THE RACE LIVE
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Fifth place in the stage was taken by Boonen who led the peloton home 4’24" behind Popovych.

As Popovych passed under the 1km to go banner, the peloton was 5’00" behind. The Discovery Channel rider began the stage 9’00" behind Landis in the general classification.

Ballan has led Freire and Le Mevel over the line to claim second place 29" behind Popovych.

The average speed for the stage winner was 46.15km/h.

Popovych is about to throw his victory salute. The Discovery Channel rider has received a consolation of a stage win and a significant move up the general classification with his attack that began at the 98km mark.

Popovych has less than 1,000m to race before claiming his first stage victory in the Tour de France.

Popovych is now 22" ahead of Freire and Ballan and is 1,500m from the finish of the stage.

As thunder cracks in the heavens above Carcassonne, Popovych is racing ahead and appears destined to become the second Ukranian to win a stage of the 2006 Tour.
Freire and Ballan have conceded and are discussing something 2km from the finish...

This is attack number six or seven from Popovych. He is now 3km from the finish and this time Ballan and Freire are not able to respond.

Although Popovych is putting in solid attacks, Ballan and Freire are always able to respond. The peloton is now 4’45" behind the leading trio.

Popovych has caught another surge from Freire. Each time these two attack, Ballan is able to respond. The rapid accelerations has completely eliminated Le Mevel from the picture.
Popovych has gone again with 4km to go...

The leading trio is now 6km from the finish. The peloton is 10km from Carcassonne. Le Mevel is 15" behind Popovych, Freire and Ballan.

Ballan is the latest to attack. He has Freire with him and Popovych is closing in quickly. Le Mevel is 12" behind.

Le Mevel is the only rider unable to respond to Popovych’s surge. Freire and Ballan marked the move and now Freire is attacking... they have 7.5km to go.

The first attack of the leading quartet has come from Popovych. The rider from Discovery Channel began the day 9’00" behind Landis and, although a strongman, he’s not as good as Ballan and Freire in a sprint.

Freire, Le Mevel, Ballan and Popovych are at the 10km to go banner. There have been no attacks since these riders joined forces at the 98km mark but if Le Mevel wants to win on Bastille Day he’ll have to do something soon because his chances of beating Freire and Ballan in a sprint a slim...

The peloton is 4’25" behind Freire, Le Mevel, Ballan and Popovych with 15km to go... pick the winner from the leading quartet because there’s little interest from the peloton in chasing down the escape.

With the leaders - Freire, Le Mevel, Ballan and Popovych - 15km from the finish, they appear destined to fight it out for stage honours. Thunder has just cracked in the skies above Carcassonne and it could be a stormy finish... the leading quartet are now 4’20" ahead.
The Phonak team has been given the responsibility of the chasing duties. All they want to do is keep Popovych’s group within a reasonable margin. The sprinters’ squads don’t seem interested in chasing down the escapees.

The four stage leaders have been at the front of the stage since the 98km mark. They are now 19km from the finish of the 211.5km stage.

Freire, Le Mevel, Ballan and Popovych are 20km from the finish of the stage. They have been cooperating since joining forces at the 98km mark. They are 4’30" ahead of the peloton.

The peloton is now in the final 25km. It is 4’40" behind Freire, Le Mevel, Ballan and Popovych. This is the maximum gain on the escape.

Freire, Le Mevel, Ballan and Popovych have just passed under the 25km to go banner. The Ukranian Discovery Channel rider has been doing most of the work in today’s escape.
It was reported early that Popovych was at the front of the quartet for 37 per cent of the time. The least time spent at the head of the escape group was done Le Mevel (17 per cent).

Freire, Le Mevel, Ballan and Popovych are holding onto their advantage. With about 26km to go they are 4’30" ahead of the peloton. Milram has ceased its efforts at the front of the chase and now only Phonak in charge of the bunch...

One of the riders in today’s escape, Oscar Freire is due to become a father in the next day or two. If his misses out on the stage victory in Carcassonne he may yet have something to celebrate on Bastille Day...

