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12:18:38 - Welcome To The Live Coverage Of Stage 12

It's almost race time again! The 12th stage of the 2009 Tour de France is scheduled to begin at 12.25pm but the actual racing is expected to commence at around 12.40pm after the peloton passes through a neutral zone in Tonnerre. The name of title of the town hosting the start translates to "thunder" but the conditions are anything but stormy. Bright sun shines down on the Tour today and the temperature is expected to rise into the 30s (Celsius).

Live coverage of the stage will begin shortly.

12:21:39 - Peloton Rolling In Neutral Zone

The bunch is currently in the 10km neutral zone and on its way to the start of the second-longest stage this year. The 211.5km journey from Tonnerre to Vittel in the Vosges includes six low-ranked climbs and three intermediate sprints.

12:27:31 - The Six Climbs Today...

Points for the polka-dot jersey can be earned on six climbs in stage 12. They ascents are: the cat-4 cote de Baon (19km), cote de Gye-de-Seine (cat-4 at 55km), cote d’Essoyes (cat-4 at 64.5km), cote des Grands-Bois (cat-4 at 150km), cote de Morlaix (cat-4 at 156.5km) and the cat-3 cote de Bourmont (170.5km).

12:31:45 - Three Intermediate Sprint

The intermediate sprints are today are in Channes (32km), Longchamp-su-Aujon (90km) and St-Thiebault (169km).

12:33:27 - Prize Classification Review: Part 01 – Yellow Jersey

There was no major change to the general classification after the 11th stage. All but 30 riders finished with the same time as the winner in St-Fargeau, Mark Cavendish. There are still four riders from the Astana team in the top six but Rinaldo Nocentini continues to wear the yellow jersey as race leader. The Italian AG2R La Mondiale rider is six seconds ahead of Alberto Contador and eight seconds faster than Lance Armstrong after 1,763.5km of racing.

Last year’s winner, Carlos Sastre (CTT) is ranked 16th overall, 2’52” behind Nocentini while the runner-up in 2008, Cadel Evans (SIL) is in 18th place, at 3’07”.

12:34:23 - Prize Classification Review: Part 02 – Green Jersey

After his fourth stage win in the 2009 Tour, Mark Cavendish took back the lead of the points classification. He will wear the green jersey for the seventh day this year. His tally of points is up to 176, in second place is the former leader Thor Hushovd (CTT) who finished fifth in the sprint in St-Fargeau. The Norwegian has 169 points while the runner-up yesterday, Tyler Farrar (GRM), is now on equal points with Jose Joaquim Rojas (GCE) with 110 each.

12:35:56 - Racing In Stage 12

The official start of the 12th stage was at 12.39pm. There are 169 riders at the sign on. Rui Alberto Faria da Costa (GCE) who tore ligments in his shoulder in a crash during stage 11 and has not taken the start today.

12:41:08 - Prize Classification Review: Part 03 – Polka-Dot Jersey

Franco Pellizotti (LIQ) added another point to his collection in the climbing tally but the Italian is still ranked third. Egoi Martinez (EUS) will wear the polka-dot jersey for a third day. He has 79pts while former leader Christophe Kern (COF) has 59pts and Pellizotti has 56pts.

12:41:27 - 3km Raced Already

There have been a number of accelerations but not escape has yet succeeded. The bunch is all together at the 3km mark.

12:44:28 - Prize Classification Review: Part 04 – White Jersey

Once again Tony Martin (THR) wears the white jersey as the leader of the youth classification. The 24-year-old from Cottbus has a lead of 49” on last year’s winner of the white jersey, Andy Schleck (SAX). Vicenzo Nibali and Roman Kreuziger of the Liquigas team are ranked third and fourth at 54” and 1’40”, respectively.

12:45:02 - Peloton At 6km Mark

The peloton is moving quickly early this morning. There is one rider with a lead of about 50m on the peloton at the 6km mark.

12:48:32 - Prize Classification Review: Part 05 – Team Rankings

Once again the ‘Chocolate Soldiers’, the AG2R team with their brown knicks and helmets, are in the lead of the team classification. They are three seconds ahead of the Astana squad after 11 stages of the 2009 Tour. The best team in the stage to St-Fargeau was Katusha which had three men in the top 19 – Trussov (10th), Ivanov (12th) and Pozatto (19th). The next best formation in the 11th stage was Lampre-NGC followed to two wildcard invitees – Skil-Shimano and Cervelo TestTeam.

