Of the 18 men in the lead of stage 12, four have previously won at least one stage of the Tour de France. They are: Alexandre Vinokourov (a winner in Gap in 2003, and twice a stage winner in 2007 - although he would later lose them because bad blood was found in his system), Sandy Casar (who has won at the Tour in 2007, 2009 and earlier this year), and Thor Hushovd (who has won eight times at the Tour, including stage three this year).
Tyler Farrar abandons.