Sanchez Delivers Another Victory For Euskaltel

The Progress Report
The anticipated 12 stage, that took riders to the climbs of the Pyrenees, began at 11.19am. There were 176 riders at the sign on with the non-starter Romain Feillu (VCD). The 211km race from Cugnaux to Luz-Ardiden featured three climbs – the cat-1 ascent of La Houquette d’Ancizan (at 141.5km), col du Tourmalet (‘hors categorie’ at 175.5km) and the final rise to the ‘hors categorie’ Luz Ardiden. The intermediate sprint was at Sarrancolin (119km).

Thomas Becomes The Virtual Leader...
At the 2km mark, six men jumped ahead of the peloton. The riders involved in the initial escape were: Perez Moreno (EUS), Gutierrez (MOV), Kadri (ALM), Thomas (SKY), Roy (FDJ) and Mangel (SAU). At 9km, they were 1’55” ahead. Europcar assumed position at the head of the peloton but they allowed the break to gain considerable time: 5’10” at 32km. Thomas was the best placed of the escape, starting the stage in 31st overall, 5’51” behind Voeckler. The average speed for the first hour was 41.9km/h. After 54km, Thomas became the virtual leader as the break was 6’20” ahead. At the end of the second hour (raced at an average of 41.5km/h), the escapees were 8’00” ahead. The maximum gain of the escape was 9’05” at 112km. Then Movistar and HTC riders went to the front of the bunch to set things up for the sprint. Mangel (SAU) led the escape over line in Sarrancolin and Cavendish claimed seventh place – as the first from the peloton at the site of the sprint – 8’20” behind Thomas’ group.

La Hourquette d’Ancizan
The peloton reached the first climb 5’50” behind the escapees. Gutierrez was dropped from the lead group early. Hoogerland positioned himself just behind the Europcar team that led at the foot of la Horquette d’Ancizan. Hoogerland (VCD) attacked the peloton after a kilometer of climbing; he was followed by Chavanel (QST), the next to attack the peloton was Kreuziger (AST). This trio joined forces with 7km to climb. With 4km to go, the five stage leaders were 4’20” ahead of Hoogerland’s trio and 4’50” in front of the peloton with the yellow jersey. At the top, Mangel too maximum points: 1’40” ahead of Gutierrez, 4’00” ahead of Chavanel and Kreuziger, 4’35” ahead of Hoogerland and 5’50” ahead of the peloton. Thomas went off the road twice early on the descent and lost contact with the lead group. On the first right turn of the descent (around the 142km mark) Voeckler, Velits and Kloden were caught in a crash. All remounted their bikes quickly but Kloden was the last to restart.
With 50km to go, Thomas and Gutierrez were back with the stage leaders. They were 2’35” ahead of Kreuziger and Chavanel and 5’50” ahead of Hoogerland. The peloton was at 7’40”.

Col du Tourmalet: Gesink & Martin Dropped...
While Leopard-Trek led on the descent of the Horquette d’Ancizan, Europcar was back in charge of the main pack at the foot of the col du Tourmalet but Schleck’s squad then took charge with Posthuma speeding along ahead of Cancellara. With 14km to climb, they were 6’50” behind the six stage leaders. With 11km to climb, Chavanel and Kreuziger were 1’50” behind the six stage leaders. In La Mongie (4.5km from the top) Thomas led, then came: Roy at 10”, Perez Moreno at 22”, Kadri at 52”, Kreuziger and Mangel at 1’10”... and the peloton with the yellow jersey at 3’20”. Voigt and Monfort led the peloton all the way to the top of the second climb. Some of the casualties of their pace were: Gesink and Martin. Andy Schleck changed a wheel with 2km to climb. Hernandez (SBS) launched a brief attack but that was the only real sign of aggression from the main pack.
At the top Roy danced ahead of Thomas (SKY) for the 20 points and Souvenir Jacques Goddet. Kadri was third (at 1’05”). Kreuziger was 2’12” behind. Ten Dam moved ahead of the peloton and took sixth at 2’50”. The peloton was over the top 3’12” behind Roy.

Setting Up For Final Climb
Sanchez attacked on the descent of the Tourmalet along with Vanendert. Before the final climb they caught . Perez Moreno waited for his group which also included Gilbert, Kreuziger, Trofimov and Ten Dam. The combination that escaped on the descent would eventually overtake all the early attackers and ride together until the final 300m when Sanchez raced into the lead to take his first Tour de France stage win 10 years after Euskaltel first claimed a stage in the race. Vanendert and Sanchez raced into the lead with 8km to go. Meanwhile, the battle for overall honors was on in earnest behind with the real fighter of the stage Voeckler who had expected to lose the yellow jersey but thanks to his spirit and the assistance of his team-mate Rolland he minimized his losses and finished just seven seconds behind the defending champion Alberto Contador.
There were several accelerations in the group of GC riders, first from Andy Schleck (with 4km to go) and Alberto quickly follow him. Then came a move from Cadel and Alberto followed him too. Then Frank went once... before being chased down but he surged again and opened a gap as there was little reaction to his second surge. This prompted him to speed ahead to gain time and try to reel in the earlier escapees. Only in the final 1,800m did the GC guys really start attacking each other and this is when Voeckler lost contact and Alberto ran out of puff and failed to follow the accelerations of Basso, Evans, Cunego and the younger Schleck who all finished ahead of him.
Sanchez’s win earned him 40 points in the climbing classification and he will wear the polka-dot jersey for stage 13.
Voeckler finished ninth, 50” behind the winner and will wear the yellow jersey in stage 13.