12:50:16 - Fast Pace Indeed!

Sebastien Piquet, the voice of Radio Tour, has just declared that it is "a fast pace indeed" at the start of the 12th stage. None of the many escape attempts have yet been successful and the peloton is almost at the 10km mark.

12:52:00 - 19 Injured Riders In Stage 11

There were numerous accidents in the stage from Vatan to St-Fargeau. Although the medical report suggests that the main crash was at the 27km mark, it actually happened before the intermediate sprint in Quincy at 26.5km.

The riders who consulted the race doctor during and after the stage were: Furlan (LAM), Vande Velde and Hesjedal (GRM), yesterday's birthday boy Rosseler and team-mates De Jongh, Barredo and Pineau (QSI), Arroyo, Rojas, Passamontes and Faria da Costa (GCE), Efimkin (ALM), Cancellara (SAX), Haddou and Pichot (BBO), Fernandez (COF), Renshaw (THR), and Oroz (EUS).

12:53:23 - First Climb Due Soon

There are huge crowds assembled on the cote de Baon at the 19km mark. The peloton is near this cat-4 ascent.

12:57:33 - Official Statement From UCI About Stage 13

“To put an end to the controversy which is compromising the running of the Tour de France, the International Cycling Union (UCI) Management Committee has decided not to repeat the experiment of a stage without radio communication on Friday 17th July.

The UCI Management Committee, it should be remembered, had given its approval, at the request of the organisers, to ban radios during two stages of the French race (14thand 17th July) as a trial and with a view to evaluating such a measure.

This proposition was discussed and supported by representatives of the riders (CPA), teams (AIGCP) and organisers (AIOCC) who met in Geneva on June 3rd and decided to submit the proposition to the UCI Management Committee.

The UCI pursues the debate on the appropriateness of using radios during racing and will continue to consult all those involved in cycling as far as their use is concerned.”

13:00:59 - Six On The Attack

There are six riders in front of the peloton with 1km to go before taking points for the first climb of the stage.

13:02:20 - Results Of First Climb

1. David Millar (GRM) 3pts

2. Daniel Bennati (LIQ) 2pts

3. Franco Pellizotti (LIQ) 1pt

13:04:37 - 20km Raced: All Together

The three escapees have been caught. The peloton is now at the 20km mark.

13:06:49 - Miguel Indurain: 45 Today

Today is the 45th birthday of the fourth five-time champion of the Tour de France, Miguel Indurain. He was born two days after Jacques Anquetil won the final stage of the 1964 Tour. The Frenchman also sealed his fifth title on Bastille Day that year.

13:14:14 - Other Birthdays Today

It is the 36th birthday of Stefano Garzelli, the winner of the Giro d’Italia in 2000. The Italian has raced the Tour de France five times with his best result 14th overall in 2001. The last time he competed in Le Tour, was in 2006.

Another cycling birthday is Andre Geipel of the Columbia-HTC team who is 27 today. He’s never ridden the Tour de France but the German was winning stages of the Tour of Austria which concluded in Vienna last week while team-mate Mark Cavendish was beginning his points haul in the green jersey competition.

13:16:11 - No Single Team Taking Responsibility

No escape has yet been established in stage 12. There are myriad teams at the front of the peloton and responding to every acceleration. Already over 25km of the 211.5km stage to Vittel have been raced.

13:19:24 - Cavendish On The Move...

With an intermediate sprint at the 32km mark, a small group of riders have gone on the attack. It includes the rider in the green jersey, Mark Cavendish.

13:20:43 - Result Of First Intermediate Sprint

The points for the first sprint were taken by:

1. Mark Cavendish (THR) 6pts

2. Thor Hushovd (CTT) 4pts

3. Sandy Casar (FDJ) 2pt

13:22:02 - Cavendish Increases His Advantage

Mark Cavendish has said after each stage win this year - and there have been four already - that he never intends to chase points at intermediate sprints. He's just contradicted himself and added another six points to his tally by beating his closest rival in the points competition, Thor Hushovd, in Channes (32km).

They bolted ahead of the peloton at the same time that Oscar Freire (RAB) had to seek mechanical assistance.

