Basque rider Ion Izagirre broke away for a solo triumph on stage 12 of the Tour de France on Thursday as defending champion Jonas Vingegaard retained his slender lead.
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After a fast-paced ride through the Beaujolais vineyards Vingegaard is only 17 seconds clear of Tadej Pogacar in the overall standings ahead of three days in the mountains.
It was a second win for Izagirre's team Cofidis after Victor Lafay won in San Sebastian, and also a second Basque win after Pello Bilbao won stage 10 on Tuesday.
"It's great for the Basques, three stages there and two wins for us (the Basques)," Izagirre said.
"I had good legs on the last climb. Tonight we're going to have a party."
It was a long time coming for Izagirre but he performed a master piece with a solo win from 30KM out. Relive the last KM ??
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 13, 2023
Elle aura pris du temps, mais Ion Izagirre retrouve enfin la victoire sur le Tour, après un run solitaire spectaculaire ?? #TDF2023 @continental_fr pic.twitter.com/DYYjouXe3l
There was around 25km of climbing on the run from Roanne to Belleville as the peloton tore across the hilly 189km route with the pack splintering.
Cutting an infernal pace, over 100 riders soon fell off as they pedalled through some of France's most prestigious vineyards
An elite escape group formed only 80km from home and even this splintered many times before the 34-year-old Izagirre made his decisive move on the fifth and toughest ascent, the Col de la Croix Rosier -- 5.3km long at eight percent gradient 28km from the finish.
Having won stages on all three Grand Tours Izagirre executed a ruthless finale, extending his lead all the way to the line in Belleville.
Frenchman Thibaut Pinot was part of the breakaway gaining over four minutes on the main contenders and climbing back into the top 10.
POGACAR CONFIDENT
Friday's stage marks the French national holiday of 14 July with a marquee route and an iconic summit finish at Le Grand Colombier in the Jura mountain range -- a regular obstacle on recent Tours.
Pogacar said he wanted an early night ahead of the Grand Colombier.
"I remember it," he said cocking his head and arching an eyebrow.
"I want to win it. It's a good climb, if I have the legs I'll attack. I should be good."
Danish defending champion Vingegaard was taking Friday's stage seriously.
"Tomorrow will be a decisive day," he insisted.
Sprint specialist Fabio Jakobsen of the Quick-Step team withdrew from the Tour ahead of stage 12, struggling to shake off the after-effects of a hard fall.
"At this point it seems impossible for me to get to Paris," he explained.
Others might be persuaded of this impossibility if they take a close look at the road ahead.
Saturday ends with a sensational downhill ride from Les Portes du Soleil, while Sunday should be a blockbuster climb at Saint-Gervais Mont Blanc.
TOP 10 STAGE 12 RESULTS?? Rankings and jerseys after stage 12
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 13, 2023
?? Classements et maillots distinctifs après l'étape 12#TDF2023 pic.twitter.com/tkvJ4XcHLj
1. Ion Izagirre (ESP/COF) 3hr 51min 42sec
2. Mathieu Burgaudeau (FRA/TEN) at 58sec
3. Matteo Jorgenson (USA/MOV) same time
4. Tiesj Benoot (BEL/TJV) 1min 06sec
5. Tobias Johannessen (NOR/UXT) 1:11
6. Thibaut Pinot (FRA/GFC) 1:13
7. Guillaume Martin (FRA/COF) 1:13
8. Dylan Teuns (BEL/IPT) 1:27
9. Ruben Guerreiro (POR/MOV) 1:27
10. Victor Campenaerts (BEL/LTD) 3:02
SELECTED
12. Tadej Pogacar (SLO/UAD) 4min 14sec
16. Jonas Vingegaard (DEN/TJV) 4:14.
167. Caleb Ewan (AUS/LTD) 37:22.
TOP 10 OVERALL STANDINGS
1. Jonas Vingegaard (DEN/TJV) 50hr 30min 23sec
2. Tadej Pogacar (SLO/UAD) at 17sec
3. Jai Hindley (AUS/BOH) 2:40
4. Carlos Rodriguez (ESP/IGD) 4:22
5. Pello Bilbao (ESP/TBV) 4:34
6. Adam Yates (GBR/UAD) 4:39
7. Simon Yates (GBR/JAY) 4:44
8. Tom Pidcock (GBR/IGD) 5:26
9. David Gaudu (FRA/GFC) 6:01
10. Thibaut Pinot (FRA/GFC) 6:33.