Tour de France 2012

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The 2012 Tour de France is the 99th and current edition of the Tour de France. It began in the city of Liège in Belgium,[1][2] and is scheduled to end on the Champs-Elysées in Paris. Besides Belgium and France, the Tour will also pass through Switzerland.

The route was accidentally published by ASO on its website on 10 October 2011.[3] On the official presentation of 18 October, the leaked route was confirmed by the ASO.[4]

The route features a total of 101.1 km[5] covered in individual time trials and only three uphill finishes: La Planche des Belles Filles (stage 7), La Toussuire - Les Sybelles (stage 11) and Peyragudes (stage 17).

The Col du Grand Colombier will be visited for the first time in Tour de France history. The climb was earlier featured in the Critérium du Dauphiné, Tour de l'Avenir and is regularly climbed in the Tour de l'Ain. Also the well known climbs of the Col de la Madeleine and the Col de la Croix de Fer (both Hors catégorie rated climbs) are visited in the passage of the Alps. The passage of the Pyrenees include the Col de Tourmalet, Col d'Aubisque, Col d'Aspin and the Col de Peyresourde. The four climbs are climbed in stage 16 of the Tour. A total of 25 climbs will count for Cat 2, Cat 1 or HC points for the mountains classification.

The pack passes farm fields during the second stage between Vise and Tournai, Belgium on July 2, 2012.

The peloton climbs towards the Citadel in Namur during the second stage on July 2, 2012.

 

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The peloton climbs towards the Citadel in Namur during the second stage on July 2, 2012.

The peloton rides past spectators wearing chicken costumes during the second stage on July 2, 2012.

 

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A fisheye view shows spectators as they take pictures from a window of the peloton passing through Aire-sur-la-Lys during the third stage on July 3, 2012.

Employees of GDF-Suez wave a French flag as they wait for riders on a wind turbine during the fourth stage from Abbeville to Rouen on July 4, 2012.

 

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The peloton rides along the coast during stage four on July 4, 2012 in Dieppe.

The peloton rides in Dieppe during the fourth stage on July 4, 2012.

 

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The peloton passes the seaside during stage four on July 4, 2012 in Ste Marguerite sur Mer.

The peloton passes a church in Rouen during the start of the fifth stage on July 5, 2012.

 

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Residents of Lyons-la-Foret watch the peloton pass during the fifth stage on July 5, 2012.

A fan gestures towards Australia's Jonathan Cantwell after he crashed during the fifth stage on July 5, 2012.

 

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The peloton passes a cathedral during stage six from Epernay to Metz on July 6, 2012 in Chalons.

Equestrians watch the peloton pass during stage six on July 6, 2012 in Metz.

 

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Riders try and get back on their bicycles after a massive high-speed crash just 25 kilometers from the finish line during the sixth stage on July 6, 2012.

Doctors tend to Wouter Poels of The Netherlands after the crash during the sixth stage on July 6, 2012. Poels suffered internal injuries including a ruptured spleen and kidney, a bruised lung, and three broken ribs. He remounted the bike and rode another 10 kilometers before abandoning the race, and is still in the intensive care unit of a hospital.

 

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American Tom Danielson rests in the grass after the stage six crash on July 6, 2012. Already riding with a separated shoulder from a crash days earlier, Danielson was forced to abandon the race. He finished in the top ten in 2011.

Riders pass sunflowers during the seventh stage between Tomblaine and La Planche des Belles Filles on July 7, 2012

 

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Traditional Swiss horn blowers watch as the peloton passes during the eighth stage between Belfort and Porrentruy, Switzerland on July 8, 2012.

Fans cheer on Sweden's Frederik Kessiakoff climbing at the end of the eighth stage in Porrentruy, Switzerland on July 8, 2012.

 

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Bradley Wiggins of Britain, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, speeds down Croix de Fer pass during the 11th stage of the Tour de France on July 12, 2012.

 

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The peloton makes the climb of the Col du Grand Colombier during stage ten from Macon to Bellegarde-Sur-Valserine on July 11, 2012 in La Sapette, France.

 

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Decorations are displayed on the facade of a building prior to the start of the tenth stage on July 11, 2012.

 

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A man performs with puppets representing Arnold Schwarzenegger and George Bush at the departure village prior to the start of the tenth stage on July 11, 2012.

 

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An entertainer balances his bicycle atop a lamp post with the Alps in the background prior to the 11th stage in Albertville on July 12, 2012.

 

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Australian fans wave national flags as the peloton rides in the eleventh stage between Albertville and La Toussuire-Les Sybelles on July 12, 2012.

 

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Fans dressed as skiers cheer on Bradley Wiggins and teammate Christopher Froome on the eleventh stage on July 12, 2012.

 

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A fan with a flag of Belgium runs alongside Jurgen Van Den Broeck of Belgium (second from right) as a group climbs towards La Toussuire during the 11th stage on July 12, 2012.