Stage 12 Summary

The 187km 12th stage of the 2005 Tour de France began at 11.57am. There were 166 riders at the sign-on. The non-starter was Boonen (QST). He sustained injuries to his left knee in a crash at the start of stage 11. There was no green jersey in the peloton. There were two intermediate sprints – the first in La Roche-de-Rame (at the 17.5km mark), the second in Embrum (at 44.5km). _ There were five climbs in the stage from Briancon to Digne-les-Bains. They were the cat-3 Cote des Demoiselles Coiffees (at 61km), the cat-2 Col Saint-Jean (at 88km), the cat-4 Col du Labouret (at 115.5km), the cat-2 Col du Corobin (at 156.5km) and the cat-4 Col de L’Orme (at 177.5km). _ _ There was an attack from Auge (COF) the moment that the flag dropped to signal the official start. The first successful move was from McGee (FDJ). He attacked at the 8km mark and reached a maximum lead of 30” (at 14.5km). The 1st sprint points were won by: 1. McGee 6pts; 2. McEwen (DVL) 4pts; 3. Hushovd (C.A) 2pts. McGee was caught at 18.5km. The next attack was instigated by Flecha (FAS) and Contador (LSW) at 37km. They were joined by seven others - Guerini (TMO), Brandt (DVL), Chavanel (COF), Sinkewitz (QST), Lefevre (BTL, Voeckler (BTL) and Casar (FDJ). At the 2nd sprint, the points were won by: 1. Chavanel 6pts; 2. Contador 4pts; 3. Lefevre 2pts. The peloton was 25” behind. . The average speed for the first hour was 50.5km/h. The escape was caught at the 58km mark. A group of five riders - Martinez (EUS), Boogerd (RAB), Garzelli (LIQ), Fedrigo (BTL) and McGee (FDJ) – attacked on the first climb. The points were won: Boogerd, Fedrigo, Gazelli and Martinez. The escapees were 8” ahead of the peloton. The escape was over at the 62km mark. Beltran (DSC) chased on the first climb. Fritsch (SDV) abandoned on the 1st climb. _ _ At the 70km mark 11 riders established an escape group, they were: Schreck (TMO), Lombardi (CSC), Arrieta (IBA), Merckx (DVL), Giunti (FAS), Garate (SDV), Vicioso (LSW), Halgand (C.A), Pelizotti (LIQ), Moncoutie (COF) and Casar (FDJ). They were pursued by O’Grady (COF) and Hushovd (C.A). At the 75km mark the two counter-attackers caught the 11 leaders. They were 2’00” ahead of the peloton. On the 2nd climb Beltran abandoned the Tour. The average for the 2nd hour was 37.3km/h. At 79km the 13 led the peloton by 2’35”. The points of the Col Saint-Jean were won by: 1. Garate 10pts; 2. Casar 9pts; 3. O’Grady 8pts; 4. Halgand 7pts; 5. Merckx 6pts; 6. Arrieta 5pts. The peloton was 3’55” behind the 13 escapees. The maximum gain of the escape was 5’00” when the peloton exited the feedzone at 97.5km. Davitamon-Lotto riders then came to the front of the peloton. At 103km, the bunch was 4’05” behind. _ _ The points for the 3rd climb were won by: 1. Garate 3pts; 2. Merckx 2pts; 3. Arrieta 1pt. The peloton reached the summit of the Col du Labouret 4’15” after the 13 escapees. The average speed for the third hour was 45.4km/h. The peloton was behind the 13 leaders by 3’35” after 133km. With 8km to climb on the Col du Corobin Merckx attacked the lead group. He was chased down and the next to attack was Moncoutie. With 5km to climb, the French Cofidis rider led Merckx, Halgand, Garate, Arrieta, Casar and Guinti and Pellizotti by 25”; Vicioso by 35”; O’Grady and Lombardi by 55”; Schreck by 1’10” and Hushovd by 1’20”. _ _ Moncoutie’s Inspired 37km Solo Attack _ Moncoutie led the remnants of the 13-man escape group over the 4th climb. Arrieta, Merckx, Garate, Vicioso, Halgand, Pellizotti and Casar were 30” behind. The chasers could not get close to Moncoutie who led the stage on his own for the last 37km. The Frenchman held his advantage all the way through to the finish of the stage. Moncoutie won his second stage of the Tour in the last two years by finishing 57” ahead of Casar who led the seven chasers over the line to give France a one-two result on Bastille Day. _ _ Lance Armstrong finished in 41st place as part of the peloton that ended the stage 10’33” behind Moncoutie. The Texan will wear the yellow jersey again in stage 13.