Wlcome to live coverage of stage 12 of the Tour de Franceꦚ from Bourg-en-Bresse to Saint-&Eacut𒅌e;tienne.

Welcome to stage 12 of the Tour de France and we are around 20 minutes away fro🧸m the start here in Bourg-en-Bresse. We havꦐe clear blue skies as the riders continue to sign on.

The big news is that Andrew Talansky has called an end to his Tour de France. The American battled bravely to finish yesterday's stage but his injuries have proved too much. Read the full report on Talansky's abandon here.

Here is what the riders will face today. It could be a chance for the breakaway so succeed once ꧟again or one oꦕf the last chances for Peter Sagan to take victory.

Just before the racing gets underway, a quick recap of how things finished yesterday. Tony Gallopin went on the attack and held off the charging sprinters to add stage victory to his day in yellow. You can see the stage gallery and read the full report here.

Here is a look at the top 10

1 Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto-Belisol 4:25:45
2 John Degenkolb (Ger) Team Giant-Shimano
3 Matteo Trentin (Ita) Omega Pharma-Quick Step
4 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Tinkoff-Saxo
5 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Orica Greenedge
6 José Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Movistar Team
7 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team
8 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
9 Peter Sagan (Svk) Cannondale
10 Kévin Reza (Fra) Team Europcar

Thu, 17th Jul 2014 11:58:06

185km remaining from 185km

And we're off. The riders take off from Bourg-en-Bresse. They have 5꧙.9km of neitralised riding before they hit the start proper.

Aside from And🤪rew Talansky we have had no other non-starters today. There are still 178 riders r💫emaining in the race from the 198 that began in Leeds.

After only 2km of racing we've had our first attack of the day Bartosz Huzarski. He's got a small fiv𒈔e-second gap on the peloton. It's a long way to go on his own, and he'll༺ be hoping a few more join him in his adventure.

That little foray by Huzarski has been nullified and it's all back together again. T🦂he peloton aren't hanging about and they're zipping along at 52kph at the moment.

175km remaining from 185km

Another solo attack. This time𓆉 it's from Garmin-Sharp's Sebastian Langeveld and he has 10 seconds on the peloton after 10km of racing.

Langeveld has been joined by four other riders, Gregory Rast (Trek Factory Racing), Simon Clarke (Orica-GreenEdge), Floria🃏n Vachon (Bretagne-Seche Environment) and David de la Cruz (NetApp-Endrua). They've got 20 seconds on the peloton now after 13.5km.

Today is unlikely to have too much of an impact on the general classification, but - ju🌳st in case - here﷽ is a look at how it stands. Vincenzo Nibali still has a comanding lead over Richie Porte ahead of the first Alpine stages.

1 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana Pro Team 46:59:23
2 Richie Porte (Aus) Team Sky 0:02:23
3 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team 0:02:47
4 Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:03:01
5 Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto-Belisol 0:03:12
6 Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ.fr 0:03:47
7 Tejay Van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team 0:03:56
8 Jean-Christophe Péraud (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:03:57
9 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling 0:04:08
10 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Lotto-B🌠el𒉰isol 0:04:18

It looks like these🐷 five riders will form the day's break. Their lead has gone up to 1:05 after 19km.

Garmin-Sharp have Langeveld in the break today, but they lost their leader Andrew Talans💮ky who decided not to start the stage. The 25-year-old had suffered two heavy crashes int he first week and the injuries proved too much for him. Cyclingnews' Barry Ryan caught up with Talansky's directeur sportif Charly ﷽Wegelius ahead of today's stage.

""We made the decision late last night. It was important for him to be able to talk face to face witﷺh his teammates over breakfast this morning. It was a very painful decision for him, but it’s for the best," said Wegelius. "We sat and spoke with him and went ov꧃er all of the different scenarios that could be left for him in the Tour, and the state of his health. He had a rest day and his body didn’t react the way he wanted so unfortunately it was time to make a calculation."

"He’s disappointed but of course he’ll bounce back. It’s a scenario he’s lived for a few days. It’s painful what he went through and we were hoping for a better reaction from his body during the rest day but you could see yesterday that he was really struggling with it.