13:23:54 - Peloton At 37km

Two Astana riders are now at the front of the peloton as it passes the 37th kilometer of this long stage from Tonnerre to Vittel.

13:27:47 - 11 Riders Forge Small Advantage

At the 38.5km mark, there are 11 riders with a slight lead on the peloton that doesn't appear keep to allow any escape to gain an advantage early today.

13:29:15 - 11 Lead By Just 10 Seconds

The 11 riders have built a lead of just 10". The rules of the Tour de France are that no names will be announced by Radio Tour unless the escape gains over 30"... and so we await confirmation of those involved.

13:35:24 - The 11 Escapees

The 11 rider who are 15" ahead of the peloton at 41km are: Lancaster (CTT), Larsson (SAX), Garate (RAB), Perez Moreno (EUS), Vaugrenard (FDJ), Moinard (COF), Santambrogio (LAM), Bonnet (BBO), Pineau (QST), Wrolich (MRM) and Geschke (SKS).

13:36:54 - Escape Over At 46km

The Astana team has reeled in the escapees at the 46km mark.

13:38:48 - Angelo Furlan Quits The Tour

At the 48km mark, Angelo Furlan (LAM) has abandoned the Tour de France.

13:40:43 - 47.9km/h Average For First Hour

The average speed for the first hour today is 47.9km/h. Fast, but the few climbs mean it's not quite as rapid as the 49.2km/h opening our of stage 11.

13:42:00 - Second Climb Due In 5km

The peloton is all together as it approaches the cote de Gye-sur-Seine (which is a cat-4 ascent at the 55km mark).

13:43:26 - Three Second Places For Garmin

In the first 11 stages, Columbia-HTC has earned the most stage victories - all of which were achieved by Mark Cavendish. It's interesting to note that Garmin-Slipstream is the team with the most second-places. Tyler Farrar has finished as runner-up to Cavendish twice (stages two and 11) and the US-registered team was also second in the team time trial of stage four.

Cervelo has won a stage but the winner in Barcelona, Thor Hushovd, has also finished runner-up in two stages (three and 10).

13:45:50 - Pellizotti Closer To Polka-Dot...

The result of the second climb today is:

1. Franco Pellizotti (LIQ) 3pts

2. Egoi Martinez (EUS) 2pts

3. Roman Kreuziger (LIQ) 1pt

13:50:36 - Efimkin Suffering Today

Vladimir Efimkin (ALM) was caught in a crash yesterday taking skin off his face in the incident. The Russian has been out the back of the pack early in stage 12 and is currently attempting to rejoin the peloton which is still all together.

13:51:52 - 12 Gain An Advantage

It won't be long before a truce is called and the peloton allows an escape to succeed. Currently there are 12 men with a lead of about 100m on the bunch...

13:52:47 - 12 Men Caught

This latest escape attempt hasn't worked either. The peloton is all together again.

13:53:42 - 62km Raced

The peloton continues to set a furious pace early in stage 12. It is at the 62km mark of the 211.5km stage to Vittel.

13:54:27 - Summary Of National Representation...

There are still 30 nations represented in the peloton of the 96th Tour. The breakdown is as follows:

39 – France: originally 41 but Sebastien Joly (FDJ) quit during stage seven and David Le Lay (AGR) abandoned during stage eight.

25 – Spain: originally 28 but Oscar Pereiro (GCE) and Eduardo Gonzalo Ramirez (AGR) both abandoned during stage eight and Koldo Fernandez (EUS) finished outside the time limit in stage eight.

15 – Germany

14 – Italy: originally 15 but Daniel Napolitano (KAT) finished outside the time limit in stage eight.

10 – Belgium: originally 11, but Jurgen van de Waelle (QSI) abandoned after breaking a collarbone in a crash in stage two.

9 – Netherlands: originally 11 but Piet Rooijakkers abandoned after a crash in stage four and Robert Gesink fractured a bone in his left arm in a fall in stage five.

8 – Russia

7 – USA

6 – Australia

4 – Great Britain

3 – Denmark, Luxembourg and Switzerland

2 – Austria, Belorussia, Colombia, Japan, New Zealand and Ukraine

1 – Canada, Finland, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Norway and Portugal.

