Great Dane, Sörensen Solos - 96th Tour de France Stage 12

The course profile of the 211.5km Stage 12, from Tonnerre to Vittel, suggested another day for the sprinters, but instead it belonged to a breakaway.

Team Saxo Bank's Nicki Sörensen proved to be the strongest of a group of seven who escaped at the 74km mark. After bridging up to the orginal group of six escapees that included, the King of the Mountain (KOM) leader, Egoi Martinez (Euskatel-Euskadi), Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas), Laurent Lefevre (BBOX Bouygues Telecom), Marcus Fothen (Milram), Sylvain Calzati (Agritubel), and Rémi Pauriol (Cofidis), the 34-year-old Dane would make one brilliant move after another. His final attack would separate him from his breakaway companions and launch himself on a solo sojourn into Vittel. An elated and exhausted Sörensen would cross the line 48 seconds ahead of Laurent Lefevre and Franco Pellizotti.

For his efforts, Sörensen would pull back over six minutes to the yellow jersey and move himself up ten places on the General Classification.

Stage 12 Results
1. Nicki Sörensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank
2. Laurent Lefevre (Fra) BBOX Bouygues Telecom
3. Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas

General Classification After Stage 12
1. Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale
2. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana
3. Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana
4. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana
5. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream
6. Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana
7. Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC
8. Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Slipstream
9. Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank
10. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas

No change to the top ten on the General Classification, but Mark Cavendish (Columbia - HTC) was able to extend his lead in the maillot vert competition over Thor Hushovd (Cervelo Test Team). Cavendish took points at the first intermediate sprint and in the finale, where he took the bunch sprint and finished 8th.

Jersey Leader's After Stage 12
Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale


Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team Columbia - HTC


Egoi Martinez (Spa) Euskatel-Euskadi


Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia - HTC



Next: Stage 13 - Vittel to Colmar (200 km)
Referred to as a medium mountainous stage, Stage 13 features five climbs:

• Côte de Xertigny (at km 46) - 2.0 km climb to 5.3 % - Category 3
• Col de la Schlucht (at km 105) - 8.9 km climb to 4.2 % - Category 2
• Col du Platzerwasel (at km 138.5) - 8.7 km climb to 7.6 % - Category 1
• Col du Bannstein (at km 165.5) - 2.1 km climb to 5.1 % - Category 3
• Col du Firstplan (at km 179.5) - 8.4 km climb to 5.4 % - Category 2

Don't expect this stage to be decisive in the grand scheme of things, but rest assured the maillot jaune will weigh heavy on the shoulders of Rinaldo Nocentini and his AG2R La Mondiale teammates. Will they be able to defend it for one more day?

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