"One door closes ♎and many more open. There are eight riders on the bus and each one of them, if they find themselves in the right position, they can win a stage of the Tour. For them it’s a big chance."

Thu, 17th Jul 2014 12:32:55

159km remaining from 185km

The peloton have sat up a touch, although the🍌y're still powering along at 49kph. The gap to the five leaders has extended to 3:05 and they're making their way towards the intermediate sprint, which arrives in around 13km.

Today could be the last chance for S🀅agan to take a stage victory. He has finished in the top 10 in all but three of the stages this season, with a frustrating three seconds places. Yesterday he wen෴t on the attack but sat up when the others refused to help him chase Gallopin. He reportedly threw his bike when he arrived for the podium presentation.

Sagan has an🧜 almost unassailable lead in the points classification and extended his advantage over Bryan Coquard (Europcar) yet again yesterday. Here is how the points competition looks after yesterday:

1 Peter Sagan (Svk) Cannondale 301 pts
2 Bryan Coquard (Fra) Team Europcar 164
3 Marcel Kittel (Ger) Team Giant-Shimano 157
4 Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Team Katusha 127
5 André Greipel (Ger) Lotto-Belisol 111
6 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Omega Pharma-Quick Step 110
7 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team 100
8 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana Pro Team 95
9 Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto-Belisol 87
10 Tony Martin (Ger) Omega Pharma-Quick Step 76

146km remaining from 185km

As the escapees his the 39km mark, their advantage has grown to 5 minutes. Gregory Rast is the best placed o🧜f the five riders but, as he is 1 hour 20 minutes behind Vincenzo Nibali, Astana will not be too worried about him or his fellow escapees.

Tony Martin has had a very sucessful Tour de France so far and it could be his best yet if he wins the time trial next week. His contract was due to run out at the end of this season, but it has been reported that he has signed a two-year extension to stay with Omega Pharma-QuickStep. You can read the full article here.

Remember you can watch all of our Tour de France videos and more on our YouTube page and make sure to subscribe sℱo you don't miss a thing.

If you want to give us your race predictions, tell us what you think of the action in today's or give us your thoughts on the whole race then you can tweet us on @Cyclingnewsfeed @SadhbhOS or use the hashtags #TDF #cycling🍃news and we will post some of your tweets here.

133km remaining from 185km

Florian Vachon took the full points at the intermediate sprint and it was Marcel Kittel who won the sprint fromt he peloton. With P🍨eter Sagan mopping up 5 points to bring his total to a whopping 306. The peloton has now increased the speed as we close in on the first mountain. The gap now stands at 3:54.

Thu, 17th Jul 2014 13:12:39

Thu, 17th Jul 2014 13:15:00

125km remaining from 185km

The leaders have now c🅺rested the first climb of the day the fourth category Col du Brouilly. De la Cruz was the first over, ta🔜king the only available point at the top. The five escapees have an advantage of 3:55 on the peloton

Very sorry about the lack of updates,෴ we had an issue with our s෴ervers but it's all back and working.

For those of you who haven't been folowing 🌞us on twitter, here is a recap of what's been going on. The riders have now passed the second climb of the day, where De La Cruz took full points again. However, the NetApp-Endure rider slipped out on a corner on the descent andꦆ took Langeveld with him. It looks like De La Cruz's race could be over.

87km remaining from 185km

Langeveld is back on his bike and back with the other escapeeಌs. There os four of them and they have 4:56 on the peloton. De la Cruz has been confirmed as an abandon. Such a cruel way of leaving his first Tour de Fr🔯ance.

Outside of the Tour de France there is some sad news as British cycling legend Brian Robinson has been hospitalised after getting hit by a car on a training ride. Robinson was the first Briton to finish the Tour de France, doing so in 1955. You can read the full article here.

Thu, 17th Jul 2014 14:27:11

After the crash in the breakaway group, the peloton has closed the gap a little bit. With 82km remaining, they are only 3:29 behind. ꦜNext on the menu is the ♕third category Col des Brosses.

