2012 Tour de France, Stage 11 to Stage 20

Stage 11 to Stage 20 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. Stage 11 of the 2012 Tour de France was contested on 12 July and the race concluded with Stage 20 on 22 July. The second half of the race was situated entirely within France; starting with a mountain stage from Albertville to La Toussuire-Les Sybelles – incorporating two hors catégorie climbs during the stage – before the customary race-concluding stage finish on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. Following his victory in the ninth stage individual time trial, SKY 2012 rider Bradley Wiggins held the lead into the second half of the race. He maintained his race lead throughout the second half of the race, holding a lead of 2 minutes and 5 seconds – transpiring from stage 9 – until the race's final individual time trial, held on the penultimate day of the race. Wiggins won the stage by 1 minute and 16 seconds ahead of his team-mate Chris Froome, and Wiggins ultimately held his lead into Paris the following day to win the race overall by 3 minutes and 21 seconds, to become the first rider from Great Britain to win a Grand Tour race. Froome finished second, while the final podium was completed by former Vuelta a España winner Vincenzo Nibali, riding for the LIQ 2012 team, who was the only other rider to finish within 10 minutes of Wiggins' final overall time. Only Wiggins' team-mate Mark Cavendish was able to win more than one stage during the second half of the race, winning two of the final three stages including a fourth consecutive final stage victory in Paris. This victory allowed him to become the most prolific sprinter at the Tour de France with 23 stage victories, surpassing the record of 22 which had been held for 48 years by France's André Darrigade. Three French riders – Pierre Rolland, Pierrick Fédrigo and Thomas Voeckler – each took a stage victory during the second half of the race, with Voeckler's victory in the queen stage helping in part for him to become the eventual winner of the mountains classification. Other stage victories were taken by David Millar, André Greipel, Luis León Sánchez and Alejandro Valverde. During the fourteenth stage of the race, Wiggins neutralised the peloton on the descent from the Mur de Péguère climb, after carpet tacks were found to be responsible for around thirty punctures on the climb itself.Carpet tacks cannot force Bradley Wiggins off track https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/jul/15/tour-de-france-2012-bradley-wiggins Richard Williams The Guardian 15 July 2012 22 July 2012 Among those delayed was the defending champion Cadel Evans, who suffered three punctures on the climb and had lost around two minutes before Wiggins called a truce in the main field, allowing the breakaway to finish the stage over eighteen minutes clear of the pack.'Idiots' scatter tacks on Mur de Peguere, causing dozens of flats http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/idiots-spread-tacks-on-mur-de-peguere-causing-dozens-of-flats_229833 Matthew Beaudin VeloNews Competitor Group, Inc. 15 July 2012 15 July 2012 15 August 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120815035735/http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/idiots-spread-tacks-on-mur-de-peguere-causing-dozens-of-flats_229833 deadBradley Wiggins: "No one wants to benefit from someone else's misfortune" http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12409/Bradley-Wiggins-No-one-wants-to-benefit-from-someone-elses-misfortune.aspx Ben Atkins VeloNation 15 July 2012 15 July 2012 Following the raid of the COF 2012 team hotel during the first rest day, the second rest day was marked by a positive drugs test by RNT 2012 rider Fränk Schleck, the third-placed rider from the 2011 race. Schleck quit the race after traces of xipamide, a banned sulfonamide diuretic drug, were found in the A-sample of his urine, and was later confirmed by the B-sample.http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12453/Frank-Schlecks-B-sample-also-positive-for-diuretic-Xipamide-doping-hearing-looming-for-rider.aspx Fränk Schleck's B sample also positive for diuretic Xipamide; doping hearing looming for rider VeloNation 20 July 2012 22 July 2012 Shane Stokes 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 20px|link=Combativity award in the Tour de France|alt=Jersey with a red background on the number bib. Denotes the winner of the combativity awardASO 2012 29 Stage 11 12 July 2012 — Albertville to La Toussuire-Les Sybelles, 148 km 1 onStage 11: Albertville – La Toussuire – Les Sybelles http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/1100/etape_par_etape.html Tour de France Amaury Sport Organisation 28 June 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120624223001/http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/1100/etape_par_etape.html 24 June 2012 dead dmy-all thumb|upright=1.5|Stage eleven profile The stage was spent entirely in the Alps with two hors catégorie climbs – the Col de la Madeleine after 40 km 1 on and the Col de la Croix de Fer after 93 km 1 on; both of which had summits at 2000 m 0 on or higher – before the finish at La Toussuire-Les Sybelles. The Col de la Croix de Fer was the highest point reached in the Alps in the 2012 Tour, so the leader across the summit would win the Souvenir Henri Desgrange. The finish was a first-category climb of 18 km 1 on at an average gradient of 6.1%.Mountain passes & Hills: Stage 11 http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/1100/etape_par_colsetcotes.html Tour de France Amaury Sport Organisation 28 June 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20160305091321/http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/1100/etape_par_colsetcotes.html 5 March 2016 dead dmy-allJuly 12, Stage 11: Albertville – La Toussuire-Les Sybelles 148km http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2012/stage-11 Cyclingnews.com 23 June 2012 28 June 2012 Much like the previous day, a large breakaway was formed after several different groups advanced clear of the main field as they approached the first climb of the day, at the Col de la Madeleine. In total, there were 28 ridersPeter Cossins Rolland rises to win at La Toussuire http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2012/stage-11/results Cyclingnews.com 12 July 2012 12 July 2012 in the group at one point; at the top of the climb, the pace picked up and the group splintered into several mini-groups as OPQ 2012's Peter Velits scored the maximum points on offer for the climb, followed closely by AST 2012 rider Fredrik Kessiakoff.http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12374/Tour-de-France-Rolland-takes-another-classy-win-for-Europcar.aspx Rolland takes another classy win for Europcar VeloNation 12 July 2012 12 July 2012 Kyle Moore Velits and Kessiakoff pulled out a 45-second advantage on the descent, but eight riders eventually bridged the gap and rejoined the duo before the Col de la Croix de Fer. EUC 2012 had two riders in the group, with Christophe Kern setting the pace for team-mate Pierre Rolland, and the tempo was again splitting the group up. Back in the peloton, young rider classification leader Tejay van Garderen (BMC 2012) attacked on the climb, as the benchmark for a later move by his team-mate Cadel Evans.Daniel Benson Evans fails after brave attack http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/evans-fails-after-brave-attack Cyclingnews.com 12 July 2012 12 July 2012 They acquired a 30-second lead at one point before SKY 2012 brought Bradley Wiggins back up to them. Kessiakoff just bettered Rolland for the mountains points atop the Col de la Croix de Fer, with the peloton around two minutes behind. thumb|EUC 2012's Pierre Rolland (pictured in 2013), the winner of the eleventh stage The group containing Wiggins and other overall contenders dropped a minute further back on the early parts of the Col du Mollard, where the breakaway consisted of Velits, Rolland, SAX 2012b's Chris Anker Sørensen and Robert Kišerlovski of AST 2012 yes, with MOV 2012's Vasil Kiryienka later joining up. Rolland crashed on the descent from the climb, having taken first place points over the summit, while Sørensen was in difficulty to stay with the lead. LIQ 2012 rider Vincenzo Nibali tried to breach the peloton on two occasions on the final climb,Gregor Brown Nibali fails to crack Sky but pleased with Tour mountains performance http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/nibali-fails-to-crack-sky-but-pleased-with-tour-mountains-performance-41171 Cycling Weekly 12 July 2012 12 July 2012 4 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304083813/http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/nibali-fails-to-crack-sky-but-pleased-with-tour-mountains-performance-41171 dead catching up with LTB 2012's Jurgen Van den Broeck who had escaped with eighth stage winner, FDJ 2012's Thibaut Pinot. Evans cracked on the climb, losing time to Wiggins, team-mate Chris Froome and other contenders. Froome put Wiggins into difficulty at one point, but backed the pace down via his team radio.Daniel Benson Wiggins relieved after La Toussuire mountain finish http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/wiggins-relieved-after-la-toussuire-mountain-finish Cyclingnews.com 12 July 2012 12 July 2012Barry Ryan Froome breaks from the script at La Toussuire http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/froome-breaks-from-the-script-at-la-toussuire