There were two Norwegians but Arvesen (SAX) abandoned after breaking a collarbone in stage 10.

Portugal started with two riders but Faria da Costa (GCE) abandoned after stage 11 with torn ligaments in his shoulder.

13:59:34 - 15 In The Lead

There is now a group of 15 riders in the lead of the 12th stage. But the peloton is trying to reel the escapees in...

14:00:41 - 63km Raced

The bunch is all together as it makes its way up the third climb of the stage. The 13 escapees have been caught.

14:01:24 - Another Point To Pellizotti

The points for the third climb (at 64.5km) were won by:

1. Laurent Lefevre (BBO) 3pts

2. Sylvain Calzati (AGR) 2pts

3. Franco Pellizotti (LIQ) 1pt

14:04:05 - Four Lead At 64km

There are four riders ahead of the peloton at the 64km mark.

14:04:29 - Longest Delay In Forming An Escape This Year...

So far no escape group has been able to get more than a 15" advantage on the peloton. The last time it took so long for an escape group to form was in the 18th stage of the 2008 Tour when it wasn't until 68km that the fugitives gained an advantage.

14:07:48 - Six Lead At 69km

There are now six men ahead of the peloton at the 69km mark. We await the names of the riders involved but can report that the move was instigated at 64km.

14:09:18 - Six Lead Peloton By 15"

The six riders in the lead have an advantage of just 15". There are a number of others attempting to bridge the gap to the escape that formed at the 64km mark... even though the names of those involved have not yet been announced.

14:12:53 - Cadel & Andy In Counter-Attack

We still don't have the names of the six stage leaders but it seems that Andy Schleck (SAX) and Cadel Evans (SIL) are involved in a counter-attack...

14:15:57 - Six Lead By 17" & Peloton By 22"

Evans, Leipheimer, A. Schleck and Astarloza are involved in a counter-attack which has a lead of about 10" on the peloton.

14:17:01 - Schleck, Leipheimer & Evans Caught

The move by Andy Schleck, Cadel Evans and Leipheimer has been reeled in by the peloton.

14:18:17 - The Six Stage Leaders

The riders in the lead of the stage include: Pellizotti (LIQ), Martinez (EUS), Lefevre (BBO), Calzati (AGR)... they are 22" ahead of: Van Avermaet, Sorensen, Freire, Le Mevel and Ignatiev. The peloton is at 30".

14:20:00 - Six Lead One

The six (un-named) stage leaders are now 15" ahead of one counter-attacker (Nicki Sorensen) and the peloton is at 30".

14:21:26 - Names Of Six Escapees...

Martinez (EUS), Pellizotti (EUS), Pauriol (COF), Lefevre (BBO), Fothen (MRM) and Calzati (AGR) are the six men in the lead of stage 12.

14:22:46 - Seven Lead By 35"

Nicki Sorensen (SAX) has caught the six stage leaders. They are now 35" ahead of the peloton.

14:23:32 - The Seven Stage Leaders

Nicki Sorensen (SAX), Egoi Martinez (EUS), Franco Pellizotti (LIQ), Remy Pauriol (COF), Laurent Lefevre (BBO), Sylvain Calzati (AGR) and Markus Fothen (MRM) are the riders now in the lead of the 12th stage.

14:24:43 - Lead Jumps To 1'10"

The seven leaders are now 1'10" ahead of the peloton. There are a number of riders in the bunch now answering nature's call. Finally, after over 70km of racing, there has been a truce in the chase of the escapees.

14:26:36 - Peloton At 82km

The 1'10" check was given at the 82km mark.

14:27:00 - Seven Lead Peloton By 2'00"

At the 83km mark, Pellizotti's septet is 2'00" ahead of the peloton.

14:29:23 - Leaders 1,000m From Second Sprint

The seven stage leaders are about to contest the sprint for points in Longchamp-sur-Aujon (90km).

14:33:09 - Results Of Longchamps-sur-Aujon Sprint

The points for the second intermediate sprint of the 12th stage were won by:

1. Sylvain Calzati (AGR) 6pts

2. Franco Pellizotti (LIQ) 4pts

3. Egoi Martinez (EUS) 2pts

14:35:16 - Peloton At 3'00"

The peloton is 3'00" behind Pellizotti's group of seven.

