road.cc Fantasy Cycling: Tour de France stage 12 preview

Bastille Day means fireworks from the French riders to go with those in the evening, while the Pyrenees means there will also be plenty of orange-clad Basque fans providing a party atmosphere on the Tourmalet as well as on the way to the summit finish. With the GC battle beginning in earnest today, it’s difficult to see a French rider prevailing, although it certainly won’t be for the lack of trying.

Thought for the Day

Today’s stage passes the site of one of the Tour’s most memorable incidents in recent history when yellow jersey Lance Armstrong wrapped his handlebars around a spectator’s musette in 2003, going on to win the stage, and the overall, after Jan Ullrich decided to wait. Today’s stage won’t decide the 2011 Tour – but any kind of mishap could scupper the hopes of one or more GC contenders.

GT’s tips

Obviously with the Basque fans out in force Euskaltel will be up for it and the French too because it¹s 14th July. But it¹s the first big mountain stage too so the GC guys will be going for it as well, and I can see one of those winning it unless a breakaway climber such as Voeckler or someone from Euskaltel manages to keep away.