Cyclingnews.com 12 July 2012 12 July 2012 Up front, Rolland was the last remaining rider of the breakaway, and soloed to his second Tour stage win, and his team's second stage win in a row.Brendan Gallagher Pierre Rolland takes stage 11 as Bradley Wiggins inches closer to overall victory https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/tour-de-france/9395870/Tour-de-France-2012-Pierre-Rolland-takes-stage-11-as-Bradley-Wiggins-inches-closer-to-overall-victory.html The Daily Telegraph 12 July 2012 12 July 2012 Pinot led the yellow jersey group across the line almost a minute down, while Evans lost almost 90 seconds on Wiggins, Froome and Nibali, who filled the top three places overall at the conclusion of the stage. + Stage 11 result Rank Rider Team Time 1 Pierre Rolland FRA EUC 2012 4h 43' 54" 2 Thibaut Pinot FRA FDJ 2012 + 55" 3 Chris Froome GBR SKY 2012 + 55" 4 Jurgen Van den Broeck BEL LTB 2012 + 57" 5 Vincenzo Nibali ITA LIQ 2012 + 57" 6 Bradley Wiggins GBR 20px|Yellow jersey SKY 2012 + 57" 7 Chris Anker Sørensen DEN SAX 2012b + 1' 08" 8 Janez Brajkovič SLO AST 2012 + 1' 58" 9 Vasil Kiryienka BLR MOV 2012 + 2' 13" 10 Fränk Schleck LUX 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey RNT 2012 + 2' 23"+ General classification after stage 11 Rank Rider Team Time 1 Bradley Wiggins GBR 20px|Yellow jersey SKY 2012 48h 43' 53" 2 Chris Froome GBR SKY 2012 + 2' 05" 3 Vincenzo Nibali ITA LIQ 2012 + 2' 23" 4 Cadel Evans AUS BMC 2012 + 3' 19" 5 Jurgen Van den Broeck BEL LTB 2012 + 4' 48" 6 Haimar Zubeldia ESP 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey RNT 2012 + 6' 15" 7 Tejay van Garderen USA 20px|White jersey BMC 2012 + 6' 57" 8 Janez Brajkovič SLO AST 2012 + 7' 30" 9 Pierre Rolland FRA 20px|Red-bibbed jersey EUC 2012 + 8' 31" 10 Thibaut Pinot FRA FDJ 2012 + 8' 51" Stage 12 13 July 2012 — Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to Annonay–Davézieux, 226 km 1 onStage 12: Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne – Annonay Davézieux http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/1200/etape_par_etape.html Tour de France Amaury Sport Organisation 28 June 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120705013405/http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/1200/etape_par_etape.html 5 July 2012 dead dmy-all thumb|upright=1.5|Stage twelve profile With a parcours of 226 km 1 on, the twelfth stage was the longest of the Tour; the race left the Alps but only after a pair of first-category climbs – the 1188 m 0 on Col du Grand Cucheron and the 1134 m 0 on Col du Granier – in the first 80 km 1 on, although there was also a third-category climb of the Côte d'Ardoix within the final 20 km 1 on, before the finish in Annonay-Davézieux.July 13, Stage 12: Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne – Annonay Davézieux 226km http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2012/stage-12 Cyclingnews.com 23 June 2012 28 June 2012 As had been the case in the previous two stages, there was another large breakaway group that set the tempo outside of the peloton in the early running. At its maximum, the group contained nineteen riders, but it had been reduced to eleven by the time the group reached the foot of the opening climb, the Col du Grand Cucheron.David Millar takes stage 12 breakaway to salvage the Argyle Tour Ben Atkins http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12383/Tour-de-France-David-Millar-takes-stage-12-breakaway-to-salvage-the-Argyle-Tour.aspx VeloNation 13 July 2012 13 July 2012 Robert Kišerlovski of AST 2012 took the maximum points on offer for the climb, to help protect the lead of the classification, held by team-mate Fredrik Kessiakoff. COF 2012 rider David Moncoutié tried to bridge the gap to reach the lead group, but crashed heavily on the descent from the climb. He had to abandon the race with abrasions.Crash on descent forces David Moncoutié out of his final Tour de France Ben Atkins http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12387/Crash-on-descent-forces-David-Moncoutie-out-of-his-final-Tour-de-France.aspx VeloNation 13 July 2012 13 July 2012 Kišerlovski also took maximum points on the Col du Granier, which made Kessiakoff's lead safe for another day. After reaching the mid-stage feeding zone in Saint-Joseph-de-Rivière, the lead group split and five riders – David Millar of GRS 2012b, ALM 2012 rider Jean-Christophe Péraud, EUS 2012's Egoi Martínez, Kišerlovski and Cyril Gautier,Millar magic on stage 12 of Tour Felix Lowe http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/millar-magic-stage-12-tour-140319386.html Yahoo! Eurosport TF1 Group 13 July 2012 13 July 2012 looking to give EUC 2012 a third win in a row – accelerated away to a near 13-minute lead at its maximum. With none of the riders being in overall contention, the peloton let the group go and decided not to chase them down before the finish.Millar outsprints Peraud to win Tour de France stage 12 Peter Cossins http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2012/stage-12/results Cyclingnews.com 13 July 2012 13 July 2012 thumb|upright|Stage twelve winner, David Millar of GRS 2012b (pictured in 2014) None of the quintet attacked each other, and they remained as one into the final 5 km 1 on of the stage. Kišerlovski played his hand first, launching an attack with 3.5 km 1 on remaining, but Péraud closed down the move almost immediately; a secondary move took Martínez and Gautier out of the equation for the stage victory. Péraud accelerated again and Millar latched onto his wheel with Kišerlovski unable to follow the pair. Millar took the front inside the final 1 km 1 on, but Péraud remained on his wheel until just before 200 m on to go; he launched his attack, but Millar beat him to the line for his fourth individual stage victory at the TourDavid Millar remembers his past as he celebrates the present Chris Case http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/david-millar-remembers-his-past-as-he-celebrates-the-present_229670 VeloNews Competitor Group, Inc. 13 July 2012 13 July 2012 16 July 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120716054827/http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/david-millar-remembers-his-past-as-he-celebrates-the-present_229670 dead – his first since 2003 – and the fourth different British rider to take a stage win at the 2012 Tour.Millar wins Tour stage, nine years on from his last Sophie Smith http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/millar-wins-tour-stage-nine-years-on-from-his-last-41152 Cycling Weekly 13 July 2012 13 July 2012 19 September 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150919163855/http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/millar-wins-tour-stage-nine-years-on-from-his-last-41152 dead The peloton was led across the line almost eight minutes down by the top two in the points classification, OGE 2012b's Matthew Goss and LIQ 2012's Peter Sagan. Sagan protested the sprint finish of Goss, feeling that he had impeded him in the closing metres. Race officials agreed with Sagan and demoted Goss to seventh – helped in part by a one-second time gap between them and the rest of the fieldGoss docked 30 points after sprint deviation in Tour stage 12 Barry Ryan http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/goss-docked-30-points-after-sprint-deviation-in-tour-stage-12 Cyclingnews.com 13 July 2012 13 July 2012 – and penalised him 30 points in the classification, and 30 seconds overall.Tour Notebook Stage 12: Goss relegation helps Sagan; Jury fines Cavendish for yelling at official Andrew Hood http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/tour-notebook-stage-12-goss-relegation-helps-sagan-jury-fines-cavendish-for-yelling-at-official_229681 VeloNews Competitor Group, Inc. 13 July 2012 13 July 2012 16 July 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120716053944/http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/tour-notebook-stage-12-goss-relegation-helps-sagan-jury-fines-cavendish-for-yelling-at-official_229681 dead + Stage 12 result Rank Rider Team Time 1 David Millar GBR GRS 2012b 5h 42' 46" 2 Jean-Christophe Péraud FRA ALM 2012 + 0" 3 Egoi Martínez ESP EUS 2012 + 5" 4 Cyril Gautier FRA EUC 2012 + 5" 5 Robert Kišerlovski CRO AST 2012 + 5" 6 Peter Sagan SVK 20px|Green jersey LIQ 2012 + 7' 53" 7 Matthew Goss AUS OGE 2012b + 7' 53" 8 Sébastien Hinault FRA ALM 2012 + 7' 54" 9 Cadel Evans AUS BMC 2012 + 7' 54" 10 Luca Paolini ITA KAT 2012 + 7' 54"+ General classification after stage 12 Rank Rider Team Time 1 Bradley Wiggins GBR 20px|Yellow jersey SKY 2012 54h 34' 33" 2 Chris Froome GBR SKY 2012 + 2' 05" 3 Vincenzo Nibali ITA LIQ 2012 + 2' 23" 4 Cadel Evans AUS BMC 2012 + 3' 19" 5 Jurgen Van den Broeck BEL LTB 2012 + 4' 48" 6 Haimar Zubeldia ESP 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey RNT 2012 + 6' 15" 7 Tejay van Garderen USA 20px|White jersey BMC 2012 + 6' 57" 8 Janez Brajkovič SLO AST 2012 + 7' 30" 9 Pierre Rolland FRA EUC 2012 + 8' 31" 10 Thibaut Pinot FRA FDJ 2012 + 8' 51" Stage 13 14 July 2012 — Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux to Cap d'Agde, 217 km 1 onStage 13: Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux – Le Cap d'Agde http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/1300/etape_par_etape.html Tour de France Amaury Sport Organisation 28 June 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20111020121610/http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/1300/etape_par_etape.html 