14:35:31 - Jerome Coppel Abandons

The second rider to quit the Tour during the 12th stage is Jerome Coppel (FDJ).

14:38:16 - Sorensen The Best Of Escape Group

The last man to join the seven-man escape group was Nicki Sorensen. He is the best-placed of the fugitives on GC after 11 stages. He was ranked 39th at the start of the day, 10'36" behind Nocentini.

14:41:56 - Average Speed For Second Hour

The average for the second hour is 45.7km/h. The average for the first two hours is 46.8km/h.

14:42:26 - Lead Up To 3'10"

As the peloton pass the 92km mark, it is 3'10" behind Pellizotti, Martinez, Pauriol, Sorensen, Lefevre, Calzati and Fothen.

14:43:44 - Calzati The Only Former Stage Winner In Escape...

Of the seven men in the lead of the 12th stage, only one has previously won a stage of the Tour de France. Sylvain Calzati won the eighth stage in 2006, beating Kjell Carlstrom and Patrice Halgand after being in an escape with the Swede and Frenchman during the stage from St-Meen-le-Grand to Lorient. They finished 2'15" ahead of the peloton.

14:50:25 - Two Climbing Classification Leaders In Front Group...

Pellizotti has collected five points in the climbing classification on the first three hills of today's stage. He is now ranked second in the race for the polka-dot jersey. Martinez, who wears the spotted top today, is also in the escape.

Martinez currently has 81pts and Pellizotti has 61... the next three climbs will be hotly contested even though they are ranked category-four and category-three.

14:53:39 - Chocolate Soldiers Lead Peloton

The AG2R team - with the chocolate colored helmets and knicks - are now at the head of the peloton that is at 99km with a deficit to Pellizotti's group of 3'10".

14:56:39 - Peloton Passes Colombey-Les-Deux-Eglises

The peloton has just gone past the final resting place of Charles De Gaulle, Colombey-Les-Deux-Eglises. In 1960, the Tour also visited this town in the Haute-Marne department and stopped midway through the race so that the President of the French Republic could meet the riders. Gastone Nencini wore the yellow jersey that day.

15:01:39 - Lead Up To 3'35"

With a little more than 100km to go in the stage, the seven escapees are 3'35" ahead of the peloton.

15:02:24 - Advantage Approaching Four Minutes

The peloton is now 3'50" behind Pellizotti, Martinez, Pauriol, Sorensen, Lefevre, Calzati and Fothen who are in the feedzone Juzennecourt (111.5km).

15:07:44 - Seven Riders, Seven Teams & Five Nations In Lead

Of the seven riders in the lead, riders from five countries represent seven teams. Here is a summary of those in the move that was instigated by Lefevre at the 64km mark...

- Nicki Sorensen (DEN) Sabobank

- Egoi Martinez (ESP) Euskaltel-Euskadi

- Franco Pellizotti (ITA) Liquigas

- Remi Pauriol (FRA) Cofidis

- Laurent Lefevre (FRA) Bbox Bouygues Telecom

- Sylvain Calzati (FRA) Agritubel

- Markus Fothen (GER) Milram

15:11:51 - Peloton At Feedzone

With 100km to go in the stage, the peloton is 4'15" behind the seven escapees.

15:12:53 - 4'25" At 115km

The peloton is 4'25" behind Pellizotti, Martinez, Pauriol, Sorensen, Lefevre, Calzati and Fothen at the 115km mark.

15:19:54 - Comments From Garmin Directeur Sportif

Matt White of the Garmin team has just told LeTour.fr that he’s optimistic that one of his riders will get a win at some stage. “We’ve had 17 second places so far this year,” said White, three of these have been during the Tour. “It’s been a successful Tour for us but one win would really change everything. It would lift the mood a lot, but we’re not down in the dumps because we’ve been part of the show. I think we’ve helped animate the race and Tyler (Farrar) came really close to victory yesterday.

“You could see Cav taking a look behind because he was under threat in the finale yesterday,” continued White.

So what about the tactics today? “The fast start was largely because this is a relatively ‘easy’ stage. It’s the last chance for about 130 riders in the peloton to do something in this Tour because the days that are to follow are really tough. I’m going to wait and see what happens before deciding if I ask the guys to help with the chase of the escape. I’m in no rush.

