Tour de France 2009: Stage 12 preview

• Friday, 26 June 2009
• Andrew McGrath
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Tour de France 2009, stage 12 preview logo

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When Thursday July 16
Where Tonnerre – Vittel
How long 211.5km

IMPACT ON CLASSIFICATIONS
Yellow Jersey 1/5
Green Jersey 4/5
Polka Dot Jersey 2/5

STAGE DESCRIPTION
With six categorised climbs, this has more ups and down than a tacky Australian soap opera. Depending on how the fast men cope with the Pyrenees, this could be an ideal stage for a breakaway. However, the flat 40 kilometres on the way into Vittel will suit a last-hour breakaway pursuit for the sprinters’ teams.

STAGE FACTS

• Although never tougher than third category, this is jointly the stage with the most categorised climbs – six.
• This is the longest flat stage of the race and second longest overall, behind the 224km seventh stage from Barcelona to Andorra-Arcalis.
• Vittel, a former spa town, is known worldwide for its mineral water brand. In Tour history, it hosted the prologue in 1968, with Charly Grosskost just outgunning eventual race winner Jan Janssens. Dutchman Jelle Nijdam also won here in 1990 from a six-up breakaway.