20 October 2011 dead dmy-all thumb|upright=1.5|Stage thirteen profile This transitional stage took the Tour to the Mediterranean. The day's only categorised climb over Mont-Saint-Clair at Sète and the wind off the sea were two potential disruptions to the race in the final 28 km 1 on of the stage.July 14, Stage 13: Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux – Cap d'Agde 217km http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2012/stage-13 Cyclingnews.com 23 June 2012 28 June 2012 For the celebration of Bastille Day,The French go on the attack on Quatorze Juillet http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12392/The-French-go-on-the-attack-on-Quatorze-Juillet.aspx VeloNation 14 July 2012 15 July 2012 Ben Atkins the breakaway had extensive French representation, with five of the eight-rider move – COF 2012 rider Samuel Dumoulin, FDJ 2012's Mathieu Ladagnous, Jimmy Engoulvent of SAU 2012, Maxime Bouet (ALM 2012) and Jérôme Pineau, representing the OPQ 2012 team – from the country.André Greipel makes it three as the shattered peloton sprints into Cap d'Agde http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12394/Tour-de-France-Andre-Greipel-makes-it-three-as-the-shattered-peloton-sprints-into-Cap-dAgde.aspx VeloNation 14 July 2012 15 July 2012 Ben Atkins The group was rounded out by Pablo Urtasun of EUS 2012, SAX 2012b's Michael Mørkøv and ARG 2012b rider Roy Curvers.Susan Westemeyer Greipel wins photo finish over Sagan in mid-Tour sprint http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2012/stage-13/results Cyclingnews.com 14 July 2012 15 July 2012 thumb|The day's breakaway at Pic Saint-Loup just over halfway into the stage. Jérôme Pineau leads Jimmy Engoulvent, Maxime Bouet, Roy Curvers, Michael Mørkøv, Mathieu Ladagnous, Samuel Dumoulin and Pablo Urtasun. The octet made their escape in the opening 20 km 1 on of the stage, and their advantage eventually stemmed to a maximum of almost 10 minutes at the 35 km 1 on mark, before OGE 2012b sent riders forward to the front of the peloton in order to bring the gap down. Urtasun led the group across the line at the stage's intermediate sprint point in Mas-de-Londres, but behind, points classification leader Peter Sagan (LIQ 2012) was able to launch his sprint for the line before OGE 2012b yes's sprinter Matthew Goss did so, and extended his lead in the standings as a result. Pineau looked to go clear with 65 km 1 on to go, but his move was anticipated by Mørkøv, before he attacked of his own accord. Mørkøv held a one-minute advantage over his former breakaway companions all the way to the foot of the Mont-Saint-Clair, but the peloton were able to close the advantage to them all before the summit of the climb.Michael Mørkøv on Tour breakaway: "I know my dad would be proud" Ben Atkins http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12396/Michael-Mrkv-on-Tour-breakaway-I-know-my-dad-would-be-proud.aspx VeloNation 14 July 2012 15 July 2012 BMC 2012's Cadel Evans and LTB 2012 rider Jurgen Van den Broeck both attacked on the Mont-Saint-Clair, and their accelerated pace ripped the peloton apart, with many riders falling off the back of the peloton. Around 25 riders remained in the lead group,Greipel survives climb and crosswinds to win third Tour stage http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/greipel-survives-climb-and-crosswinds-to-win-third-tour-stage-41140 Cycling Weekly 14 July 2012 15 July 2012 Simon Richardson 19 September 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150919163927/http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/greipel-survives-climb-and-crosswinds-to-win-third-tour-stage-41140 dead with only Sagan and Van Den Broeck's team-mate André Greipel out of the sprinters making the group. Further moves came from AST 2012 rider Alexander Vinokourov, Michael Albasini of OGE 2012b yes,Vinokourov pledges to try again after stage win bid doesn't pay off http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12398/Vinokourov-pledges-to-try-again-after-stage-win-bid-doesnt-pay-off.aspx VeloNation 14 July 2012 15 July 2012 Shane Stokes and RAB 2012's Luis León Sánchez, but they were closed down by LTB 2012 yes – looking after Greipel for the finish – and SKY 2012 for race leader Bradley Wiggins. Wiggins led out team-mate Edvald Boasson Hagen for the sprint,Greipel benefits from Wiggins' burst of speed in Tour http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/greipel-benefits-from-wiggins-burst-of-speed-in-tour-41137 Cycling Weekly 14 July 2012 15 July 2012 Gregor Brown 4 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304083538/http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/greipel-benefits-from-wiggins-burst-of-speed-in-tour-41137 dead but Greipel launched his own off his wheel and managed to fend off a quick-finishing Sagan to take his third stage win of the Tour by half a wheel, the first such feat by a German rider since Erik Zabel in 2001.Greipel takes third win in Tour http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/greipel-takes-third-win-tour-145843059.html Yahoo! Eurosport TF1 Group 14 July 2012 15 July 2012 Felix Lowe + Stage 13 result Rank Rider Team Time 1 André Greipel GER LTB 2012 4h 57' 59" 2 Peter Sagan SVK 20px|Green jersey LIQ 2012 + 0" 3 Edvald Boasson Hagen NOR SKY 2012 + 0" 4 Sébastien Hinault FRA ALM 2012 + 0" 5 Daryl Impey RSA OGE 2012b + 0" 6 Julien Simon FRA SAU 2012 + 0" 7 Marco Marcato ITA VCD 2012 + 0" 8 Philippe Gilbert BEL BMC 2012 + 0" 9 Peter Velits SVK OPQ 2012 + 0" 10 Danilo Hondo GER LAM 2012 + 0"+ General classification after stage 13 Rank Rider Team Time 1 Bradley Wiggins GBR 20px|Yellow jersey SKY 2012 59h 32' 32" 2 Chris Froome GBR SKY 2012 + 2' 05" 3 Vincenzo Nibali ITA LIQ 2012 + 2' 23" 4 Cadel Evans AUS BMC 2012 + 3' 19" 5 Jurgen Van den Broeck BEL LTB 2012 + 4' 48" 6 Haimar Zubeldia ESP 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey RNT 2012 + 6' 15" 7 Tejay van Garderen USA 20px|White jersey BMC 2012 + 6' 57" 8 Janez Brajkovič SLO AST 2012 + 7' 30" 9 Pierre Rolland FRA EUC 2012 + 8' 31" 10 Thibaut Pinot FRA FDJ 2012 + 8' 51" Stage 14 15 July 2012 — Limoux to Foix, 191 km 1 onStage 14: Limoux – Foix http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/1400/etape_par_etape.html Tour de France Amaury Sport Organisation 28 June 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20111020120036/http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/1400/etape_par_etape.html 20 October 2011 dead dmy-all thumb|upright=1.5|Stage fourteen profile The race entered the lower Pyrenees with two first-category climbs; the 1517 m 0 on Port de Lers and the Mur de Péguère, reaching an elevation of 1375 m 0 on. The Mur de Péguère was featuring for the first time in the Tour de France; with sections of the climb in excess of 16%.Mountain passes & Hills: Stage 14 http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/1400/etape_par_colsetcotes.html https://archive.today/20130107133758/http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/1400/etape_par_colsetcotes.html dead 7 January 2013 Tour de France Amaury Sport Organisation 28 June 2012July 15, Stage 14: Limoux – Foix 191 km http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2012/stage-14 Cyclingnews.com 23 June 2012 28 June 2012 Small attacks set the course of the early running of the stage, with the field remaining as a whole for the first hour of racing after the attacks were closed down shortly after. It was not until a quarter of the way through the stage – some 50 km 1 on inSanchez saves Rabobank's Tour with stage win in Foix http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2012/stage-14/results Susan Westemeyer Cyclingnews.com 15 July 2012 15 July 2012 – that a move was allowed to be established on the road, when eleven riders went clear including the points classification leader Peter Sagan of LIQ 2012,Luis León Sánchez gets his stage into Foix as the peloton neutralised by tacks http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12405/Tour-de-France-Luis-Leon-Sanchez-gets-his-stage-into-Foix-as-the-peloton-neutralised-by-tacks.aspx Ben Atkins VeloNation 15 July 2012 15 July 2012 who was looking to extend his points advantage over his rivals André Greipel (LTB 2012) and OGE 2012b rider Matthew Goss. By the time that Sagan had crossed over the intermediate sprint line first, at Tarascon-sur-Ariège, the leaders' advantage was already over thirteen minutes, and was increasing by the kilometre due to the wet conditions on the roads. At the Port de Lers, the eleven riders were fifteen minutes clear when Cyril Gautier (EUC 2012) developed a problem with his bike and had to stop for a change of equipment, losing around 40 seconds to his ten companions. He would not bridge back to them, and ultimately lost fourteen minutes to them by the stage finish. RAB 2012's Luis León Sánchez attacked on the Mur de Péguère, with only Philippe Gilbert (BMC 2012), EUS 2012 rider Gorka Izagirre and Sandy Casar of FDJ 2012 able to follow originally. Sagan later brought himself back up to the group, before Casar pulled a few seconds clear over the summit.Sanchez solos to Foix victory to save Rabobank's Tour http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/sanchez-solos-to-foix-victory-to-save-rabobanks-tour-41120 Nick Bull Cycling Weekly 15 July 2012 15 July 2012 19 September 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150919171333/http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/sanchez-solos-to-foix-victory-to-save-rabobanks-tour-41120 