“It all depends on what AG2R allow the break to do; if the leaders get five or six minutes, I can’t see them coming back.”

15:23:59 - Lead Drops To 3'50"

The AG2R team continues to lead the peloton which is now 3'50" behind. The maximum gain so far today was 4'25" at the 115km mark.

15:30:30 - Cavendish's Collection Up To Eight

Mark Cavendish's tally of stage wins at the Tour is now up to eight. In recent years, there have been five riders to win four stages in an edition of the Tour.

1988 - Jean-Paul van Poppel (NED), who is now a directeur sportif of Cervelo Test Team.

1998 - Tom Steels (BEL)

1999 - Mario Cipollini (ITA)

2003 - Alessandro Petacchi (ITA)

2008 - Mark Cavendish (GBR)

2009 - Mark Cavendish (GBR)

15:38:18 - Lead Down To 3'35"

At the 139km mark, the peloton is 3'35" behind Pellizotti, Martinez, Pauriol, Sorensen, Lefevre, Calzati and Fothen.

15:39:06 - Efimkin In Pain Today

Vincent Lavenu has recently explained that the Russian from the AG2R team is suffering from the injuries sustained in a crash yesterday. He has ligament damage on his right knee and bruised ribs. He also lost skin from his face and, on the second climb today, he was briefly dropped by the peloton.

15:41:01 - Average Speed For Third Hour

The average speed for the third hour is 36.7km/h. The average for the first three hours is 44.5km/h, thanks largely to the rapid pace in the opening hour (47.9km/h).

15:42:09 - Roman Feillu Abandons

The rider who led Tour de France for a day last year, Roman Feillu (AGR) has just abandoned the race.

15:56:12 - Lavenu's Comments On Stage 12...

Vincent Lavenu of the AG2R team isn’t convinced that today’s stage will end in an bunch sprint. “I understand that Columbia doesn’t intend to ride today which may mean that Cavendish does not feel very well… for the moment we will ride alone to maintain keep the escapees in check. But I hope the other teams of the sprinters will take the opportunity to try their luck against Cavendish.”

15:58:45 - Feillu Yet To Finish The Tour

Contrary to a recent newsflash, Roman Feillu did not make his debut in the Tour last year. He wore the yellow jersey for a day but it was, in fact, his second start in the race. The Frenchman is yet to reach the finish, however. He quit after eight stages in 2007 (after two top five stage finishes); and last year he abandoned in stage 19 (after finishing third in three stages).

16:00:32 - Vaugrenard Hits A Dog

Benoit Vaugrenard was forced to try and avoid a Yorkshire Terrier that ran onto the road. The bad news: he couldn't. The rider is okay. The same cannot be said for the animal and its distraught owner.

16:06:18 - Leaders On Fourth Climb

Pellizotti and Martinez are now winding up the pace at the front of the race. They are chasing points at the fourth climb of the stage and Pellizotti takes the win...

16:06:58 - Armstrong Punctures

Lance Armstrong has punctured a rear tire.

16:07:34 - Points For Cote des Grands-Bois

The points for the fourth climb of the stage (at 150km) were won by:

1. Franco Pellizotti (LIQ) 3pts

2. Egoi Martinez (EUS) 2pts

3. Nicki Sorensen (SAX) 1pt

16:08:28 - Four Team-Mates Wait For Lance

Armstrong has received a new wheel after his puncture. Four Astana team-mates have dropped behind the peloton to assist the Texan back to the bunch.

16:09:12 - Armstrong Back In Peloton

Lance Armstrong has rejoined the peloton after his recent puncture.

16:10:38 - Peloton At 150km

As the peloton passes the site where Pellizotti added another three points to his climbing classification tally, it is 4'05" behind the seven escapees.

16:11:20 - Leaders Near Fifth Climb

The fifth climb of the 12th stage is the 2.1km long cote de Morlaix (at 156.5km). The average gradient is 4.2 per cent.

16:12:40 - Results Of Cote de Morlaix

The points for the fifth climb of the stage, the cat-four cote de Morlaix (at 156.5km) were won by:

1. Franco Pellizotti (LIQ) 3pts

2. Egoi Martinez (EUS) 2pts

3. Nicki Sorensen (SAX) 1pt

16:17:00 - Peloton 4'10" Behind

At the 156.5km mark, the peloton is 4'10" behind Pellizotti's group of seven.