The last time check had the peloton at 4’25" (at the 176km mark). The advantage of the four escapees should start to drop soon as the Phonak team receives support in the form of two Milram riders at the head of the peloton.

After being dropped recently, Voeckler has fought hard to rejoin the peloton.

Celestino, Lopez Garcia, Ricco are also in the group of 11 who have just been dropped by the peloton...

Casar, Voeckler, Steegmans and Simoni are part of a group that’s been dropped by the peloton.

The peloton is now 4’30" ahead of the peloton which has just arrived in the Aude department. There is now one Milram rider assisting the the chase of the four escapees.

The peloton is at the 168km mark and continues to be led by the Phonak squad. This group is 4’20" behind Freire, Ballan, Le Mevel and Popovych. This is the maximum gain of the escape so far...

The pace of the peloton has picked up recently. The bunch is strung out in one long line as the Phonak squad set a solid tempo. It is just 1km from the site of the 2nd intermediate sprint.

The points for the 2nd intermediate sprint were won by:
1. Oscar Freire (RAB) 6pts/6"
2. Alessandro Ballan (LAM) 4pts/4"
3. Christophe Le Mevel (C.A) 2pts/2"
The peloton is 4’15" behind the four escapees.

Popovych’s quartet is now 4’15" ahead of the Phonak-led peloton.

Freire, Le Mevel, Ballan and Popovych are getting close to the intermediate sprint in Mirepoix. This little village is on the border of the Ariege and Aude departments and retains a truly historic flavour. With narrow pedestrian laneways, it’s a great place to stop if you’re interested in a cheap and tasty cassoulet...!

The peloton is at the 153km mark. Its deficit to the four stage leaders is 4’10".

The director of the Credit Agricole team recently spoke with LeTour.fr to discuss his squad’s intentions today. Serge Beucherie said, “It’s certain that Phonak doesn’t want to allow Popovych improve his position in the general classification. And Davitamon-Lotto doesn’t want Freire to add to his tally in the points rankings but I continue to support Le Mevel. I want him to give everything he has in the escape group.
“First of all, he has worked hard and he deserves to have a chance if this escape succeeds. Secondly, you never know what can happen with the chase group. At the same time, the fact that he is in the escape means that we are not obliged to help with the pursuit. Should it all come back together, however, Thor will be ready to contest the sprint.
“In summary, it’s a great situation for us.”

Robbie McEwen has dropped to the rear of the peloton to have a discussion with his team director. The winner of stages two, four and six appears eager to get his Davitamon-Lotto colleagues on the front of the peloton to assist Phonak with the chasing duties of the four who are now 4’00" ahead...

With the peloton at the 145km mark, the advantage of the escapees has dropped to 3’55".

The only Frenchman in today’s big escape made his Tour debut this year. Christophe Le Mevel rode both the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta A Espana in 2005. He won the 16th stage of the Italian race.
The rider from Lannion is currently riding along with Popovych, Freire and Ballan 65km from the finish of stage 12. They are 4’05" ahead of the peloton.

The peloton is 4’10" behind at the 141km mark.

The Phonak team has been at the head of the peloton since the 100km mark. The bunch is four minutes behind Freire, Le Mevel, Ballan and Popovych. France Television recently interviewed the director of the Phonak squad, John Lelangue to get his thoughts on the stage. “This morning I took the overall ranking and drew a line at the riders who are nine minutes behind Landis to know exactly who we could allow to escape," said Lelangue. "Popovych is exactly on this line so we will control the pace of the peloton to ensure that he doesn’t get a big advantage.
"Later we’ll see what the sprint teams decided to do and perhaps we’ll help them catch the escape group.”

The points at the top of the Cote de Pamiers (136.0km) were won by:
1. Yaroslav Popovych (DSC) 3pts
2. Christophe Le Mevel (C.A) 2pts
3. Alessandro Ballan (LAM) 1pt

The peloton is still four minutes behind the four escapees. Freire’s quartet are 1km away from the Cote de Pamiers (at the 136.0km mark).