dead thumb|Luis León Sánchez of RAB 2012 (pictured in the previous stage) was the victor of stage fourteen At the summit of the climb, carpet tacks were thrown onto the road causing as many as thirty riders to puncture, including Gilbert's team-mates Cadel Evans and Steve Cummings, while race leader Bradley Wiggins (SKY 2012) changed his bike as a precaution.Evans suffers multiple punctures after Tour tack attack http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/evans-suffers-multiple-punctures-after-tour-tack-attack-41112 Gregor Brown Cycling Weekly 15 July 2012 15 July 2012 As a result, Wiggins called a temporary halt to the racing on the descent.Bradley Wiggins halts race amid sabotage https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/18849505 BBC Sport 15 July 2012 15 July 2012 At this time, Pierre Rolland (EUC 2012 yes) attacked and gained a two-minute margin over the peloton,Pierre Rolland: "I am respectful of the codes and internal rules of the peloton" http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12410/Pierre-Rolland-I-am-respectful-of-the-codes-and-internal-rules-of-the-peloton.aspx Ben Atkins VeloNation 15 July 2012 15 July 2012 but a combination of the tempo set by LTB 2012 yes and LIQ 2012 yes,Nibali: We were chasing Rolland http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/nibali-we-were-chasing-rolland Barry Ryan Cyclingnews.com 15 July 2012 15 July 2012 and Rolland realising the situation behind – later apologising for his actionsPierre Rolland says he's sorry for attacking as flats plague peloton http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/pierre-rolland-says-hes-sorry-for-attacking-as-flats-plague-peloton_229908 Matthew Beaudin VeloNews Competitor Group, Inc. 15 July 2012 15 July 2012 19 July 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120719081346/http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/pierre-rolland-says-hes-sorry-for-attacking-as-flats-plague-peloton_229908 dead – meant that he was brought back to the field, and they continued to slowly roll towards the finish in Foix. At the front, Sánchez attacked with around 11.5 km 1 on remaining, and eventually soloed his way to a fourth career stage victory at the Tour.Sánchez keeps up his Tour de France record http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/sanchez-keeps-up-his-tour-de-france-record Barry Ryan Cyclingnews.com 15 July 2012 15 July 2012 Sagan led home a group of four riders almost a minute behind, while the peloton eventually crossed the line over eighteen minutes behind Sánchez. + Stage 14 result Rank Rider Team Time 1 Luis León Sánchez ESP RAB 2012 4h 50' 29" 2 Peter Sagan SVK 20px|Green jersey LIQ 2012 + 47" 3 Sandy Casar FRA FDJ 2012 + 47" 4 Philippe Gilbert BEL BMC 2012 + 47" 5 Gorka Izagirre ESP EUS 2012 + 47" 6 Sérgio Paulinho POR SAX 2012b + 2' 51" 7 Sébastien Minard FRA ALM 2012 + 2' 51" 8 Martin Velits SVK OPQ 2012 + 3' 49" 9 Eduard Vorganov RUS KAT 2012 + 4' 51" 10 Steven Kruijswijk NED RAB 2012 + 4' 53"+ General classification after stage 14 Rank Rider Team Time 1 Bradley Wiggins GBR 20px|Yellow jersey SKY 2012 64h 41' 16" 2 Chris Froome GBR SKY 2012 + 2' 05" 3 Vincenzo Nibali ITA LIQ 2012 + 2' 23" 4 Cadel Evans AUS BMC 2012 + 3' 19" 5 Jurgen Van den Broeck BEL LTB 2012 + 4' 48" 6 Haimar Zubeldia ESP 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey RNT 2012 + 6' 15" 7 Tejay van Garderen USA 20px|White jersey BMC 2012 + 6' 57" 8 Janez Brajkovič SLO AST 2012 + 7' 30" 9 Pierre Rolland FRA EUC 2012 + 8' 31" 10 Thibaut Pinot FRA FDJ 2012 + 8' 51" Stage 15 16 July 2012 — Samatan to Pau, 158.5 km 1 onStage 15: Samatan – Pau http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/1500/etape_par_etape.html Tour de France Amaury Sport Organisation 28 June 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20130323070218/http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/1500/etape_par_etape.html 23 March 2013 dead dmy-all thumb|upright=1.5|Stage fifteen profile thumb|Bradley Wiggins (SKY 2012) wearing the race leader's yellow jersey at the start of the stage in Samatan The stage ran through the foothills of the Pyrenees, in the Gers and Pyrénées-Atlantiques departments. There were three minor climbs in the final third of the stage, which was expected to suit the remaining sprinters.July 16, Stage 15: Samatan – Pau 158.5km http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2012/stage-15 Cyclingnews.com 24 June 2012 29 June 2012 Like the previous day, small attacks set the course of the early running of the stage, with the field remaining as a whole for the first hour of racing after the attacks were unsuccessful. The most prominent of these was a five-rider move, involving OPQ 2012's Bert Grabsch, GRS 2012b rider David Millar, Andriy Hryvko of AST 2012, Rui Costa (MOV 2012) and Yukiya Arashiro, representing EUC 2012.Fedrigo outsprints Vande Velde for Tour de France stage 15 win Peter Hymas http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2012/stage-15/results Cyclingnews.com 16 July 2012 16 July 2012 The peloton did not allow them to gain an advantage of more than 30 seconds,Pierrick Fédrigo repeats into Pau as the break takes stage 15 Ben Atkins http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12416/Tour-de-France-Pierrick-Fedrigo-repeats-into-Pau-as-the-break-takes-stage-15.aspx VeloNation 16 July 2012 16 July 2012 and they were eventually brought back to the main field at the 60 km 1 on mark. Another five-rider group formed immediately thereafter, consisting of Christian Vande Velde (GRS 2012b yes), Arashiro's team-mate Thomas Voeckler, FDJ 2012's Pierrick Fédrigo, COF 2012 rider Samuel Dumoulin and Dries Devenyns of OPQ 2012 yes. SAX 2012b rider Nicki Sørensen chased the quintet down for around 20 km 1 on, and eventually made the group a sextet, after his team set the tempo in the main field for a while. The peloton had reduced the gap to the leaders to around five minutes at one point, but eventually decided to allow the breakaway to battle it out for stage honours. Voeckler took maximum points on all three categorised climbs prior to the closing 10 km 1 on, before Sørensen launched the first sustained attacks prior to the finish. However, Fédrigo and Vande Velde gained some ground with their attack at 6.5 km 1 on to go, and they contested the sprint in Pau; Vande Velde tried to launch his sprint first, but Fédrigo saw the move and remained in front, to take his second stage win in Pau – after a previous victory in 2010Fédrigo wins on happy hunting ground in Pau Barry Ryan http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/fedrigo-wins-on-happy-hunting-ground-in-pau Cyclingnews.com 16 July 2012 16 July 2012 – and fourth of his career.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/tour-de-france/9402810/Tour-de-France-2012-live.html John MacLeary Fédrigo wins stage 15 The Daily Telegraph 16 July 2012 16 July 2012https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/jul/16/tour-de-france-stage-15-report Richard Williams Bradley Wiggins safe in Team Sky's dark embrace The Guardian 16 July 2012 16 July 2012 The remaining members of the breakaway came in before the main field, with LTB 2012's André Greipel leading them home 11' 50" down on Fédrigo.Fedrigo wins Tour stage 15 on day off for peloton Richard Abraham http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/fedrigo-wins-tour-stage-15-on-day-off-for-peloton-41048 Cycling Weekly 16 July 2012 16 July 2012 19 September 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150919131602/http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/fedrigo-wins-tour-stage-15-on-day-off-for-peloton-41048 dead + Stage 15 result Rank Rider Team Time 1 Pierrick Fédrigo FRA FDJ 2012 3h 40' 15" 2 Christian Vande Velde USA GRS 2012b + 0" 3 Thomas Voeckler FRA EUC 2012 + 12" 4 Nicki Sørensen DEN SAX 2012b + 12" 5 Dries Devenyns BEL OPQ 2012 + 21" 6 Samuel Dumoulin FRA COF 2012 + 1' 08" 7 André Greipel GER LTB 2012 + 11' 50" 8 Tyler Farrar USA GRS 2012b + 11' 50" 9 Peter Sagan SVK 20px|Green jersey 20px|Red-bibbed jersey LIQ 2012 + 11' 50" 10 Kris Boeckmans BEL VCD 2012 + 11' 50"+ General classification after stage 15 Rank Rider Team Time 1 Bradley Wiggins GBR 20px|Yellow jersey SKY 2012 68h 33' 21" 2 Chris Froome GBR SKY 2012 + 2' 05" 3 Vincenzo Nibali ITA LIQ 2012 + 2' 23" 4 Cadel Evans AUS BMC 2012 + 3' 19" 5 Jurgen Van den Broeck BEL LTB 2012 + 4' 48" 6 Haimar Zubeldia ESP 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey RNT 2012 + 6' 15" 7 Tejay van Garderen USA 20px|White jersey BMC 2012 + 6' 57" 8 Janez Brajkovič SLO AST 2012 + 7' 30" 9 Pierre Rolland FRA EUC 2012 + 8' 31" 10 Thibaut Pinot FRA FDJ 2012 + 8' 51" Stage 16 18 July 2012 — Pau to Bagnères-de-Luchon, 197 km 1 onStage 16: Pau – Bagnères-de-Luchon http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/1600/etape_par_etape.html Tour de France Amaury Sport Organisation 28 June 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120628102328/http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/1600/etape_par_etape.html 28 June 2012 dead dmy-all thumb|upright=1.5|Stage sixteen profile After the second and final rest day, the race entered the high mountains with the queen stage crossing two hors catégorie climbs – the Col d'Aubisque and the Col du Tourmalet – followed by the first-category climbs of the Col d'Aspin and the Col de Peyresourde, completing the so-called "Circle of