16:21:49 - Martinez Still Leads Pellizotti By 18pts

The two men at the top of the climbing classification are part of the escape group today. Pellizotti has earned 11 points in stage 12 but he still trails Martinez by 18 points in the race for the polka-dot jersey. "It’s difficult to keep the polka-dot jersey all the way to Paris," Martinez told LeTour.fr after the 11th stage. "I saw that a guy like Pellizotti is going to work hard for the prize so now it’s more difficult for me than yesterday but I’m still going to do my best to keep this jersey as long as possible.”

16:24:25 - Pellizotti Working Most In Lead

In the last 10 minutes, Franco Pellizotti (LIQ) has spent 26 per cent of the time in the lead of his seven-man escape group that's now 4'10" ahead of the peloton. The Italian was second (to Pierrick Fedrigo) in stage nine and he's also ranked second in the climbing classification.

16:29:39 - Result Of 3rd Sprint

The points for the sprint in Saint-Thiebault (169km) were won by:

1. Remi Pauriol (COF) 6pts

2. Franco Pellizotti (LIQ) 4pts

3. Sylvain Calzati (AGR) 2pts

16:36:12 - Van Poppel Thinks Escape Will Be Caught...

LeTour.fr recently contacted the directeur sportifof the Cervelo TestTeam, Jean-Paul van Poppel to ask what he thinkswill happen in the stage today. "I think the escape will come back butI can't say when," said the Dutchman who won four stages of the 1988Tour de France. His team lost the green jersey after Thor Hushovd finished fifth in the 11th stage.

"We're not too keen to work right now," concluded van Poppel in a brief discussion, "we'll just see what the other teams decide to do."

16:37:27 - Huge Crowds On Cote de Bourmont

The final climb of the stage is 800m long but the average gradientof the cat-3 cote de Bourmont is 11.1 per cent. The points were won by:

1. Franco Pellizotti (LIQ) 4pts

2. Egoi Martinez (EUS) 3pts

3. Nicki Sorensen (SAX) 2pts

4. Sylvain Calzati (AGR) 1pt

16:41:05 - Peloton At Foot Of Final Climb

The peloton is being led by Astana and AG2R riders as they arrive at the base of the Cote de Bourmont.

16:41:42 - Nocentini Sixth Over Summit

The yellow jersey was the sixth rider over the line of the cote de Bourmont (at 170.5km). He was at the front of the peloton that is 4'30" behind the seven escapees.

16:42:50 - Astana Now Up Front...

The peloton has been led by the AG2R team since the escape group formed around the 65km mark. Now there are five Astana riders slotting in behind the French squad.

16:46:36 - Cancellara Punctures

Cancellara has punctured recently. He has a new wheel and is now speeding along in pursuit of the peloton that's 4'20" behind the seven escapees.

16:50:19 - Leaders In Vosges

Calzati is doing the most work in the lead group (spending 21 per cent of the last 10 minutes on the front); while Nicki Sorensen is doing the least (11 per cent). The escapees have arrived in the Vosges department. And have 31km to go in the stage. They are 3'50" ahead of the peloton.

16:52:39 - 30km To Go: Stats For Successful Escapes

The peloton is 30km from the finish of the 12th stage. It is 3'40" behind the seven-man escape group. So far there have been two successful breakaways in the 96th Tour de France.

Thomas Voeckler won in Perpignan in stage five. He and Ignatiev, Geslin, Hutarovich and Sapa and Timmer had an advantage of 40" with 30km to go. (Ignatiev finished ahead of the peloton, but with the same time.)

Pierrick Fedrigo won in Tarbes in stage nine. He and Pellizotti had a lead of 2'45" with 30km to go.

16:59:15 - No Sign Of Columbia

The Columbia team has not come near the front of the peloton today. Cavendish's team has been working the most in pursuit of escapees in the first week and a half of the Tour but today they're not showing any intentions of reeling in break.

17:01:11 - Feeding Allowed Until 15km To Go

The conditions for the 12th stage are hot. And the competition director Jean-Francois Pescheux has just announced that feeding will be allowed to continue until 15km to go.

17:02:19 - Sorensen Attacks!