The four riders who are now four minutes ahead of the Phonak-led peloton are from four teams and four nations...
Oscar Freire (Spain - Rabobank)
Yaroslav Popovych (Ukraine - Discovery Channel)
Christophe Le Mevel (France - Credit Agricole)
Alessandro Ballan (Italy - Lampre-Fondital)

France Television has just spoken with a directeur sportif from the Davitamon-Lotto team. Hendrik Redant offered his thoughts on today’s stage. “At first we worked to catch Bennati,” said Redant. “He is a rival of Robbie’s in the points classification.
“We had him but now it’s the same thing with Freire and that’s why you saw Robbie chasing. That’s also why you saw him talking to Tom Boonen. It would be better if two teams could work to reel in the escape, not just us. We have to save some energy so our riders will not be the only squad responsible for the pursuit. I hope that we can catch the four leaders before the finish of today’s stage.”

At the top of the 3rd climb, the deficit of the peloton to the four leaders was 3’55".

The points at the top of the 3rd climb, the Cote de Pailhes (at 126.0km) were won by:
1. Christophe Le Mevel (C.A) 3pts
2. Oscar Freire (RAB) 2pts
3. Yaroslav Popovych (DSC) 1pt
The latest advantage of the lead group is 3’40".

Of the four riders in the lead, only Oscar Freire (RAB) has previously won a stage of the Tour de France. The Spaniard won in Sarrebruck in 2002 as well as two stages this year. He is currently placed third in the race for the green jersey with 181 points, 30 less than the leader of the points classification McEwen (DVL).

The advantage of the four escapees has grown to 3’25".

Freire, Le Mevel, Popovych and Ballan are near the Cote de Pal de Pailhes, a category-four ascent that peaks at the 126km mark.

Of the four riders in the lead, Yaroslav Popovych is the best-placed on general classification. He began the stage in 23rd, 9’00 behind Landis.

The next time check should report that the advantage of the four escapees is significantly more than the 1’50" announced a few minutes ago. The Phonak squad is now in charge of the peloton; McEwen is at the rear and having a word with his team director and the pace of the chase has eased considerably.

The fifth American to wear the yellow jersey in the Tour de France is riding a special bike today. His BMC frame is yellow and black while the rest of his Phonak squad ride red and black frames.

McEwen has been forced to stop trying to reel in Freire’s escape group. The peloton is now 1’50" behind Freire, Le Mevel, Popovych and Ballan.

After a frantic first hour and a half, it appears as though the escape is going to be allowed to gain an advantage. The Phonak team has come to the front of the peloton and McEwen’s chasing antics have been quelled...

Cadel Evans has come to the front of the peloton to talk to his Australian team-mate. It appears as though the word is: "wait!" The pace of the peloton has dropped significantly and Freire, Le Mevel, Popovych and Ballan now lead by 1’20".

McEwen recently bolted ahead of the peloton. He appears intent on catching the four escapees - Freire, Le Mevel, Popovych and Ballan. He was chased by Hunter (PHO), Bennati and Commesso (LAM).

McEwen and a Lampre rider are now in between the four stage leaders and the peloton.

The decision appears to be "ease the pace"... the peloton is now 1’00" behind Freire, Le Mevel, Popovych and Ballan.

Boonen has come to the front of the peloton and had a quick word with McEwen. It appears that they are trying to reach an accord about what to do: chase or ease the pace...

McEwen has come to the front of the peloton which is now 40" behind the four escapees. Is he trying to cool the pace of the chase which has been high all day long... or is her concerned about Freire’s presence in the lead group?

The Phonak team is now in charge of the peloton which is at the 104km mark with a deficit of 25" to Freire, Le Mevel, Popovych and Ballan.

Jens Voigt has been setting a furious pace as he attempted to bridge the gap to the four leaders who are now 23" ahead. The CSC rider has been involved in escape groups already today but he’s just surrendered... the chase is now being controlled by Phonak riders.

Popovych, Freire, Ballan and Le Mevel lead by 30" with the peloton at the 102km mark.

The group of 20 have been caught by the peloton. The only riders ahead of the bunch are: Freire, Le Mevel, Ballan and Popovych.

There is a group of 20 riders ahead of the Popovych quartet. We await confirmation of the riders involved in the latest move...