They riders have 𝔉had a lot of rain during the opening week of the Tour, but today it is hot. Race radio 🌞are reporting patches of melted tarmac, which is possibly what caused De la Cruz to crash out.

Former AG2R rider and yellow jersey wearer Cyril Dessel is from the finish town of Saint-Etienne. He spoke to the Le Tour website and described the tricky finish that the ri📖ders will face today:

“From Vagneray onwards, the last 60 kilometres are on lumpy roads but the hills aren't difficult. The col des Brosses is said to be 15.3km long but in reality, it's 7 to 8km long. It won't be decisive. At the end, the côte de Grammond is also rolling but the downhill to Saint-Etienne is quite fast be꧋fore finishing in front the Zenith (arena). It could be a sprint of 80 to 100 riders.”

Two Europcar riders have now moved to the front with Kevin Reza leading the pack. Their man for today iඣs Bryan Coquard. He has also been close to victory in the earlier stages of the race and sits second in the points classification - although he is a long way off Sag꧙an's lead.

75km remaining from 185km

Europcar's work has had an impact and the gap has been brought down to 3:09 with 75km to g🌳o. It doesn't look like this one wi✃ll stick, but as ever with the Tour de France anything can happen.

Thu, 17th Jul 2014 14:41:02

Simon Clarke is the youngest rider in the breakaway today. He is also the only rider to have won a stage of the Tour, with victory in the team time trial last year. Clarke is in his third year as a profession💎al and is riding his second Tour de France. He has one indivual Grand Tour stage 𝔉win with a stage of the Vuelta a Espana in 2012. He beat Tony Martin on stage four and went on to win the mountains classification.

68km remaining from 185km

Time is♕ running out for the four escapees, we still have two climbs to go and the advantage has been cut down to 2:17.

The peloton is strung out in one long line as the hea𒈔d down a short descent. The break can sense the end and are r♐eally pushing hard too.

Rui Costa will be hoping to get through today without too many problems. The world champion lost time yesterday and slipped to 14th. He paid a visit to the doctor afterwards and was diagnosed with acute broncitis. You can read it all here.

Arnaud Démare has been dropped on the foot of the Col des Brosses. He's back in the cars and gets a little bit of help in the form of a sticky bottle, but it's only 💦delaying the in🌄evitable.

John Gadret suffers a puncture

56km remaining from 185km

The gap to the escapees has stabalised a liဣttle. It has been hovering around 2:15 for a little while.

55km remaining from 185km

After De la Cruz's accident, Vachon is the next rider to leave the escape group. He can't keep up with the pace on the climb. Onl💙y three men out front now.

A problem for Thibaut Pinot, who has a quick bike ch💧ange. One of his teammates has dropped back to help him. Pinot is currently sixth in the general classification.

Race radio reports that it was a puncture for Pinot. FDJ decided to go for the whole bike change option rather🎶 than faffing with a wheel change. Another teammate has 🦩come back to help the Frenchman.

52km remaining from 185km

Ra𒀰st has become t𓂃he latest rider from the breakaway group to be dropped. It is now only Langeveld and Clarke up front. Their gap to the peloton is now 2:15

Pinot is back inside the peloton as Europcar still hammer it on tᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚhe front. Giant-Shimano also very visible up front and they are about to catch Vachon.

It's a long shot for these two escapees to make ꦦit all the way, but is they can make it over the final climb with an advantage then it is still possible.

Remember to tweet us you predictions and thoughts on the race on 🍸twitter at @Cyclingnewsfeed or @SadhbhOS. You can also use the hashtag #cyclingnews

Cannondale has been noticeably absent from the front of the pelo💖ton. Is that a sign the Peter 🐈Sagan isn't feeling it today or are they going for a stealth approach to today's finish?

Vachon, who was in the break not so long ago, is about to be spat out of the back of the peloton along with Maꦰrk Renshaw.

Thu, 17th Jul 2014 15:32:13

44km remaining from 185km

The pain is etched on Clarke's face as th🍨e near the descent towards the final climb. They're still holding the gap, but it's getting harder as the kilometres tick along.