Death",Thomas Voeckler repeats history in Bagnères-de-Luchon in breakaway stage 16 http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12434/Tour-de-France-Thomas-Voeckler-repeats-history-in-Bagneres-de-Luchon-in-breakaway-stage-16.aspx Ben Atkins VeloNation 18 July 2012 19 July 2012https://www.espn.com/olympics/tdf2012/story/_/id/8173842/tour-de-france-2012-leader-bradley-wiggins-does-not-fear-pyrenees Fränk Schleck's test hangs over Tour ESPN Associated Press 17 July 2012 19 July 2012 Wednesday's stage runs through the so-called "Circle of Death" along four brutal climbs -- none more daunting than the 7,000-foot Tourmalet. before dropping down to the finish in Bagnères-de-Luchon.July 18, Stage 16: Pau – Bagnères-de-Luchon 197km http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2012/stage-16 Cyclingnews.com 26 June 2012 29 June 2012 The first rider over the Tourmalet – the highest point reached in both the Pyrenees and the 2012 Tour as a whole at 2115 m 0 on – received the Souvenir Jacques Goddet.Mountain passes & Hills: Stage 16 http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/1600/etape_par_colsetcotes.html Tour de France Amaury Sport Organisation 29 June 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120722024910/http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/1600/etape_par_colsetcotes.html 22 July 2012 dead dmy-all Almost forty riders – around a quarter of the race's peloton at the start of the stage – made it into the early breakaway after around 25 km 1 on,Voeckler solos to second Tour stage win http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2012/stage-16/results Peter Hymas Cyclingnews.com 18 July 2012 19 July 2012 including three riders in the lower reaches of the top twenty placings overall, mountains classification leader Fredrik Kessiakoff (AST 2012) and stage-winners Thomas Voeckler of EUC 2012 and FDJ 2012 rider Pierrick Fédrigo. Voeckler and Kessiakoff led the group over the top of the Col d'Aubisque, with the group remaining together until the foot of the Col du Tourmalet. Here, the group started to fragment after GRS 2012b's Dan Martin accelerated with Kessiakoff and RAB 2012's Laurens ten Dam in tow. BMC 2012 rider George Hincapie, Chris Anker Sørensen of SAX 2012b and SAU 2012's Brice Feillu later joined the group up front, but only Voeckler and Feillu remained together at the top of the climb, where Voeckler further cut into Kessiakoff's polka-dot jersey lead.Tour Notebook Stage 16: Voeckler rides four races to KOM jersey http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/tour-notebook-stage-16-voeckler-rides-four-races-to-kom-jersey_230530 Andrew Hood VeloNews Competitor Group, Inc. 18 July 2012 19 July 2012 21 July 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120721062829/http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/tour-notebook-stage-16-voeckler-rides-four-races-to-kom-jersey_230530 dead The peloton crossed the summit around ten minutes later. thumb|EUC 2012 rider Thomas Voeckler (pictured in the next stage) took the polka dot jersey as the leader of the mountains classification, holding it until the conclusion of the Tour. Voeckler and Feillu had an advantage of almost two minutes at the bottom of the Col d'Aspin, while Martin – on his own after being the last to be dropped by the French pairing out front – was joined by Hincapie and six other riders. With added pressure from Sørensen and RNT 2012 rider Jens Voigt, Kessiakoff was dropped by the group, and aided the efforts for Voeckler to take the lead in the mountains classification. Back in the peloton, the tempo set by LIQ 2012 and SKY 2012 was reducing the numbers in the group, and eventually, BMC 2012 yes's Cadel Evans lost contact on the climb. However, with team-mates around him, he was able to rejoin the group before the final climb of the Col de Peyresourde. A third of the way up the climb, Voeckler left his companion Feillu behind, and set off on a solo attack. Evans again fell off the back of the group, as Vincenzo Nibali (LIQ 2012 yes) decided to make a preliminary attack on his rivals, SKY 2012 yes's Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome.Nibali unable to break Sky duopoly on Peyresourde http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/nibali-unable-to-break-sky-duopoly-on-peyresourde Barry Ryan Cyclingnews.com 18 July 2012 19 July 2012 Wiggins and Froome were able to make their way back up to Nibali, sandwiching him with Froome on the front and Wiggins at the back of the trio. Voeckler cemented his mountains classification lead by reaching the summit of the Col de Peyresourde first, with the remaining riders of the breakaway spread out between him and the group of Wiggins, Froome and Nibali. Sørensen trailed Voeckler by a minute-and-a-half. Nibali attacked twice moreFroome: Nibali's attacks weren't going anywhere http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/froome-nibalis-attacks-werent-going-anywhere-40921 Gregor Brown Cycling Weekly 18 July 2012 19 July 2012 19 October 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141019132745/http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/froome-nibalis-attacks-werent-going-anywhere-40921 dead on the steepest part of the climb, but Wiggins shadowed the move and kept himself up with Nibali. At the front, Voeckler descended towards the finish in Bagnères-de-Luchon with a 1' 40" lead over Sørensen, and held the lead to the end for his second stage win of the race,Voeckler the Pyrenean king as he wins in Bagnères-de-Luchon http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/voeckler-the-pyrenean-king-as-he-wins-in-bagneres-de-luchon-40935 Nick Bull Cycling Weekly 18 July 2012 19 July 2012 19 September 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150919173549/http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/voeckler-the-pyrenean-king-as-he-wins-in-bagneres-de-luchon-40935 dead and repeated his 2010 stage victory in the town.Voeckler "very proud" of climbing feat http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/voeckler-very-proud-of-climbing-feat Hedwig Kröner Cyclingnews.com 18 July 2012 19 July 2012 Sørensen remained 1' 40" behind in second, while EUS 2012 rider Gorka Izagirre bested Alexander Vinokourov (AST 2012 yes) for third place. Nibali, Wiggins and Froome came in seven minutes after Voeckler, while Evans lost almost five minutes to the trio,Tour hopes end for Evans in the Pyrenees http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tour-hopes-end-for-evans-in-the-pyrenees Barry Ryan Cyclingnews.com 18 July 2012 19 July 2012 falling from fourth to seventh in the general classification behind LTB 2012 rider Jurgen Van den Broeck, RNT 2012 yes's Haimar Zubeldia and his own team-mate Tejay van Garderen. COF 2012 rider Jan Ghyselinck finished four seconds outside the stage's cutoff time, but he was given a reprieve by the comissaires to continue in the Tour, making him the new lanterne rouge.http://www.bicycling.com/2012-tour-de-france/analysis-stage-16-winners-and-losers Analysis: Stage 16 Winners and Losers Whit Yost Bicycling Rodale, Inc. 18 July 2012 19 July 2012 + Stage 16 result Rank Rider Team Time 1 Thomas Voeckler FRA EUC 2012 5h 35' 02" 2 Chris Anker Sørensen DEN SAX 2012b + 1' 40" 3 Gorka Izagirre ESP EUS 2012 + 3' 22" 4 Alexander Vinokourov KAZ AST 2012 + 3' 22" 5 Brice Feillu FRA SAU 2012 + 3' 58" 6 Jens Voigt GER RNT 2012 + 4' 18" 7 Dan Martin IRE GRM 2012b + 6' 08" 8 Simone Stortoni ITA LAM 2012 + 6' 08" 9 Giampaolo Caruso ITA KAT 2012 + 6' 08" 10 Laurens ten Dam NED RAB 2012 + 6' 11"+ General classification after stage 16 Rank Rider Team Time 1 Bradley Wiggins GBR 20px|Yellow jersey SKY 2012 74h 15' 32" 2 Chris Froome GBR SKY 2012 + 2' 05" 3 Vincenzo Nibali ITA LIQ 2012 + 2' 23" 4 Jurgen Van den Broeck BEL LTB 2012 + 5' 46" 5 Haimar Zubeldia ESP 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey RNT 2012 + 7' 13" 6 Tejay van Garderen USA 20px|White jersey BMC 2012 + 7' 55" 7 Cadel Evans AUS BMC 2012 + 8' 06" 8 Janez Brajkovič SLO AST 2012 + 9' 09" 9 Pierre Rolland FRA EUC 2012 + 10' 10" 10 Thibaut Pinot FRA FDJ 2012 + 11' 43" Stage 17 19 July 2012 — Bagnères-de-Luchon to Peyragudes, 143.5 km 1 onStage 17: Bagnères-de-Luchon – Peyragudes http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/1700/etape_par_etape.html Tour de France Amaury Sport Organisation 28 June 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120628103002/http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/1700/etape_par_etape.html 28 June 2012 dead dmy-all thumb|upright=1.5|Stage seventeen profile The final day in the mountains saw the race cross the first-category Col de Menté and the second-category Col des Ares before reaching the last hors catégorie climb of the Tour, the Port de Balès. The race then dropped down, before returning over the uncategorised Col de Peyresourde – crossing the summit for the second consecutive day – followed by a summit finish at the Peyragudes ski resort.July 19, Stage 17: Bagnères-de-Luchon – Peyragudes 143.5km http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2012/stage-17 Cyclingnews.com 26 June 2012 29 June 2012 With a scheduled parcours of 143.5 km 1 on, the stage was the shortest of the mountain stages of the 2012 Tour.