Popovych, Freire, Ballan and Le Mevel are the latest riders to escape the peloton. They are 10" ahead.

The leaders covered 47.2km in the second hour of racing. The average for the first two hours is 46.6km/h.

The peloton has caught Hincapie, Voigt, Moncoutie and Goubert at the 94km mark.

Hincapie, Voigt, Moncoutie, Goubert and Albasini are not being allowed any breathing room on this hot stage to Carcassonne. They were part of a 15 man group that attacked on the first climb. That group thinned to nine but four surrendered at the 88km mark... the current advantage is just 12".

George and his merry quintet are just 20" ahead of the peloton at the 91km mark.

None of the escapes today have been allowed much leeway by the peloton. The same goes for the current crop: Hincapie, Voigt, Goubert, Moncoutie and Albasini who are just 25" ahead of the pack.

Hincapie (DSC), Voigt (CSC), Goubert (A2R), Moncoutie (COF) and Albasini (LIQ) are 28" ahead of the peloton as it exits the feedzone.

The four others who were with Hincapie’s group have now been caught by the peloton that’s now at the 88km mark with a deficit of 25" to the five stage leaders.

Hincapie, Voigt, Goubert, Moncoutie and Albasini are the riders who now lead the stage.

Albasini, Voigt and Goubert have been joined by another rider in the lead of the stage. We await confirmation of just who it is...

Albasini has been chased down by Voigt and Goubert at the start of the feedzone (at 86.5km - in St-Girons).

Michael Albasini (LIQ) has attacked the lead group which was 35" ahead of the peloton.

The peloton is 22" behind the nine escapees at the 80km mark. Millar has attacked and tried to thin the lead group down a little. The Saunier Duval-Prodir rider has won a stage near the site of today’s finish in the past. He was part of a 13 man escape that gained 13 minutes on the peloton in the 13th stage of the 2002 Tour.
At the finish in Bezier that day, he beat David Etxebarria, Michael Boogerd and Laurent Brochard in a sprint.

Hincapie, Voigt, Guerini, Goubert, Bennati, Verdugo, Moncoutie, Millar and Albasini are likely to be reeled in soon. The latest check had them just 25" ahead of the peloton.

The peloton isn’t content to let the nine escapees - Hincapie, Voigt, Guerini, Goubert, Bennati, Verdugo, Moncoutie, Millar and Albasini - gain any advantage. The current deficit it 40".
Millar tried a small attack recently but he was quickly chased down by the others in the escape group.

The Francaise des Jeux team is leading the peloton at the 78.5km mark. The French team has no rider in the escape group of nine which is 45" ahead.

With 1km to go to the first intermediate sprint, the nine escapees were 40" ahead of the peloton. The points in Caumont (at 76km) were won by:
1. Daniele Bennati (LAM) 6pts/6"
2. Giuseppe Guerini (TMO) 4pts/4"
3. George Hincapie (DSC) 2pts/2"

The leaders are near the site of the first intermediate sprint which is in Caumont at the 76km mark. The peloton is now being led by riders from Bouygues Telecom and Milram.

The Bouygues boys are assisting Davitamon-Lotto with the pursuit of the nine escapees who are now 35" ahead.

The nine escapees have a lead of 30" at the 72.5km mark. The peloton is being led by riders from the Davitamon-Lotto team.

The most riders to have led the Tour in one year is eight; that happened in both the 1958 and 1987 races. This year the yellow jersey has been worn by six different men from six countries: Thor Hushovd (C.A), George Hincapie (DSC), Tom Boonen (QSI), Serhiy Honchar (TMO), Cyril Dessel (A2R) and Floyd Landis (PHO).

Hincapie, Voigt, Guerini, Goubert, Bennati, Verdugo, Moncoutie, Millar and Albasini are the only riders ahead of the peloton. They have a lead of 30".

With the advantage of the 15 leaders down to 25", a number of riders have sat up and are now waiting for the peloton.

