The stage ran through the foothills of the Pyrenees, in the Gers and Pyrénées-Atlantiques departments. There were three minor climbs in the final third of the stage, which was expected to suit the remaining sprinters.









A flat stage where I can relax! Maybe I will attack at the small climb some kilometers from the end.



As you know, I don't have a good sprint train, so I usually jump from train to train, but today Elia looked good. I said to him, that he could sprint for himself.

I got a technical problem, so I could not be able to sprint. I finished 22nd




















Not what I expected... but anyway finally a rest day! I can now see to a relaxing day, where the mountains is the highest property.

Peter

After the second and final rest day, the race entered the high mountains with the queen stage crossing two hors catégorie climbs – the Col d'Aubisque and the Col du Tourmalet – followed by the first-category climbs of the Col d'Aspin and the Col de Peyresourde, completing the so-called "Circle of Death", before dropping down to the finish in Bagnères-de-Luchon. The first rider over the Tourmalet – the highest point reached in both the Pyrenees and the 2012 Tour as a whole at 2,115 m (6,939 ft) – received the Souvenir Jacques Goddet.








This is a mountain stage. The first big stage in the Pyrenees. Altough it is not a mountain top finish, it still can create a gap to the others.

The breakaway was quickly formed:



There was two breakaway, the leading, who included the polka-dot wearer Chris Anker Sørensen, and a new one including David Moncoutie and Samuel Sanchez, who attacked afterwards. I sat up on the second climb of the day; Col du Tourmalet. A climb, who also offer a price; Souvenir Jacques Goddet - won by C.Sørensen.

Samuel Sanchez caught Chris Anker Sørensen and attacked immediately. He looked for the stage win as the gap between Sanchez and the favorite group was 20 minutes. Actually he could get the yellow jersey! Is he doing a Landis?

The gap was closed in during the last climb and when Vincenzo attacked and brilliantly descended.




















What a day! They rode so quickly! And as a proof: Roy Curvers and Kenny Van Hunmmel lost over 1 hour (!!!) today! I hope that they will ride quietly tomorrow!

Peter

The final day in the mountains saw the race cross the first-category Col de Menté and the second-category Col des Ares before reaching the last hors catégorie climb of the Tour, the Port de Balès. The race then dropped down, before returning over the uncategorised Col de Peyresourde – crossing the summit for the second consecutive day – followed by a summit finish at the Peyragudes ski resort. With a scheduled parcours of 143.5 km (89.2 mi), the stage was the shortest of the mountain stages of the 2012 Tour.









So because I shouldn't work for Vincenzo, I had a plan!



The plan of the day was easy, grab some points to the green jersey, then sit up. And that was what I did.

As the breakaway would win again, Vincenzo wanted to win 1 minute on Cadel Evans - it was now or never.

And he did!




















Cool, that Vincenzo is now on the podium! What can he do next?

Peter

Despite being ranked a "flat stage", there were four ranked climbs during the day which had the potential to produce a successful break from the peloton.









Last day before the Champs for the sprinters. And me too!

There wasn't any breakaway today. Some riders attacked and they won the stage.

Anyway I finished first in the peloton!




















It looks good! Maybe I can win the stage in Paris!

Peter

The penultimate stage of the Tour was the final individual time trial with good roads into the centre of the city of Chartres.









But before Paris there is a time trial. Let's see how good I can ride.



First time check: 15'15"

Second time check: 33'28"

Thrid time check: 45'18"

Finish line: 1h05'29"




















One day to go!

Peter!

The Tour concluded with the now-customary stage finish on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. The stage had an easy start – with two fourth-category climbs 5 km (3.1 mi) apart, inside the first third of the stage – before eight high-speed laps, followed by the finish, which was expected to result in a sprint for the line






3 stages of the Tour. Points Classification-winner for second time - in a row. Yes, this is me. And this is the final stage of the Tour. Come on, Peter, I can do a good result here!

The last break was also formed:



I scored a few points to the points classification.

When we arrived to Champs-Élysées, the breakaway had just a bit over 1 minute.



The first rider caught from the breakaway was Kris Boeckmans with 8.3 km to go.

They was caught afterwards, and the sprint was on.

I finished 16th



































The Tour had finished. 3 stage wins. Winner of the points classification for second year in row. What a Tour! I will hope that next year will be as great as this year. But who know?

Peter