Tour de France: Stage 12 Live Thread (Friday, July 14, 2006)

VeloNews.com ^ | July 14, 2006 | VeloNews.com

[nutmeg]

Stage 12: Luchon to Carcassonne - 211.5km

Course: There are no major climbs on this first of three transitional stages between the Pyrénées and Alps, but that doesn't mean it will be an easy day. Stages like this often give rise to long breakaways that succeed, especially when the weather in this southern part of France is hot and sticky. Any break that develops in the hilly opening two-thirds of the stage will need to get at least a 10-minute lead if it has any chance of holding off the pack on the straighter roads and flatter terrain of the final 70km.

History: An almost identical stage from Luchon to Carcassonne in 1962 was won by multi-time French champion Jean Stablinski, who finished 12 seconds ahead of 11 chasers. The last of four stages to finish in Carcassonne was a 77km team time trial from Narbonne won by TI-Raleigh in 1981.

Favorites: This stage is taking place on the French national holiday of July 14, so expect an all-out effort from the home riders, especially Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Télécom), Sylvain Chavanel (Cofidis) and Patrice Halgand (Crédit Agricole).

Graphics by CyclingNews.com

[nutmeg]

[nutmeg]

Tour de France ping!

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[Eurotwit]

Good morning!

Or good night, I guess :-)

Great stage yesterday.

I wonder how todays stage will play out with the shake up at the top of the GC.

How eager will Phonak be to defend the yellow...

Cheers.

[Eurotwit]

hmm.

13:13 - Savoldelli Abandons!

The Discovery Channel team has lost the services of the two-time Giro d’Italia champion, Paolo Savoldelli. The Italian abandoned at the 43km mark of today’s stage.

13:10 - Quality Lead Group...

Of the 15 riders in the lead of stage 12, eight have previously won at least one stage of the Tour de France. The peloton is controlled by the Davitamon-Lotto team at the 42km mark (and is 40" behind the escapees).
The previous stage winners are: Hincapie, Voigt, Guerini, Rasmussen, Pereiro, Hushovd, Moncoutie and Millar

[Ready4Freddy]

Thought it'd be handy to see where we've been, where we are, and where we're going:

And now we're into the Ariege & Aude:

[Eurotwit]

Good morning :-)

What do you think of todays break?

Seems like it's back to late TV coverage again today. I think they start broadcasting in an hours time.

Cheers.

[Eurotwit]

And how far behind was Hincapie yesterday?

[Eurotwit]

13:30 - Noval Abandons...

There are just seven riders left in the Discovery Channel team. Benjamin Noval is the latest to quit the Tour; joining team-mate Paolo Savoldelli who stepped off at the 43km mark.

13:25 - 15 Escapees: 1’00" Ahead...

Hincapie (DSC)
Voigt (CSC)
Guerini (TMO)
Goubert (A2R)
Rasmussen (RAB)
Cunego & Bennati (LAM)
Pereiro (CEI)
Hushovd (C.A)
Verdugo (EUS)
Moncoutie, Chavanel & Moreni (COF)
Millar (SDV)
Albasini (LIQ)...
are now 1’00" ahead of the peloton.

[Ready4Freddy]

Good afternoon, Euro! George was 21'23", leaving him 23'01" in the overall GC. Ruhroh! Another DSC rider abandons:

13:30 - Noval Abandons...

There are just seven riders left in the Discovery Channel team. Benjamin Noval is the latest to quit the Tour; joining team-mate Paolo Savoldelli who stepped off at the 43km mark

[Ready4Freddy]

Interesting collection of the usual suspects & GC hopefuls in the break. Hincapie has to be there to cut off some of his time loss yesterday. The summary of the course in post 1 sez that any break must make it to 10' to have a chance of succeeding, I suspect it may need more than that.

Will be interesting to see how much time PHO will allow Hincapie to have.

[Ready4Freddy]

Was wondering how our 6 to wear the yellow compared to other years. Guess it's to be expected post-Lance & post-Puerto, eh?.

13:49 - Landis: The 6th Race Leader This Year…

The most riders to have led the Tour in one year is eight; that happened in both the 1958 and 1987 races. This year the yellow jersey has been worn by six different men from six countries: Thor Hushovd (C.A), George Hincapie (DSC), Tom Boonen (QSI), Serhiy Honchar (TMO), Cyril Dessel (A2R) and Floyd Landis (PHO).

[Ready4Freddy]

Hincapie gained 2" with his points in the 1st sprint. He's gonna need a lot more than that come sunset...

[Ready4Freddy]

No TV coverage for you yet, Euro? Was wondering what the commentators are saying about the polka-dot jersey falling behind the peloton.

[Ready4Freddy]

As most would expect:

14:00 - Escape Cannot Gain Time...

The peloton isn’t content to let the nine escapees - Hincapie, Voigt, Guerini, Goubert, Bennati, Verdugo, Moncoutie, Millar and Albasini - gain any advantage. The current deficit it 40". Millar tried a small attack recently but he was quickly chased down by the others in the escape group.

[Eurotwit]

Normally on these more flat stages, TV coverage starts 2.30 pm local time, so in less than half an hour it should begin.

Right now they are talking about the stage, and interviewing riders etc.

It's on live, but I don't think French TV starts broadcasting pictures from the the actual race until 2.30.



Cheers.

[Ready4Freddy]

Escape down to 5, Hincapie the only one w/ less than 25-30' behind GC overall.

[BaBaStooey]

Six men from six countries? Try five countries. Unless they are counting the fact that Hincapie's parents were born in Colombia, or that Landis' Mennonite upbringing in Pennsylvania qualifies him as being from a different country or something...

[Eurotwit]

I have to say that Lotto's strength in controlling breaks have impressed me the last couple of years.

Strong, dedicated squad.

I hate them :-)

[Ready4Freddy]

Good morning, BaBa! LOL, I didn't catch that mistake in the letour.fr write up! Lancaster County, PA is a different world, not a different country! ;>)

[green iguana]

This year the yellow jersey has been worn by six different men from six countries

That come from leTour's site? Someone needs to tell them that George and Floyd are both... oh never mind. Stupid French.