Hincapie (DSC), Voigt (CSC), Guerini (TMO), Goubert (A2R), Rasmussen (RAB), Cunego (LAM), Bennati (LAM), Pereiro (CEI), Hushovd (C.A), Verdugo (EUS), Moncoutie (COF), Chavanel (COF), Moreni (COF), Millar (SDV) and Albasini (LIQ) reached a maximum gain of 1’10" at the 60km mark.
They are just just 35" ahead after 68km of racing.

With the peloton at the 675km mark of the 211.5km stage, it is 40" behind the 15 escapees.

The rider who finished third in stage 11, Floyd Landis (PHO), is the fifth American rider to wear the yellow leader’s jersey in the Tour de France. The first was Greg LeMond in 1986 and again in 1989 and 1990. Then came a guy called Lance Armstrong who led – and won – the Tour in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005. Dave Zabriskie was the next American to wear yellow after winning the opening time trial in 2005. George Hincapie spent a day in yellow after stage one this year…

The 15 escapees have lost some of their advantage. The latest check has Hincapie’s group 50" ahead of the bunch.

Here is a list of the French riders who have won a stage of the Tour de France on the national holiday for Bastille Day.
Georges Passerieu in Marseille in 1906. Marcel Cadolle in Lyon in 1907. Charles Crupelandt in Marseille in 1911. Henri Pelissier in Geneve in 1923. Antonin Magne in Dieppe in 1928. Pelissier in Montpelier in 1930 and in Canne in 1931. Alphonse Antoine in Nimes in 1937. Amedee Foumier in Nantes in 1939. Emile Idée in 1949 in Nîmes Jean Robic in 1953 in Luchon Jacques Vivier in 1954 in Vannes Jean Bourles in 1957 in Ax-les-Thermes Jacques Anquetil in 1961 in Périgueux and in a time trial in Paris in 1964 Roger Pingeon in 1968 in Albi Raymond Delisle in 1969 in Luchon Bernard Thévenet in 1970 in La Mongie and again in 1975 in Serre-Chevalier Bernard Labourdette in 1971 in Gourette Mariano Martinez in 1980 in Morzine Vincent Barteau in 1989 in Marseille Laurent Jalabert in 1995 in Mende and again in 2001 in Colmar. Laurent Brochard in 1997 in Loudenvielle. Richard Virenque in 2004 in St-Flour. David Moncoutie in Digne-les-Bains in 2005.

Two teams that are not represented in today’s escape are leading the peloton. Davitamon-Lotto and Francaise des Jeux are keeping the break honest. The escapees are at the 63.5km mark, 1’00" ahead of the pack.

The peloton is still 1’00" behind the 15 escapees. The bunch is at the 60km mark.

There are just seven riders left in the Discovery Channel team. Benjamin Noval is the latest to quit the Tour; joining team-mate Paolo Savoldelli who stepped off at the 43km mark.

Hincapie (DSC)
Voigt (CSC)
Guerini (TMO)
Goubert (A2R)
Rasmussen (RAB)
Cunego & Bennati (LAM)
Pereiro (CEI)
Hushovd (C.A)
Verdugo (EUS)
Moncoutie, Chavanel & Moreni (COF)
Millar (SDV)
Albasini (LIQ)...
are now 1’00" ahead of the peloton.

The peloton is at the 49.5km mark, 50" behind the 15 escapees. The bunch is led by both Davitamon-Lotto and FDJ riders.

The 15 leaders are over the second summit. The points at the Cote de Pujos were won by:
1. Millar (SDV) 3pts
2. Rasmussen (RAB) 2pts
3. Pereiro ((CEI) 1pt

The escapees covered 46.0km in the first hour of racing.

The Davitamon-Lotto team has been responsible for the pacesetting duties at the head of the peloton which is now 50" behind the 15 escapees.

Hincapie’s group is now 45" ahead of the peloton as the leaders near the second climb of stage 12.

The Discovery Channel team has lost the services of the two-time Giro d’Italia champion, Paolo Savoldelli. The Italian abandoned at the 43km mark of today’s stage.

