Stage 10: Mâcon to Bellegarde-sur-Valserine, 194.5
Thomas Voeckler might have been denied the chance to recreate his splendid days in yellow of last year but he find other ways to shine. Today it was taking the first proper mountain stage as part of a break that battled it out to the end. For his efforts Voeckler found himself making not just one appearance on the podium but a greedy three - first for the stage win, second for the climbers jersey and third for the combativite award for an aggressive performance that left his rivals gasping.
Voeckler triumphed after being part of a 25-man break which went clear after a frantic opening to the day, getting the better of Michele Scarponi (Lampre-ISD) and Jens Voigt (RadioShack-Nissan) as five of the original group fought out the finish.
Luis León Sánchez (Rabobank) was fourth and Dries Devenyns (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) fifth, with the peloton crossing the line three minutes and 16 seconds later.
The top of the general classification is unaltered; Wiggins is 1:53 ahead of reigning champion Cadel Evans (BMC Racing), with Chris Froome (Team Sky) a further 14 seconds back in third.
The 194.5 kilometres stage from Macon to Bellegarde-sur-Valserine provided the latest test for Team Sky in defence of Wiggins' advantage - and they stood firm in the face of a big attack from fourth-placed Vincenzo Nibali.
Sean Yates, Sky Directeur Sportif, “It was a nice scenario compared to what it could have been. We wanted a relatively easy day ahead of tomorrow and we were happy to see a big group go clear with no one dangerous in it.
“When they hit the Colombier we were able to control it and maintain the gap. There was no need to close it down but the circumstances of the race made it go a lot faster.
“Nibali attacked on the downhill and we brought him back. After the Dauphine there had been a lot of talk about it. Mick (Rogers) had a puncture on the descent which was unfortunate but we had the bodies up there to handle the situation which was good.”
Stage result - top 30
General Classification - top 30
Route of the 2012 Tour de France©Photo © Mark Sharon/Daily Peloton
Stage List
Prologue, Sat 30 June : , Liège - Liège 6.1 km
Stage 1 flat, Sun 1 July: Liège - Seraing 198 km;
Stage 2 flat, Mon 2 July, Visé - Tournai 207 km;
Stage 3 medium mountains, Tues 3 July, Orchies - Boulogne-sur-Mer 197 km;
Stage 4 flat, Weds 4 July, Abbeville - Rouen 214 km;
Stage 5, flat Thurs 5 July, Rouen - Saint-Quentin 197 km;
Stage 6 flat, Fri 6 July, Épernay - Metz 210 km;
Stage 7 medium mountain, Sat 7 July, Tomblaine - La Planche des Belles Filles 199 km;s
Stage 8 medium mountains, Sun 8 July, Belfort - Porrentruy 154 km;
Stage 9 Individual Time Trial, Mon 9 July, Arc-et-Senans - Besançon 38 km;
Stage 10 high mountains, Weds 11 July, Mâcon - Bellegarde-sur-Valserine 194 km;
Stage 11 high mountains, Thurs 12 July, Albertville - La Toussuire – Les Sybelles 140 km;
Stage 12 medium mountains, Fri 13 July, Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne - Annonay 220 km;
Stage 13 flat, Sat 14 July, Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux - Le Cap d’Agde 215 km;
Stage 14 high mountains, Sun 15 July, Limoux - Foix 192 km;
Stage 15 flat, Mon 16 July, Samatan - Pau 160 km;
Stage 16 high mountains, Weds 18 July, Pau - Bagnères-de-Luchon 197 km;
Stage 17 high mountains, Thurs 19 July, Bagnères-de-Luchon - Peyragudes 144 km;
Stage 18 flat, Fri 20 July, Blagnac - Brive-la-Gaillarde 215 km;
Stage 19 Individual Time Trial, Time trial: Sat 21 July, Bonneval - Chartres 52 km;
Stage 20 flat, Sun 22 July, Rambouillet - Paris Champs-Élysées 130 km;
Link: Le Tour Official Website
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