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2012/stage-17/results Valverde lays claim to final mountain stage Peter Hymas Cyclingnews.com 19 July 2012 19 July 2012 Small attacks set the course of the early running of the stage, with the field remaining as a whole for the first half-hour of racing after several attacks were closed down before a gap could be established. It was not until the Col de Menté that the early foundations of a breakaway were laid with the two mountains classification combatants, EUC 2012's Thomas Voeckler and Fredrik Kessiakoff of AST 2012 again battling it out for points; Voeckler prevailed ahead of Kessiakoff.http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12443/Tour-de-France-Alejandro-Valverde-climbs-alone-to-Peyragudes-victory-on-stage-17.aspx Alejandro Valverde climbs alone to Peyragudes victory on stage 17 Ben Atkins VeloNation 19 July 2012 19 July 2012 The two riders were also a part of a seven-rider breakaway that formed on the descent from the climb. The group was also bolstered for a time by LIQ 2012 rider Vincenzo Nibali,http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/alejandro-valverde-uses-brains-legs-and-powers-of-persuasion-to-win-stage-17-of-the-2012-tour-de-france_230663 Alejandro Valverde uses brains, legs and powers of persuasion to win stage 17 of the 2012 Tour de France VeloNews Competitor Group, Inc. Agence France-Presse 19 July 2012 19 July 2012 24 July 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120724014252/http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/alejandro-valverde-uses-brains-legs-and-powers-of-persuasion-to-win-stage-17-of-the-2012-tour-de-france_230663 dead third place in the general classification behind SKY 2012 duo Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome, but he eventually sat up from the group as the breakaway was not likely to be given an advantage if Nibali was in the group.http://www.sportsnet.ca/more/2012/07/19/alejandro_vaverde_wins_17th_stage-tour_de_france/ Valverde wins 17th stage of Tour de France Sportsnet Rogers Media Associated Press 19 July 2012 19 July 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20160305072603/http://www.sportsnet.ca/more/2012/07/19/alejandro_vaverde_wins_17th_stage-tour_de_france/ 5 March 2016 dead dmy-all thumb|MOV 2012's Alejandro Valverde, as he soloed to the summit finish at the Peyragudes ski resort to win the stage A ten-rider chase group formed behind the leaders, and eventually joined up with them around halfway through the stage. Voeckler bettered Kessiakoff at the Côte de Burs, to extend his lead in the classification; the peloton were around three minutes behind, but closing gradually. Following a move by a pair of EUS 2012 riders, Rui Costa (MOV 2012) attacked out of the group as a set-up for his team leader Alejandro Valverde, who followed his move several kilometres later. Costa paced him for a time before Valverde went clear on his own,http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/valverde-wins-solo-as-wiggins-locks-in-yellow_230564 Valverde wins solo as Wiggins locks in yellow VeloNews Competitor Group, Inc. Agence France-Presse 19 July 2012 19 July 2012 and built up a 35-second lead at the summit of the Port de Balès, while the peloton had closed by half a minute to trail him by around two-and-a-half minutes.http://www.thguardian.com/sport/2012/jul/19/tour-de-france-bradley-wiggins-froome-chris 'Maybe I've won the Tour today,' says Bradley Wiggins The Guardian Press Association 19 July 2012 19 July 2012 The peloton caught the group of chasers including Voeckler, OPQ 2012 rider Levi Leipheimer and Blel Kadri of ALM 2012, on the descent with only Valverde remaining ahead as they hit the Col de Peyresourde. For the second ascent of the Col de Peyresourde during the race, the riders would take the climb in the opposite direction from what they had done on the previous day, before a slight descent and then the final climb to Peyragudes. Valverde held a lead of 1' 20" at the top of the uncategorised pass, with only a handful of riders remaining with the group of the maillot jaune, including the top four in the general classification. Valverde was holding his own off the front, and the gap was fluctuating between 1' 20" and 1' 30" for several kilometres as they neared the summit, which came at the flamme rouge point. LTB 2012's Jurgen Van den Broeck tried to attack,http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/unruffled-by-attacks-on-final-mountain-stage-bradley-wiggins-finally-dares-to-believe-hes-won_230630 Unruffled by attacks on final mountain stage, Bradley Wiggins finally dares to believe he's won VeloNews Agence France-Presse 19 July 2012 19 July 2012 24 July 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120724014247/http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/unruffled-by-attacks-on-final-mountain-stage-bradley-wiggins-finally-dares-to-believe-hes-won_230630 dead but was pulled back by the Froome and Wiggins tandem, which then accelerated away from their rivals and set off after Valverde.http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/wiggins-step-closer-to-paris-as-valverde-wins-tour-de-france-stage-40899 Wiggins step closer to Paris as Valverde wins Tour de France stage Richard Abraham Cycling Weekly 19 July 2012 19 July 2012 24 October 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141024223140/http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/wiggins-step-closer-to-paris-as-valverde-wins-tour-de-france-stage-40899 dead Ultimately, they came up short due to Froome having to wait three timeshttp://www.cyclingnews.com/news/video-wiggins-has-all-but-locked-up-tour-victory Wiggins has all but locked up Tour victory Barry Ryan Cyclingnews.com 19 July 2012 19 July 2012 for Wiggins as the race leader was several metres behind his domestique on certain parts of the climb. Valverde achieved his fourth career stage victory at the Tour,http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/valverde-takes-emotional-tour-de-france-come-back-win Valverde takes emotional Tour de France come-back win Hedwig Kröner Cyclingnews.com 19 July 2012 19 July 2012 nineteen seconds ahead of Froome and Wiggins, who in turn extended their advantage over the rest of the field. + Stage 17 result Rank Rider Team Time 1 Alejandro Valverde ESP MOV 2012 4h 12' 11" 2 Chris Froome GBR SKY 2012 + 19" 3 Bradley Wiggins GBR 20px|Yellow jersey SKY 2012 + 19" 4 Thibaut Pinot FRA FDJ 2012 + 22" 5 Pierre Rolland FRA EUC 2012 + 26" 6 Jurgen Van den Broeck BEL LTB 2012 + 26" 7 Vincenzo Nibali ITA LIQ 2012 + 37" 8 Tejay van Garderen USA 20px|White jersey BMC 2012 + 54" 9 Chris Horner USA 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey RNT 2012 + 1' 02" 10 Dan Martin IRL GRM 2012b + 1' 11"+ General classification after stage 17 Rank Rider Team Time 1 Bradley Wiggins GBR 20px|Yellow jersey SKY 2012 78h 28' 02" 2 Chris Froome GBR SKY 2012 + 2' 05" 3 Vincenzo Nibali ITA LIQ 2012 + 2' 41" 4 Jurgen Van den Broeck BEL LTB 2012 + 5' 53" 5 Tejay van Garderen USA 20px|White jersey BMC 2012 + 8' 30" 6 Cadel Evans AUS BMC 2012 + 9' 57" 7 Haimar Zubeldia ESP 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey RNT 2012 + 10' 11" 8 Pierre Rolland FRA EUC 2012 + 10' 17" 9 Janez Brajkovič SLO AST 2012 + 11' 00" 10 Thibaut Pinot FRA FDJ 2012 + 11' 46" Stage 18 20 July 2012 — Blagnac to Brive-la-Gaillarde, 222.5 km 1 onStage 18: Blagnac – Brive-la-Gaillarde http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/1800/etape_par_etape.html Tour de France Amaury Sport Organisation 28 June 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120705013631/http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/1800/etape_par_etape.html 5 July 2012 dead dmy-all thumb|upright=1.5|Stage eighteen profile Despite being ranked a "flat stage", there were four ranked climbs during the day which had the potential to produce a successful break from the peloton.July 20, Stage 18: Blagnac – Brive-la-Gaillarde 222.5km http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2012/stage-18 Cyclingnews.com 26 June 2012 29 June 2012 In the early kilometres of the stage, a group of six riders instigated the first breakaway of the day,Mark Cavendish equals André Darrigade into Brive-la Gaillard on stage 18 http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12452/Tour-de-France-Mark-Cavendish-equals-Andre-Darrigade-into-Brive-la-Gaillard-on-stage-18.aspx Ben Atkins VeloNation 20 July 2012 21 July 2012 but after the peloton allowed them to create an advantage on the roads, they were brought back to the confines of the peloton not long later. There was then an uneventful period in the action, with no major attacks going off the front, until the first categorised climb of the day, at the Côte de Saint-Georges. thumb|BMC 2012's Philippe Gilbert prior to the stage. During the stage, Gilbert had to be restrained, after falling to the ground when a dog ran in front of the peloton. On the climb itself, SAX 2012b rider Nick Nuyens and EUC 2012's Yukiya Arashiro attacked up the hill, before they were joined by fourteen other riders to create the second major breakaway of the day's stage.Cavendish sprints to stage 18 victory in the Tour de France http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2012/stage-18/results Daniel Benson Cyclingnews.com 20 July 2012 21 July 2012 The best-placed rider amongst the group was Rui Costa of the MOV 2012 – just under half an hour behind the race leader Bradley Wiggins of SKY 2012 – who was fresh from his set-up work for team-mate Alejandro Valverde the previous day. Around halfway through the stage, the advantage between the sixteen leaders and the main field reached its highest point of the day, at the 