Tour de France 2010 Photos; Stage 12: Bourge-de-Peage - Mende, 210 km
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This was guaranteed to be an entertaining stage. The average speed was 49 kph in the first hour. When the main break consisting of a whooping 18 men got away, it was led by GC threats Alexander Vinokourov and Ryder Hesjedal.		share this photo
A panoramic was needed to get the entire break into one shot		share this photo
Saxo Bank and the Yellow Jersey were under pressure all day keeping the dangerous break within reach so they had little chance to enjoy the scenery		share this photo
The break crossing an old Roman aqueduct		share this photo
The peloton chasing on the twisty roads		share this photo
Captain America (George Hincapie) looks like he's flying the French flag today		share this photo
The helicopter is a sign that the race is approaching for the patiently waiting fans		share this photo
Alexander Vinokourov nearing the plateau with 2 km to go after dropping his remaining breakmates on the 10% 3 km climb		share this photo
With Vino, a GC threat up front, Saxo Bank was forced to chase all day		share this photo
After Katusha's Joaquin Rodriguez jumped from the peloton on a steep section, Alberto Contador followed him. Unfortunately, Contador couldn't drop him and join bridge up to Vino on his own		share this photo
Andy Schleck was either caught off guard by Contador's move or wasn't able to follow. He admitted pre-race that the punchy climb didn't suit him. Here he is following 4th place Jurgen Van Den Broeck.		share this photo
Whether you're an amateur photographer or a professional like Graham Watson (right), camping out on a steep section is a good idea		share this photo
The climb, admittingly, didn't suit Levi Leipheimer either, but he did place a respectable 11th (+0:17) seen here with Liquigas' Roman Kreuziger who finished 10th		share this photo
Alberto Contador working hard to distance Andy Schleck and maybe drop Rodriguez		share this photo
Rodriguez, the better sprinter, jumped Contador with 100m to go		share this photo
The fans in the grandstand and along the entire route were treated to an exciting stage		share this photo
Joaquin Rodriguez wins his first Tour de France stage in his first Tour de France		share this photo
Alberto Contador was disappointed that neither Vino nor he got the win		share this photo
... and so was Vino who crossed four seconds later. We'll never know what the Astana strategy was, but it had Saxo Bank under pressure all day. Ideally, Contador should have sat on Rodriguez' wheel allowing Vino to try and tag on, but it's clear the GC win trumps a potential stage win.		share this photo
Andy Schleck crossed ten seconds later so Contador gained back the time he lost on the stage 3 pavé		share this photo
Lance Armstrong has been biding his time since he was eliminated from the GC battle on the first mountain stage. Now you can bet he's eyeing a Pyrenees mountain stage win in the next week.		share this photo
It may not look like it, but stage 12 winner Joaquin Rodriguez is standing on the top step of the podium		share this photo
Needless to say, Alexander Vinokourov was hoping for the stage win, but he reluctantly accepted the Most Aggressive Rider award instead		share this photo
Peace, two days in Yellow down and two days until the Pyrenees...		share this photo
... and from a different angle at the same exact moment. A different perspective is always good.		share this photo
Podium panoramic		share this photo
Tour de France 2010 Photos; Stage 12: Bourge-de-Peage - Mende, 210 km
« Stage 11 photos	return to: Tour de France 2010 Dashboard: Results, Photos, Video  |  Tour de France 2010 photo gallery	Stage 13 photos »