Thursday, July 14, 2011

TDF: Col du Tourmalet! Col du Tourmalet!




At last! The Col du Tourmalet (Tour-Ma-Lay), THE MOST ICONIC RIDE ON ALL THE TOUR DE FRANCE.

Located in the picturesque Pyrenees mountains of France, this mountain is the most anticipated and lovely stage of the tour. Although not on every years itinerary, when it is - it's a GREAT TIME.

Just hearing Phil Liggett say Col du Tourmalet makes us happy. Of course, any time Phil speaks we're happy, but there's something about the Tourmalet that makes us...giddy!

PHIL LIGGETT IS A LEGEND.


The Col Du Tourmalet is the highest road in the Pyrenees and has been included in the Tour more than any other mountain pass. At the col is a memorial to Jacques Goddet, director of the Tour de France from 1936 to 1987, and a large statue of Octave Lapize gasping for air as he struggles to make the climb. Also, it is so popular and so legendary that thousands of amateur riders make the climb every year and many take documents to have rubber-stamped in the shop at the summit to show they have made it.

It's just a fan favorite. If you love the Tour de France then you know the Col Du Tourmalet very well. The coolest mountain in France.

Today's Stage 12 went well. There were some crashes, notably Andreas Kloden and Tommy Voeckler. Both recovered and finished well today. Spanish cyclist Samuel Sanchez won the Stage. It's his first Stage win ever.

Here are the standings so far.

Top Ten-Overall Standings After Stage 12

1. Thomas Voeckler, Team Europcar

2. Luis-leon Sanchez, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 01:49

3. Cadel Evans, Bmc Racing Team + 02:06

4. Andy Schleck, Team Leopard-Trek + 02:17

5. Ivan Basso, Liquigas-Cannondale + 3:16

6. Damiano Cunego, Lampre-ISD + 3:22

7. Alberto Contador, Saxo Bank Sungard + 4:00

8. Samuel Sanchez, Euskaltal Euskadi + 4:11

9. Tom Danielson, Garmin-Cervelo + 4:35

10. Nicolas Roche, AG2R LaMondiale + 4:57

Watch the race on Versus. More days in the mountains to come!

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