complete the course, VCD 2012 rider Gustav Larsson, who recorded a time over three minutes quicker than Feillu. upright|thumb|Overall leader Bradley Wiggins won his first career Tour de France stage, and as a result, he extended his lead in the general classification to 1' 53" over BMC 2012's Cadel Evans. He completed the course in a time of 54' 19", and his time held for around an hour before his teammate Lieuwe Westra assumed top spot; despite being ten seconds down on Larsson at the second intermediate time point, Westra completed the final portion of the course some twenty seconds quicker, and recorded a time of 54' 09". OPQ 2012's Tony Martin, the world champion, was the next rider to assume the top spot, setting the first time underneath 54 minutes; he set a time of 53' 40", despite riding with a fractured scaphoid bone in his left wrist and suffering a flat tyre in the opening 5 km 1 on of the stage. Fabian Cancellara of RNT 2012 improved the quickest time benchmark; he set the fastest time at each of the two intermediate time points on the stage, and having passed the rider who started three minutes before him on the road, RAB 2012's Bauke Mollema, Cancellara established a time for the course of 52' 21", beating Martin's time by 1' 19".Wiggins crushes time trial in Besançon http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2012/stage-9/results Daniel Benson Cyclingnews.com Future plc 9 July 2012 9 July 2012 His time was threatened by BMC 2012 rider Tejay van Garderen, as he went beneath the time of Cancellara at each of the intermediate time checks, but faded towards the end and fell nine seconds outside of his target. Ultimately, only two riders beat Cancellara's time, both riding for SKY 2012. Chris Froome improved upon van Garderen's times at the splits, but maintained his pace until the end, setting a time half a second inside 52 minutes, beating Cancellara's time by 22 seconds. Wiggins went even quicker and by the time he had finished, he had put 35 seconds into his teammate with a time of 51' 24", winning his first Tour stage.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/tour-de-france/9387583/Tour-de-France-2012-Bradley-Wiggins-says-maiden-stage-win-is-like-Christmas-following-Team-Sky-one-two.html Bradley Wiggins says maiden stage win is 'like Christmas' following Team Sky one-two The Daily Telegraph Telegraph Media Group 9 July 2012 9 July 2012 Wiggins also put substantial time into his major general classification rivals,http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/wiggins-extends-overall-lead-with-stage-9-win-at-the-tour-de-france_228375 Wiggins extends overall lead with stage 9 win at the Tour de France VeloNews Competitor Group, Inc. 9 July 2012 9 July 2012 as the margin on the day ranged between 1' 43" for Cadel Evans (BMC 2012) who finished sixth on the stage, and 3' 29" for COF 2012 rider Rein Taaramäe, who was 28th and lost the white jersey as leader of the young rider classification to van Garderen.http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/video-van-garderen-surprised-himself-with-besancon-time-trial-result Van Garderen surprised himself with Besançon time trial result Cyclingnews.com Future plc 9 July 2012 9 July 2012 + Stage 9 result Rank Rider Team Time 1 Bradley Wiggins GBR 20px|Yellow jersey SKY 2012 51' 24" 2 Chris Froome GBR SKY 2012 + 35" 3 Fabian Cancellara SUI 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey RNT 2012 + 57" 4 Tejay van Garderen USA BMC 2012 + 1' 06" 5 Sylvain Chavanel FRA OPQ 2012 + 1' 24" 6 Cadel Evans AUS BMC 2012 + 1' 43" 7 Peter Velits SVK OPQ 2012 + 1' 59" 8 Vincenzo Nibali ITA LIQ 2012 + 2' 07" DSQ Denis Menchov RUSn menchov KAT 2012 + 2' 08" 10 Andreas Klöden GER 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey RNT 2012 + 2' 09"+ General slassification after stage 9 Rank Rider Team Time 1 Bradley Wiggins GBR 20px|Yellow jersey SKY 2012 39h 09' 20" 2 Cadel Evans AUS BMC 2012 + 1' 53" 3 Chris Froome GBR SKY 2012 + 2' 07" 4 Vincenzo Nibali ITA LIQ 2012 + 2' 23" DSQ Denis Menchov RUSn menchov KAT 2012 + 3' 02" 6 Haimar Zubeldia ESP 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey RNT 2012 + 3' 19" 7 Maxime Monfort BEL 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey RNT 2012 + 4' 23" 8 Tejay van Garderen USA 20px|White jersey BMC 2012 + 5' 14" 9 Jurgen Van den Broeck BEL LTB 2012 + 5' 20" 10 Nicolas Roche IRL ALM 2012 + 5' 29" Stage 10 11 July 2012 — Mâcon to Bellegarde-sur-Valserine, 194.5 km 1 onStage 10: Mâcon – Bellegarde-sur-Valserine http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/1000/etape_par_etape.html Tour de France Amaury Sport Organisation 27 June 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120614190129/http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/1000/etape_par_etape.html 14 June 2012 dead dmy-all thumb|upright=1.5|Stage ten profile After a rest day, the Tour remained in the Jura Mountains, with much of the day's route the same as that followed on stage five of the 2012 Critérium du Dauphiné, including the Tour's first passage over the hors catégorie climb of the Col du Grand Colombier; a 17.4 km 1 on long climb, reaching an altitude of 1501 m 0 on at an average gradient of 7.1%, but with sections in excess of 12%.Mountain passes & Hills: Stage 10 http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/1000/etape_par_colsetcotes.html Tour de France Amaury Sport Organisation 28 June 