Stage 12 - Bourg-de-Péage > > > Mende - 210.5 km
Friday, July 16, 2010
Km 31.0 - Côte de Saint-Barthélémy-le-Plain - 10.7 km climb to 3.1 % - Category 3
Km 59.0 - Col des Nonières (NONIERES) - 5.7 km climb to 3.8 % - Category 3
Km 96.0 - Suc de Montivernoux - 13.7 km climb to 4.4 % - Category 2
Km 133.0 - Côte de la Mouline - 3.9 km climb to 5 % - Category 3
Km 208.5 - Côte de la Croix-Neuve (Montée Laurent Jalabert) - 3.1 km climb to 10.1 % - Category 2
Click the 'To' option to go to the start of the Stage 12 posts.
The Stage started at 12:05 local time CEST (6 hrs ahead of US EDT).
velonews.com - "Stage 12 courses through the Massif Central, winding on tiny back roads for most of the first 150km. The highest categorized climb of the day is the Cat. 2 Suc de Montivernoux at 4,500 feet elevation, but more important will be the final climb of the day, the Cat. 2 Croix-Neuve. This is the steepest hill of the entire Tour, rising up for 3.1km at 10 percent, with 14-percent pitches on its three switchbacks. In 2005, Ivan Basso made a fierce attack out of the main group (a group of 10 finished more than 25 minutes ahead) on the final climb, followed by Armstrong, Ullrich and Evans. All four finished together, with Evans taking the sprint for 11th. "
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From Lance on Twitter, “Headed 2 the start of st 12. Very difficult day 2day. Up/down/small roads/hot. Only time I saw Indurain “on the ropes” was this stage in ‘95.”
Looking at the profile it doesn’t seem like one where Contador would make a move. On the other hand, Saxo Bank might try to shake him.