Of the 15 riders in the lead of stage 12, eight have previously won at least one stage of the Tour de France. The peloton is controlled by the Davitamon-Lotto team at the 42km mark (and is 40" behind the escapees).
The previous stage winners are: Hincapie, Voigt, Guerini, Rasmussen, Pereiro, Hushovd, Moncoutie and Millar.

The 15 escapees are being chased by the peloton which is now just 45" behind. The maximum gain of Hincapie’s group was a little over a minute at the 34km mark.

The 15 leaders are at the 38.5km mark.

There are now 163 riders in the 2006 Tour de France. The latest to quit is Jose Alberto Martinez of the Agritubel team.

The 15 riders are 55" ahead of the peloton.

Hincapie (DSC), Voigt (CSC), Guerini (TMO), Goubert (A2R), Rasmussen (RAB), Cunego (LAM), Bennati (LAM), Pereiro (CEI), Hushovd (C.A), Verdugo (EUS), Moncoutie (COF), Chavanel (COF), Moreni (COF), Millar (SDV) and Albasini (LIQ) are the riders who are in the lead of stage 12.

The escapees now have a lead of 1’00" over the yellow jersey’s peloton. We’ll post the full list of riders in the escape as soon as it’s announced by Radio Tour... there are 15 riders involved.

Hincapie (DSC), Voigt (CSC), Guerini (TMO) have been caught by Goubert (A2R), Rasmussen (RAB), Pereiro (CEI), Moncoutie, Chavanel and Moreni (COF), Cunego (LAM) and a number of other riders.

Hushovd’s group is now five seconds behind the stage leaders...

There is a small group of counter-attacking riders - Chavanel, Verdugo, Moncoutie and Goubert - in pursuit of Voigt’s quintet. Hushovd is about to bridge the gap to the second group.

The split in the peloton is over after the first climb. The main pack is now just 8" behind Rasmussen, Bennati, Hincapie, Pereiro and Voigt.

1. Rasmussen 10pts
2. Hincapie 9pts
3. Pereiro 8pts
4. Bennati 7pts
5. Voigt 6pts
At 8" - Guerini 5pts
At 28" - Hushovd.
At 38" - The yellow jersey’s peloton.
At 58" - A second peloton.

Hincapie, Voigt, Rasmussen, Bennati and Pereiro are now in the lead of stage 12. Their advantage on the next group is 8".

There are 10 riders in the hunt for the points at the top of the first climb. The summit of the Col des Ares is at the 27km mark.
Verdugo, Moncoutie, Chavanel and Goubert are now in pursuit of the stage leaders who have an advantage of 20".

The peloton has split to pieces on the Col des Ares. We can report that De la Fuente (SDV) has been dropped by the peloton but await confirmation of other details...

The first climb today is a 7.2km long ascent with an average gradient of 4.5%.
Guerini (TMO), Moreni (COF), Millar (SDV), Albasini (LIQ), Rasmussen (RAB) and Cunego (LAM) are now in pursuit of the leading four who are 12" ahead of the peloton.

Weening (RAB) and Halgand (C.A) have been dropped on the first climb.

Hincapie (DSC), Voigt (CSC), Bennati (LAM) and Pereiro (CEI) are in the lead of the stage as they begin to climb the first hill of the 12th stage. Their advantage at the 24km mark is 8"...

The 14 riders have been caught by the peloton at the 23km mark.

The 14 are now just 10" ahead of the peloton. The chase is being controlled by Jose Azevedo of the Discovery Channel team.

The escapees that are about to begin the ascent of the Col des Ares also includes Francisco Ventoso (SDV). The others in the move are: Jens Voigt (CSC), Robbie McEwen and Johan Vansummeren (DVL), Daniele Bennati and Daniele Righi (LAM), Tom Boonen (QSI), Florent Brard (CEI), Magnus Backstedt (LIQ), Christophe Le Mevel (C.A), David Kopp (GST) and Chritian Moreni (COF).

The 13 escapees are now 35" ahead of the peloton. There are just two French representatives in the move that began at the 6km mark.

It appears that everyone involved in the recent crash has remounted their bikes and are about to rejoin the peloton.

The peloton is at the 17.5km mark in Fronsac, 30" behind the 13 escapees.

