Tour de France Stage 12 will be the first test for all the riders as they will be in high categorized pyrenees that might determine who are the contenders and the pretenders in this year’s tour. As for the sprinters, it is time for them to survive because this is not the terrain that they want to. Just before they smell the mountain, most of them are about to quit. Survival is the word that suits them.

Cugnaux to Luz-Ardiden consists 211 km for the cyclists to travel today and it is the stage that will reveal if defending champion Alberto Contador has enough gas on his tank to defend his title against his nearest rival in the last two years Andy Schleck. Contador must have to capitalize the lead of Schleck of 1 minute 30 seconds in this road to Luz-Ardiden. If not it will be troublesome for him in the future. Contador got behind Schleck because he was caught with crashes in the early stages of the Tour. However, let’s face the fact that Cadel Evans is the third man to be considered strong in this competion but again this is Luz Ardiden and he might not catch Contador and Schleck as they accelerate in Luz Ardiden.

If you remember this road was showcased in 2003 when Jan Ulrich attacked Armstrong in the Tourmalet in which Armstrong caught him twice in that mountain. Also in climbing Luz Ardiden, Armstrong collided with a spectator’s bag that brought him down and Ivan Mayo. Ulrich waited for Armstrong to follow the unwritten rule of cycling by not taking advantage of your enemy when he is down. Armstrong accelerated the peloton couldn’t match even Ulrich who had difficulties in pedaling. Armstrong went to to win the tour by taking full control in this route.

Cugnaux to Luz-Ardiden will be the day for Contador but Schleck doesn’t need to attack at all. Schleck will only match the accelaration of Contador using his brother Frank so that he will not do all the work. However Schleck is ready to attack anytime if he sees that Contador is not that strong enough to be with him.

Tour de France 2011 Stage 12 results updated!

1.     SANCHEZ Samuel          6h 01′ 15″
2.     VANENDERT Jelle     + 00′ 07″
3.     SCHLECK Frank         + 00′ 10″
4.     BASSO Ivan         + 00′ 30″
5.     EVANS Cadel         + 00′ 30″
6.     SCHLECK Andy         + 00′ 30″
7.     CUNEGO Damiano     161     + 00′ 35″
8.     CONTADOR Alberto     + 00′ 43″
9.     VOECKLER Thomas     + 00′ 50″
10.     ROLLAND Pierre     188     + 00′ 50″