3' 30" mark, before BMC 2012 and ALM 2012 set the tempo to start bringing the leaders back to the peloton. In the peloton, several riders fell to the ground after a dog ran into their path,Gilbert barking mad after run-in with dog http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/gilbert-barking-mad-after-run-in-with-dog Cyclingnews.com 20 July 2012 21 July 2012 slowing the pace as a whole. Among those involved was BMC 2012's Philippe Gilbert, who had to be restrained when back on his feet.Stray dog leaves injured Philippe Gilbert worried about Olympic hopes http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/stray-dog-leaves-injured-philippe-gilbert-worried-about-olympic-hopes_230908 VeloNews Competitor Group, Inc. 20 July 2012 21 July 2012 25 July 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120725091255/http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/stray-dog-leaves-injured-philippe-gilbert-worried-about-olympic-hopes_230908 dead LIQ 2012 sent their riders forward to set the pace on the front of the group in the hopes of setting Peter Sagan up for a fourth stage victory of the race, and the gap reduced under two minutes inside of 50 km 1 on remaining. At the head of the race, GRS 2012b's David Millar attacked on the Côte de Souillac, where moves from Arashiro and Wiggins' team-mate Edvald Boasson Hagen followed not long later. Five riders – LTB 2012 rider Adam Hansen, Alexander Vinokourov of AST 2012, Nuyens, Luca Paolini (KAT 2012) and FDJ 2012's Jérémy Roy – came together at the bottom of the Côte de Lissac-sur-Couze, before Nuyens and Roy were dropped on the climb. They were replaced in the group by ALM 2012 yes's Nicolas Roche, RNT 2012 rider Andreas Klöden and Luis León Sánchez of RAB 2012,Vinokourov misses out on stage win, gets most aggressive rider award on stage 18 http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12456/Tour-de-France-Vinokourov-misses-out-on-stage-win-gets-most-aggressive-rider-award-on-stage-18.aspx VeloNation 20 July 2012 21 July 2012 with the six riders remaining together off the front into the finishing straight in Brive-la-Gaillarde. Roche and Sánchez attacked for the line, but both riders were usurped by the finish of SKY 2012 yes sprinter Mark Cavendish following a lead-out from Boasson Hagen. Cavendish went around the outside of the pairing and took his 22nd Tour stage victory on the line,Cavendish gets his 22nd Tour de France victory http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cavendish-gets-his-22nd-tour-de-france-victory Hedwig Kröner Cyclingnews.com 20 July 2012 21 July 2012 matching the tallies of Lance Armstrong,In June 2012, the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) accused Lance Armstrong with to doping and trafficking of drugs. Armstrong filed a lawsuit, but a judge ruled in favour of USADA. He was charged in August 2012, and he did not challenge the USADA allegations.Armstrong Drops Fight Against Doping Charges https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/24/sports/cycling/lance-armstrong-ends-fight-against-doping-charges-losing-his-7-tour-de-france-titles.html?_r=0 Juliet Macur The New York Times 24 August 2012 25 October 2015 On 22 October 2012, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) upheld USADA's decision; all results earned from August 1998 were forfeited,Lance Armstrong Receives Lifetime Ban And Disqualification Of Competitive results For Doping Violations Stemming From His Involvement In The United States Postal Service Pro-Cycling Team Doping Conspiracy http://www.usada.org/lance-armstrong-receives-lifetime-ban-and-disqualification-of-competitive-results-for-doping-violations-stemming-from-his-involvement-in-the-united-states-postal-service-pro-cycling-team-doping-conspi/ USADA.org United States Anti-Doping Agency 24 August 2012 25 October 2015 4 November 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161104220333/http://www.usada.org/lance-armstrong-receives-lifetime-ban-and-disqualification-of-competitive-results-for-doping-violations-stemming-from-his-involvement-in-the-united-states-postal-service-pro-cycling-team-doping-conspi/ deadLance Armstrong stripped of all seven Tour de France wins by UCI https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/20008520 BBC Sport 22 October 2012 25 October 2015 including his seven overall Tour victories and twenty of his twenty-two stage victories. n and André Darrigade for fourth place in the all-time Tour stage wins list,Mark Cavendish storms to 22nd stage win https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/18928411 BBC Sport 20 July 2012 21 July 2012 and tying Darrigade's record for victories by a sprinter.Mark Cavendish wins stage 18 in sprint finish as Bradley Wiggins retains yellow jersey https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/tour-de-france/9415469/Tour-de-France-2012-Mark-Cavendish-wins-stage-18-in-sprint-finish-as-Bradley-Wiggins-retains-yellow-jersey.html Brendan Gallagher The Daily Telegraph 20 July 2012 21 July 2012 OGE 2012b's Matthew Goss and Sagan also managed to get ahead of Sánchez and Roche in the closing stages, for second and third places respectively, but were around ten lengths behind Cavendish at the finish.Cavendish wins Tour stage 18 with irresistible sprint http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/cavendish-wins-tour-stage-18-with-irresistible-sprint-40867 Andy McGrath Cycling Weekly 20 July 2012 21 July 2012 19 September 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150919171806/http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/cavendish-wins-tour-stage-18-with-irresistible-sprint-40867 dead + Stage 18 result Rank Rider Team Time 1 Mark Cavendish GBR SKY 2012 4h 54' 12" 2 Matthew Goss AUS OGE 2012b + 0" 3 Peter Sagan SVK 20px|Green jersey LIQ 2012 + 0" 4 Luis León Sánchez ESP RAB 2012 + 0" 5 Nicolas Roche IRL ALM 2012 + 0" 6 Tyler Farrar USA GRS 2012b + 0" 7 Borut Božič SLO AST 2012 + 0" 8 Sébastien Hinault FRA ALM 2012 + 0" 9 Daryl Impey RSA OGE 2012b + 0" 10 Samuel Dumoulin FRA COF 2012 + 0"+ General classification after stage 18 Rank Rider Team Time 1 Bradley Wiggins GBR 20px|Yellow jersey SKY 2012 83h 22' 18" 2 Chris Froome GBR SKY 2012 + 2' 05" 3 Vincenzo Nibali ITA LIQ 2012 + 2' 41" 4 Jurgen Van den Broeck BEL LTB 2012 + 5' 53" 5 Tejay van Garderen USA 20px|White jersey BMC 2012 + 8' 30" 6 Cadel Evans AUS BMC 2012 + 9' 57" 7 Haimar Zubeldia ESP 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey RNT 2012 + 10' 11" 8 Pierre Rolland FRA EUC 2012 + 10' 17" 9 Janez Brajkovič SLO AST 2012 + 11' 00" 10 Thibaut Pinot FRA FDJ 2012 + 11' 46" Stage 19 21 July 2012 — Bonneval to Chartres, 53.5 km 1 on, (ITT)Stage 19: Bonneval – Chartres http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/1900/etape_par_etape.html Tour de France Amaury Sport Organisation 28 June 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120630090323/http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/1900/etape_par_etape.html 30 June 2012 dead dmy-all thumb|upright=1.5|Stage nineteen profile The penultimate stage of the Tour was the final individual time trial with good roads into the centre of the city of Chartres.July 21, Stage 19: Bonneval – Chartres (ITT) 53.5km http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2012/stage-19 Cyclingnews.com 26 June 2012 29 June 2012 With other noted specialists within the time trial discipline having already abandoned the race, the top two riders in the general classification – SKY 2012 pairing Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome – were expected to be the favourites for the stage, having finished first and second in the ninth stage time trial.http://inrng.com/2012/07/tour-stage-19/ The Spin – Stage 19 The Inner Ring Blogspot 20 July 2012 22 July 2012http://www.bicycling.com/2012-tour-de-france/stage-19-time-trial-preview Stage 19 Time Trial Preview Whit Yost Bicycling Rodale, Inc. 20 July 2012 22 July 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, Jimmy Engoulvent of SAU 2012, who, in 153rd place, trailed overall leader Wiggins by 3 hours, 49 minutes and 9 seconds, was the first rider to set off on the stage.http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tour-de-france-stage-19-time-trial-start-order Tour de France stage 19 time trial start order Cyclingnews.com 22 July 2012 21 July 2012 thumb|Race leader Bradley Wiggins won his second stage of the race, beating SKY 2012 team-mate Chris Froome by one minute and sixteen seconds. Engoulvent recorded a time of 1 hour, 12 minutes and 49 seconds for the course as he was first to reach the line; but his lead was short-lived as several minutes later,http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12463/Tour-de-France-Bradley-Wiggins-confirms-overall-victory-with-second-time-trial-triumph.aspx Bradley Wiggins confirms overall victory with second time trial triumph Ben Atkins VeloNation 22 July 2012 21 July 2012 COF 2012 rider Julien Fouchard went round the course over two minutes quicker than the time of Engoulvent. GRS 2012b's Johan Vansummeren was the first rider to record a time below 1 hour and 10 minutes with a time of 1 hour, 9 minutes and 24 seconds, before ARG 2012b rider Patrick Gretsch recorded a time almost three minutes quicker, having passed the two riders that started directly before him – at one-minute intervals – on the course, and another on the finish line. Gretsch's time held for a considerable amount of time – around 2 hours – and was ultimately good enough for him to place sixth in the final stage results. It was not until the 88th rider to start the course that his time was beaten. Luis León Sánchez of RAB 2012 set the best time at each of the three intermediate time-checks along the 53.5 km 1 on parcours and eventually crossed the finish line in a time of 1 hour, 6 minutes and 3 seconds, to surpass Gretsch's time by thirty-eight seconds.