With 23km to go in the stage, Nicki Sorensen (SAX) has attacked the lead group.

17:12:38 - Two Increase Advantage

Calzati (AGR) and Sorensen (SAX) have lead of 15" on the chasing quintet with 15km to go.

17:13:48 - Sorensen Moving Up The Rankings As Well...

One of the escapees is going to win the 12th stage. The attack was instigated by Lefevre (BBO) at the 64km mark. He was joined by Pellizotti (LIQ), Martinez (EUS), Pauriol (COF) and Fothen (MRM) before Sorensen (SAX) eventually bridged the gap to the break.

Sorensen is the best placed of the escapees, starting the stage in 39th place, 10'36" behind Nocentini. The peloton has conceded the stage and is now 5'45" behind the two leaders.

17:17:11 - Two Hold Off Five

Sorensen and Calzati have been 15" ahead of the five escapees for the last 5km. The riders in the chase group still have a hope but they're not able to close in on the two who broke free with 23km to go.

17:18:16 - Peloton Now Over Six Minutes Behind

The peloton is now 6'05" behind Calzati and Sorensen.

17:18:35 - 5km Betwen Leaders & Peloton

As Calzati and Sorensen went under the 10km to go banner, the peloton reached the 15km to go banner. The bunch is now 6'10" behind the Agritubel and Saxo Bank riders duo who are working well at the front.

17:20:22 - Sorensen Working More...

In the last 10 minutes, Sorensen has been at the front of the two man escape for 55 per cent of the time. He and Calzati lead the five other fugitives by 13".

17:21:53 - Two Fade Slightly

The leading duo are now nine seconds ahead of the chasing quintet. They have less than 7km to go in the stage.

17:23:43 - Sorensen Surges Again

With 5.5km to go, Sorensen has surged ahead of Calzati. The Saxo Bank rider is now on his own with 5km to go. Calzati has exploded and is being past by the five other escapees.

17:25:48 - Sorensen Going On Alone

With 4km to go, Sorensen has a lead of 15" on five chasers. Pauriol has been dropped by the chase group.

17:27:14 - When He's Good... He's Very Good

An insider from the Saxo Bank team told LeTour.fr earlier today, once the escape had been established, that Nicki Sorensen is a valuable asset to his squad. "When he's good," the source said, "he's very good... now that he's in the lead, I imagine he'll be a factor at the finish." That's certainly the case. He now leads the remnants of the escape group by 35".

17:29:20 - 2km To Go

Sorensen has just two kilometers to go and appears destined to give Saxo Bank its second stage victory of the 2009 Tour.

17:30:05 - Chase Lacks Cooperation

Sorensen can almost start celebrating. He has less than 1km to go and is destined to win the stage. It will be his stage first victory in the Tour de France.

17:31:02 - Opportunity Knocked Loud Today...!

Nicki Sorensen is about to take the victory in Vittel. He has not won a stage of the Tour before but he responded to the sound of opportunity knocking at the start of the day.

17:32:13 - Sorensen Successful In Vittel...

Just like the last two times when a stage has concluded in Vittel, the winner arrived at the finish alone. Nicki Sorensen has given Saxo Bank its second stage victory of the 2009 Tour de France.

17:33:09 - The Top Seven In Stage 12

It took 64km before any escape was able to gain an advantage on the peloton at the start of the 12th stage. But once they were gone, there was no looking back. Sorensen rode the final 5.5km alone and arrived at the finish in Vittel a convincing winner. The top seven in the stage is:

1. Nicki Sorensen (DEN) SAX - 211.5km in 4h52'24 (43.399km/h)

2. Laurent Lefevre (FRA) BBO at 48"

3. Franco Pellizotti (ITA) LIQ at 48"

4. Markus Fothen (GER) MRM at 48"

5. Egoi Martinez (ESP) EUS at 48"

6. Sylvain Calzati (FRA) AGR at 48"

7. Remi Pauriol (FRA) COF at 1'33"

17:37:11 - Peloton Home 6'00" Behind...

Evans (SIL) is one rider who has been caught up in a crash in the final kilometers. He is not injured and the bunch is home 6'00" behind the stage winner.

17:39:05 - Cavendish Beats Hushovd In Sprint

Eighth place was taken by Cavendish who beat Hushovd in the sprint at the head of the peloton.