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20150427124816/http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/1000/etape_par_colsetcotes.html 27 April 2015 dead dmy-all The Tour then passed over the 1051 m 0 on Col de Richemond, 20.5 km 1 on before the finish; the race descended towards Billiat before a gradual uphill finish in Bellegarde-sur-Valserine.July 11, Stage 10: Mâcon – Bellegarde-sur-Valserine 194.5km http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2012/stage-10 Cyclingnews.com Future plc 23 June 2012 28 June 2012 Several small attacks occurred in the early kilometres of the stage, and the peloton allowed the riders to establish an advantage off the front of the main field. It eventually amounted to some twenty-five riders in the breakaway,http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12360/Tour-de-France-Thomas-Voeckler-escapes-the-break-to-take-stage-ten.aspx Thomas Voeckler escapes the break to take stage ten VeloNation VeloNation LLC 11 July 2012 11 July 2012 Ben Atkins including LAM 2012 rider Michele Scarponi – the highest-placed rider in the group, some ten minutes in arrears of race leader Bradley Wiggins (SKY 2012)http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12364/Tour-de-France-Runner-up-finish-will-give-Scarponi-a-boost-in-morale.aspx Runner up finish will give Scarponi a boost in morale VeloNation VeloNation LLC 11 July 2012 11 July 2012 Kyle Moore – and the top two riders in the points classification, LIQ 2012's Peter Sagan and Matthew Goss of OGE 2012b. After SAX 2012b's Michael Mørkøv took maximum points over the first climb of the day, the Côte de Corlier, the next focus was on the intermediate sprint point at Béon; Sagan launched his sprint first but was beaten to the line by both Goss and FDJ 2012's Yauheni Hutarovich, with Goss reducing Sagan's lead in the standings to 27 points.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2012/stage-10/results Voeckler wins from breakaway in Bellegarde-sur-Valserine Cyclingnews.com Future plc 11 July 2012 11 July 2012 Peter Cossins The breakaway group split apart on the Col du Grand Colombier; only Scarponi, EUC 2012's Thomas Voeckler, RAB 2012 rider Luis León Sánchez and Dries Devenyns of OPQ 2012 remained at the front. thumb|Stage ten winner, Thomas Voeckler of EUC 2012 (pictured in 2011) Voeckler crossed the summit of the climb first, taking the 25 points on offer for the hors catégorie climb. The peloton crossed five-and-a-half minutes later. Voeckler also took maximum points at the Col de Richemond, and as a result, took the polka-dot jersey for the mountains classification lead from AST 2012 rider Fredrik Kessiakoff. Sagan had dropped back to aid his teammate Vincenzo Nibali, who had attacked on the descent of the Col du Grand Colombier, but both riders were not to stay in front ahead of the SKY 2012 yes-led peloton. RNT 2012's Jens Voigt made up a minute on the lead quartet to join them,http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12366/Jens-Voigt-with-yet-another-battle-for-the-ages-in-the-Tour-de-France.aspx Jens Voigt with yet another battle for the ages in the Tour de France VeloNation VeloNation LLC 11 July 2012 11 July 2012 Kyle Moore with around 10 km 1 on remaining; Devenyns looked to go clear in the closing stages, but Voeckler had kept most in hand to take his third career Tour stage victory,http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/voeckler-makes-his-mark-on-le-tour-again_229053 Voeckler makes his mark on Le Tour — again VeloNews Competitor Group, Inc. 11 July 2012 11 July 2012 Chris Case 19 November 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151119223028/http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/voeckler-makes-his-mark-on-le-tour-again_229053 dead three seconds ahead of Scarponi and seven ahead of Voigt. Wiggins remained on the wheel of his closest rival, Cadel Evans of the BMC 2012, to maintain his 1' 53" lead in the general classification into the Alps. + Stage 10 result Rank Rider Team Time 1 Thomas Voeckler FRA EUC 2012 4h 46' 26" 2 Michele Scarponi ITA LAM 2012 + 3" 3 Jens Voigt GER 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey RNT 2012 + 7" 4 Luis León Sánchez ESP RAB 2012 + 23" 5 Dries Devenyns BEL OPQ 2012 + 30" 6 Sandy Casar FRA FDJ 2012 + 2' 44" 7 Egoi Martínez ESP EUS 2012 + 2' 44" 8 Pierre Rolland FRA EUC 2012 + 2' 44" 9 Jurgen Van den Broeck BEL LTB 2012 + 2' 44" 10 Dmitry Fofonov KAZ AST 2012 + 2' 52"+ General classification after stage 10 Rank Rider Team Time 1 Bradley Wiggins GBR 20px|Yellow jersey SKY 2012 43h 59' 02" 2 Cadel Evans AUS BMC 2012 + 1' 53" 3 Chris Froome GBR SKY 2012 + 2' 07" 4 Vincenzo Nibali ITA LIQ 2012 + 2' 23" DSQ Denis Menchov RUSn menchov KAT 2012 + 3' 02" 6 Haimar Zubeldia ESP 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey RNT 2012 + 3' 19" 7 Maxime Monfort BEL 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey RNT 2012 + 4' 23" 8 Jurgen Van den Broeck BEL LTB 2012 + 4' 48" 9 Nicolas Roche IRL ALM 2012 + 5' 29" 10 Tejay van Garderen USA 20px|White jersey BMC 2012 + 5' 31" Notes and references Footnotes n References 30em Sources Race regulations http://www.letour.fr/le-tour/2012/docs/reglement.pdf Tour de France Amaury Sport Organisation https://web.archive.org/web/20150714233556/http://www.letour.fr/le-tour/2012/docs/reglement.pdf 14 July 2015 dead 10 August 2015 2015 ASO 2012 dmy-all External links http://www.letour.fr/le-tour/2012/us/ 2012 Tour de France P 10 11 20 Category:2012 Tour de France Category:Tour de France stages