Tour de France: Protesters block road on race route
There are certain to be more fireworks as Tour de France continues on Bastille Day and the race reaches the iconic climb of Alpe d’Huez following a thrilling battle in the mountains on Wednesday.
On an extraordinary day of tactics and tension, Jonas Vingegaard stormed into the race lead and claimed the yellow jersey as defending champion Tadej Pogacar cracked on the final climb to Col du Granon.
It came after Vingegaard and Team Jumbo-Visma isolated Pogacar and broke him down following a series of attacks, with last year’s runner-up Vingegaard seizing a huge lead of over two minutes in the general classification standings.
The riders are faced with another huge test on Stage 12, however, and another gruelling day of climbs. Before reaching Alpe d’Huez, they will have to tackle the Col du Galibier for a second time in two days, and then also climb the stupendously long Col de la Croix de Fer.
The home crowds will be cheering for a French winner on Bastille Day, but this race does not require any more intrigue as Pogacar looks to respond to VIngegaard’s stunning attack. Follow all the action from Stage 12 of the Tour de France:
Tour de France – Stage 12
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Tour de France 2022: Stage 12 preview
Alpe d’Huez is the most famous climb in more than 100 years of history at the Tour de France. The sweeping switchback turns have provided some of the greatest moments in the race, made even greater by the incredible mountain scenery.
In the 2022 edition of the race, it is stage 12 where the riders tackle the famous 13.8 kilometre ascent. But that’s after not only tackling the Col du Galibier for a second time in two days, but also climbing the stupendously long Col de la Croix de Fer.
To add even more drama to what is set to be an utterly brutal day of racing, it comes after Jonas Vingegaard claimed the yellow jersey and Tadej Pogacar cracked on the Col du Granon in stage 11.
Tour de France queen stage as riders prepare for iconic Alpe d’Huez
The riders finish atop the Tour de France’s most iconic climb – Alpe d’Huez
Michael Jones14 July 2022 11:20
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Tour de France: Stage 12 profile
Today’s stage is scheduled to start at around 12.05pm BST with the expected finish sometime near 5.10pm.
The riders start off with an intermediate sprint before tackling three HC (Hors catégorie) climbs including Col du Galibier for the second time in two days.
Stage 12 profile of the Tour de France
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Stage 12 promises to provide a thrilling finish on Alpe d’Huez
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Michael Jones14 July 2022 11:15
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Tour de France 2022: How to watch Stage 12 on TV and online today
Tour de France coverage can be found this year on ITV4, Eurosport, Discovery+ and GCN+ (Global Cycling Network).
Live racing each day will be shown on ITV4 before highlights typically at 7pm each day. ITV’s website lists timings here.
Eurosport and GCN+ will show every minute of every stage. More on Eurosport’s coverage here and the GCN+ coverage here.
It is also being shown on Eurosport’s Discovery+ streaming service, with broadcast info here.
Michael Jones14 July 2022 11:10
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Tour de France: Stage 12
Today’s end point is the Alpe d’Huez and it is the 31st time the climb has featured in a Tour stage.
The climb to Alpe d’Huez today comes 70 years after the introduction of summit finishes, which began with Fausto Coppi’s demonstration on the road with 21 hairpins.
The string of successes taken by the likes of Zoetemelk, Kuiper and Winnen later earned it the nickname “the Dutch mountain”, before the Italians took over with Bugno and Pantani.
As regards French riders, Bernard Hinault was the first to win here in 1986, although the photo at the finish that day underlines that he was passing the torch to the American Greg LeMond.
Subsequently, Pierre Rolland in 2011, Christophe Riblon in 2013 and Thibaut Pinot in 2015 have also delivered victory for the home nation at Alpe d’Huez.
Michael Jones14 July 2022 11:05
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Tour de France: Stage 12
The starting place for stage 12 is the city of Briançon in Southeastern France.
The joint history of the Tour de France and Briançon began in 1922 with a stage victory for Philippe Thys, who was already the first triple winner of the race.
Subsequently, the town that was fortified by Vauban has witnessed victories by the most illustrious climbers, including Tour winners Gino Bartali, Louison Bobet, Fausto Coppi, Charly Gaul, Gastone Nencini, Federico Bahamontes and Eddy Merckx.
The last start from Briançon was in 2017 and produced one of Warren Barguil’s fondest memories, as he won atop the Col d’Izoard in the polka dot jersey.
Michael Jones14 July 2022 11:00
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Tour de France: Stage 12
General Classification leaderboard after 11 stages:
1. Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) 41hrs 29’59”
2. Romain Bardet (Team DSM) +2’16”
3. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) +2’22”
4. Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) +2’26”
5. Nairo Quintana (Team Arkea-Samsic) +2’37”
6. Adam Yates (Ineos Grenadiers) +3’06”
7. David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) +3’13”
8. Aleksandr Vlasov (Bora-Hansgrohe) +7’23”
9. Alexey Lutsenko (Astana-Qazaqstan team) +8’07”
10. Enric Mas (Movistar Team) +9’29”
Michael Jones14 July 2022 10:55
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Tour de France: Stage 12
Follow all the latest updates from Stage 12 of the Tour de France, as the action continues with another mountainous route to Alpe d’Huez today.
Stage 11 saw Slovenia’s Tadej Pogacar lose the yellow jersey after repeated attacks from Team Jumbo Visma saw the race leader lose stamina on the final climb allowing Jonas Vingegaard to storm out in front and overhaul Pogacar’s lead. It was a perfect day for Vingegaard who finished over two minutes quicker than his rival to claim the top spot in the GC standings.
But how will that hard, heavy run have affected him?
Today’s stage promises to be as steep and as gruelling as Wednesday’s and if Vingegaard cannot back up his brilliant performance from yesterday he will be in danger of giving away his lead with Romain Bardet, Geraint Thomas and others still waiting in the wings.
Michael Jones14 July 2022 10:30