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2012/stage-19/results Wiggins wins Tour's final time trial in Chartres Peter Cossins Cyclingnews.com 22 July 2012 21 July 2012 The Spanish national champion's time held right into the final riders to take to the course, now at three-minute intervals for the last 14 riders. BMC 2012's Tejay van Garderen, the holder of the white jersey for the young rider classification leader, went beneath Sánchez's time at the first split, but faded on the rest of the course and eventually finished 44 seconds outside of his time in third place. He had already passed his team-mate Cadel Evans, who had started three minutes ahead, on course,http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/wiggins-wins-time-trial-to-claim-tour-de-france-40836 Wiggins wins time-trial to claim Tour de France Richard Abraham Cycling Weekly 22 July 2012 21 July 2012 and the Boulder, Colorado native later dedicated his performance to the victims of the shooting in nearby Aurora.https://www.espn.com/olympics/tdf2012/story/_/id/8187048/american-tour-de-france-rider-tejay-van-garderen-dedicates-ride-colorado-shooting-victims Tejay van Garderen honors victims ESPN Associated Press 22 July 2012 21 July 2012 Only Froome and Wiggins beat the time of van Garderen at the first time-point, with Wiggins beating Froome by a dozen seconds; Wiggins continued to extend his lead on course, holding a 54-second buffer at the second time-check,http://www.teamsky.com/article/0,27290,25884_7924906,00.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20140820183051/http://www.teamsky.com/article/0%2C27290%2C25884_7924906%2C00.html 20 August 2014 Brad masterclass seals victory Team Sky BSkyB 22 July 2012 21 July 2012 and 1' 15" at the third. Froome crossed the line in a time of 1 hour, 5 minutes and 29 seconds to beat Sánchez's time by 34 seconds, but Wiggins achieved his second stage win of the race, adding one second to his advantage between the third time-check and the finish; punching the air as he crossed the finish line. The only change in positions for the general classification inside the top ten was Evans being passed for sixth place by RNT 2012's Haimar Zubeldia – despite nearly hitting a barrier during his pass through the coursehttp://www.radioshacknissantrek.com/news/zubeldia-moves-sixth-place-overall dead https://web.archive.org/web/20121101172315/http://www.radioshacknissantrek.com/news/zubeldia-moves-sixth-place-overall 1 November 2012 Zubeldia moves into sixth place overall RadioShack-Nissan Leopard SA 22 July 2012 21 July 2012 – by a margin of eight seconds. + Stage 19 result Rank Rider Team Time 1 Bradley Wiggins GBR 20px|Yellow jersey SKY 2012 1h 04' 13" 2 Chris Froome GBR SKY 2012 + 1' 16" 3 Luis León Sánchez ESP RAB 2012 + 1' 50" 4 Peter Velits SVK OPQ 2012 + 2' 02" 5 Richie Porte AUS SKY 2012 + 2' 25" 6 Patrick Gretsch GER ARG 2012b + 2' 28" 7 Tejay van Garderen USA 20px|White jersey BMC 2012 + 2' 34" 8 Vasil Kiryienka BLR MOV 2012 + 2' 46" 9 Rein Taaramäe EST COF 2012 + 2' 50" 10 Jérémy Roy FRA FDJ 2012 + 3' 05"+ General classification after stage 19 Rank Rider Team Time 1 Bradley Wiggins GBR 20px|Yellow jersey SKY 2012 84h 26' 31" 2 Chris Froome GBR SKY 2012 + 3' 21" 3 Vincenzo Nibali ITA LIQ 2012 + 6' 19" 4 Jurgen Van den Broeck BEL LTB 2012 + 10' 15" 5 Tejay van Garderen USA 20px|White jersey BMC 2012 + 11' 04" 6 Haimar Zubeldia ESP 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey RNT 2012 + 15' 43" 7 Cadel Evans AUS BMC 2012 + 15' 51" 8 Pierre Rolland FRA EUC 2012 + 16' 31" 9 Janez Brajkovič SLO AST 2012 + 16' 38" 10 Thibaut Pinot FRA FDJ 2012 + 17' 17" Stage 20 22 July 2012 — Rambouillet to Paris (Champs-Élysées), 120 km 1 onStage 20: Rambouillet – Paris Champs-Élysées http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/2000/etape_par_etape.html Tour de France Amaury Sport Organisation 28 June 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120628102500/http://www.letour.fr/2012/TDF/COURSE/us/2000/etape_par_etape.html 28 June 2012 dead dmy-all Champs-Élysées stage in the Tour de France thumb|upright=1.5|Stage twenty profile The Tour concluded with the now-customary stage finish on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. The stage had an easy start – with two fourth-category climbs 5 km 1 on apart, inside the first third of the stage – before eight high-speed laps, followed by the finish, which was expected to result in a sprint for the line.July 22, Stage 20: Rambouillet – Paris Champs-Élysées 120km http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2012/stage-20 Cyclingnews.com 26 June 2012 29 June 2012 In keeping with tradition, the final stage began at a slow pace, and was a largely ceremonial procession through the suburbs of Paris. Shortly after the riders reached the circuit in the centre of the city, racing began in earnest, and after various unsuccessful attempts, the main break was initiated by Jens Voigt (RNT 2012) and LAM 2012's Danilo Hondo with around 40 km 1 on to go.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2012/stage-20/results Bradley Wiggins wins 2012 Tour de France Susan Westemeyer 22 July 2012 22 July 2012 Cyclingnews.com thumb|SKY 2012's Mark Cavendish crossing the finish line to take his fourth consecutive victory in the Champs-Élysées stage Hondo led the field across the final intermediate sprint point of the race, with Voigt just behind. Hondo did not remain out front however, as Voigt was eventually joined by ten other riders to form the breakaway,http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12470/Tour-de-France-Mark-Cavendish-puts-a-British-seal-on-Bradley-Wiggins-victory.aspx Mark Cavendish puts a British seal on Bradley Wiggins victory Ben Atkins 22 July 2012 22 July 2012 VeloNation VeloNation LLC with their advantage eventually reaching a maximum of around thirty seconds in the closing stages.Bradley Wiggins wins 2012 Tour de France as Cavendish takes final stage http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/bradley-wiggins-wins-2012-tour-de-france-as-cavendish-takes-final-stage-40825 Nigel Wynn Cycling Weekly 22 July 2012 22 July 2012 Hondo later crashed on the final lap, along with ALM 2012 rider Mikaël Cherel, but both riders eventually remounted to finish the stage. As the peloton closed down the leaders' advantage, mainly through the work of SKY 2012, LIQ 2012 and SAX 2012b, the breakaway lost members, until they were all caught with 3 km 1 on remaining. The lead-out train for Mark Cavendish (SKY 2012 yes), which included race leader Wiggins,https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/bradley-wiggins/9418782/Bradley-Wiggins-wins-Tour-de-France-and-helps-Mark-Cavendish-take-20th-stage-in-Paris.html https://web.archive.org/web/20120723231458/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/bradley-wiggins/9418782/Bradley-Wiggins-wins-Tour-de-France-and-helps-Mark-Cavendish-take-20th-stage-in-Paris.html dead 23 July 2012 Bradley Wiggins wins Tour de France and helps Mark Cavendish take 20th stage in Paris Ian Chadband 22 July 2012 22 August 2015 Daily Telegraph held the lead of the race through the final corners, and he won the final stage for the fourth successive year, becoming the first incumbent world champion to win on the Champs-Élysées.Cavendish caps Sky's successful Tour with 'incredible' win in Paris http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/cavendish-caps-skys-successful-tour-with-incredible-win-in-paris-40814 Gregor Brown Cycling Weekly 22 July 2012 22 July 2012 4 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304073705/http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/cavendish-caps-skys-successful-tour-with-incredible-win-in-paris-40814 dead His 23rd stage victory allowed him to move into fourth place on the all-time Tour stage wins list,Bradley Wiggins wins Tour de France title https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/18946960 BBC Sport 22 July 2012 22 July 2012 while the leaders of the four classifications finished in the peloton to secure their victories, and the traditional prize-giving was made shortly after the race. + Stage 20 result Rank Rider Team Time 1 Mark Cavendish GBR SKY 2012 3h 08' 07" 2 Peter Sagan SVK 20px|Green jersey LIQ 2012 + 0" 3 Matthew Goss AUS OGE 2012b + 0" 4 Juan José Haedo ARG SAX 2012b + 0" 5 Kris Boeckmans BEL VCD 2012 + 0" 6 Greg Henderson NZL LTB 2012 + 0" 7 Borut Božič SLO AST 2012 + 0" 8 André Greipel GER LTB 2012 + 0" 9 Edvald Boasson Hagen NOR SKY 2012 + 0" 10 Jimmy Engoulvent FRA SAU 2012 + 0"+ Final general classification Rank Rider Team Time 1 Bradley Wiggins GBR 20px|Yellow jersey SKY 2012 87h 34' 47" 2 Chris Froome GBR SKY 2012 + 3' 21" 3 Vincenzo Nibali ITA LIQ 2012 + 6' 19" 4 Jurgen Van den Broeck BEL LTB 2012 + 10' 15" 5 Tejay van Garderen USA 20px|White jersey BMC 2012 + 11' 04" 6 Haimar Zubeldia ESP 20px|Yellow-bibbed jersey RNT 2012 + 15' 41" 7 Cadel Evans AUS BMC 2012 + 15' 49" 8 Pierre Rolland FRA EUC 2012 + 16' 26" 9 Janez Brajkovič SLO AST 2012 + 16' 33" 10 Thibaut Pinot FRA FDJ 2012 + 17' 17" 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