There are now 164 riders in the 2006 Tour de France. The early retiree in stage 12 is Isaac Galvez (CEI).

There has been a crash involving a number of riders including Vasseur (QSI).

Paolo Savoldelli (DSC) is at the back of the peloton and calling for his team car. He was hit the head by a spectator yesterday and had to get stitched up by the Tour’s medical staff last night.

The 13 escapees are 30" ahead of the peloton. They are: Jens Voigt (CSC), Robbie McEwen and Johan Vansummeren (DVL), Daniele Bennati and Daniele Righi (LAM), Tom Boonen (QSI), Florent Brard (CEI), Magnus Backstedt (LIQ), Christophe Le Mevel (C.A), David Kopp (GST) and Chritian Moreni (COF).
The peloton that continues to be led by the Discovery Channel team.

The 13 riders are now 28" ahead of the peloton that’s just reached the 12.5km mark.

The peloton is 22" behind at the 11km mark. The pace of the chase is being set by riders from the Discovery Channel team.

There are now 13 riders in the lead group because the Rabobank representative Bram De Groot has returned to the peloton.

The escape group has grown to 14: Voigt (CSC), Kopp (GST), De Groot (RAB), McEwen (DVL), Vansummeren (DVL), Bennati (LAM), Righi (LAM), Brard (CEI), Boonen (QSI), Le Mevel (C.A), Moreni (COF), Ventoso, Da Cruz (FDJ), Backstedt (LIQ) and Fedrigo (BTL)...
They are now 22" ahead of the peloton at the 10km mark.

The group of nine attacked at the 6km mark. The move was instigated by Christophe Le Mevel; we await the first time check on this escape...

Brard (CEI), Vansummeren (DVL), Fedrigo (BTL), Voigt (CSC), Kopp (GST), Righi (LAM), Le Mevel (C.A), Da Cruz (FDJ) and Backstedt (LIQ) are now in the lead of the stage.

Kopp’s escape attempt amounted to nothing. He has been caught by the peloton but there are now five riders on the attack.

David Kopp of the Gerolsteiner team has attacked at the 4km mark.

The peloton is at the 3km mark and all the escapees have been caught.

Schroder (MRM), Casper (COF), Carlstrom (LIQ) tried to catch the stage leader Joly (FDJ) but they have been caught by the peloton.

The rider who is on the attack began the 12th stage in 164th place in the general rankings. After 11 stages, Sebastian Joly (FDJ) was one hour, 41 minutes and 26 seconds behind the overall leader, Floyd Landis.

We can expect the French riders in the race to be particularly aggressive today because of the date: 14th July... the national holiday for Bastille Day. Already, Sebastian Joly (FDJ) has shown signs of signs of aggression. He attacked in the first kilometer. At the 1.5km mark, he leads by 12".

The official start time for the 12th stage was 12.16pm. There are 211.5km to ride in the stage from Luchon to Carcassonne.

The peloton is currently rolling along in the 2.8km neutral zone and on the way to the site of the official start. There are 165 riders still in the race with no one abandoning overnight.
The men who abandoned during stage 11 were: Iban Mayo (EUS), Giovanni Lombardi (CSC) and Wilfried Cretskens (QSI).

The race leaves the Pyrenees behind today and there are still four climbs to be contested in stage 12. They are relatively small rises compared to the high challenges of the stage to Spain yesterday.
The climbs are: the Col des Arest (category-2 at the 27km mark), the Cote de Pujos (cat-4 at 47.5km), the Cote de Paul de Pailhes (cat-4 at 126.0km) and the Cote de Pamiers (cat-4 at 136.0km).
David De la Fuente (SDV) wears the polka-dot jersey. He has 80 points in the climbing classification, 18 more than Cyril Dessel (A2R) and 19 more than Fabian Wegmann (GST).

The 12th stage of the 2006 Tour de France is a 211.5km trip from Luchon in the Haute-Garonne department to Carcassone in Aude. The race is scheduled to begin at 12.10pm.
The conditions are hot on this national holiday for Bastille Day.
Live coverage of the stage will commence soon.