Overall leader Chris Froome keeps yellow jersey after fending off halfhearted attacks from Nairo Quintana, Alberto Contador, and Vincenzo Nibali. - By AFP/Bicycling
Photo: letour.fr
Joaquim Rodriguez won the 12th stage of the Tour de France on Thursday to claim his second victory this year and third in total as Chris Froome maintained his lead in the race.
Spaniard Rodriguez, 36, won the tough 195km Pyrenean stage from Lannemezan to Plateau de Beille, adding to his success at the Mur de Huy on the third stage.
Denmark’s Jakob Fuglsang was second at 1min 12sec with young Frenchman Romain Bardet third at 1min 49sec back.
Froome came home in 10th position at 6min 47sec amongst the group of favourites, having fended off a series of halfhearted attacks from Nairo Quintana, Alberto Contador, and Vincenzo Nibali. Reigning champion Nibali rediscovered his form after two difficult days in the mountains.
On a day that was supposed to be marked by higher temperatures than even the suffocating heat of the previous two days, the race finished under consistent rain, although the riders were lucky to miss the thunderstorm, lightning, and hail that had been lashing the finish line a little earlier in the day.
Temperatures dropped from 37 degrees to 11 at one point, but Froome managed his lead to bat away all challengers, thanks to superb marshaling by teammates Richie Porte and the indefatigable Geraint Thomas.
Yet there was perhaps hope to be had for his rivals before the race reaches the Alps, as the 30-year-old Briton did not gain any more time on his challengers.
Tejay van Garderen remains second at 2min 52sec with Quintana third at 3min 09sec.
Contador is sixth but Nibali moved up from 11th to ninth.
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