Tour de France 2011 – Stage 12

Stage Details:

Tonight is stage 12, Cugnaux to Luz-Ardiden, 211km

JEAN-FRANÇOIS PESCHEUX’S ANALYSIS : Summit finish in the high mountains
“The race’s first major climb, the Hourquette d’Ancizan, an off-shoot of the Aspin, makes its first appearance on the Tour. The riders then head onto the Tourmalet. They descend off that and finish with the climb to Luz-Ardiden, which has not featured in the race since 2003. That year, Armstrong crashed after colliding with a spectator, bringing Mayo down with him. Everyone waited for him, then his foot slipped out of his pedal. But in the end the American dropped all of his rivals and went on to win the stage and give himself a bit of breathing space in the yellow jersey. Following this stage, which is a long one at 209km, the overall classification will become a bit clearer and more structured.”
– www.letour.fr

• Stage 11 (211 km) Cugnaux >> Luz-Ardiden [SBS]
• Stage 12 preview: Cugnaux → Luz Ardiden, 211 km (Mountain) [SteepHill]
• July 14, Stage 12: Cugnaux – Luz-Ardiden 209km [CyclingNews]
• Stage 12 • CUGNAUX > LUZ-ARDIDEN • 211km [EuroSport]
• stage 12 – Cugnaux > Luz-Ardiden 211 km [www.letour.fr]

HTFU now stands for ‘Hoogerland the Fuck Up’

@Kimbo_Ramplin: As one of my fave US tweeps, @seannybucket said last night, HTFU now stands for ‘Hoogerland the Fuck Up’ #SBSTdF #TdF

Every year the Tour produces heroes. Men who dig deep to pull out the best from within themselves, and inspire the best in all of us.
This year is no exception. And our hero has emerged.
Johnny Hoogerland was unbelievably struck by a car and tossed into a barbed wire fence. You and I would have given up and waited for the broom wagon. But not Jonny. He climbed back onto his bike, finished the stage, claimed his polka-dot jersey … and then, only then, went to see the doctor.
Welcome to Hoogerland.
Population: Heroes.

– www.stomachofanger.com

T-Shirts from www.stomachofanger.com