Rast has been caught by the peloton it is now only the two up front. Bernard Eisel now moves up to th🎃e front to take control of things.

Oleg Tinkov looks pretty chippeꩵr in the back of the team car, despite his team's abitions taking a nose dive. We can expect to see the Tinkoff-Saxo riders being very active in the Alps and Pyrenees.

The peloton has hit the penultimate descent of the day, before the final climb of t൲he Cote de Grammond. Langeveld is leading Clarke down in the escape group.

31km remaining from 185km

It is still Europcar on the fr𝔉ont of the peloton, they're obviously under orders from the team car. The gap is coming down, but probably not at quickly as they wo✃uld like. It is now 1:57.

After getting their riders to close the gap, Gautier and Quemeneur have attacked from the bunch. They are 1:21 behind the two leader𒆙s.

Away from the Tour de France, it has been confirmed that Sky rider Jonathan Tiernan Locke has been banned for two years for anomalous blood values. You can read it here.

26km remaining from 185km

The gap between the Europcar pair and the two lea✱ders has come down to 38 seconds as the make their way up 🉐the final climb. Giant-Shimano has now taken up the pace setting and Kittel goes straight out the back door.

Simon Clarke at🍬tack🅘s as Langeveld is taking a drink.

23km remaining from 185km

It still a long way to go for Clarke but that long descent could hep him out. After﷽ a brilliant Tour last year, things haven't gone to plan for GreenEdge. Langeve❀ld has been caught and passed by the Europcar pairing, who look very strong at the moment.

22km remaining from 185km

Clarke looks like he's about to take a bidon from the neutral service, but deciꦆdeds not to take it after hitching a short ride. That could come back to bike him later when the judges take a look at it.

NetApp-Endura has confirmed a broken collarbone for David de la Cruz,🌄 but he will not need an operation. The Spaniard crashed on the second descent of the day.

Langeveld has been caught by the peloto𝔍n and one of his teammates gives ♐him a pat on the back as he slips right to the back.

20km remaining from 185km

Quemeneur🎶 and Gautier have Clarke in their sights and it's over for the solo escapee as he races to stay ont heir wheels. Only 50 seconds between them and the peloton.

It's all downhill from here, as th🦩e leaders crest the final climb with a slim 52 second advantage. It's going to be touch and go for them. Giant-Shimano on the front.

15 seconds remain for Gautier and Cla𒐪rke. Gautier asks the Australian to help but he refuses and the Frenchman attacks. 

5km remaining from 185km

Lotto are🐬 now on the front of the peloton as they catch the escapees. Greipel must be in there somewhere. 

4km remaining from 185km

Katusha, BMC and Omega are all on the front and the pace has rea🌳lly gone up

Some traffic furniture causing problems, but e🎃veryone makes it through s꧙afely. 

3km remaining from 185km

Cannonda⛎le make it through to the fron♋t of the peloton

Greipel goes down in a crash with Chavanel and Vanmarcke. His sprint hopes are ovꦗer for the day. 

QuickStep꧃ join Cannondale on the front and the road goes up a little bit. 

Greipel and Chavanel remonstrating with each other and Greipel gives the IAMไ rider a bit of a shove. We will need to see a replay on that one.

1km remaining from 185km

This is a ꦛtough finish, after a short ascent,🉐 they descend to the flamme rouge

Paolini leads the peloton under the flamme rouge and immedi🍒ate𝓰ly pulls off

Tony Martin leading out Trentin

Demare is in the group with Kristoff

Kristoff wins

What a sprint f🃏rom Kristoff. He took it from a long way out and nobody could catch him. Sagan finishes second and it looks like Demare finished third.&nܫbsp;

That's Sagan's fourth second place at this year's Tour and that could have been his final chanceဣ to take the win.🅘 

Orica GreenEdge's Michael Albasini finished i💧n fourth place. 

You have to commend Demare for making it back into the grouꩲp, after getting dropped, but he just didn't have the legs at the fin꧃ish there. 

We're waiting for the official results⛦ from toda🎶y's stage, but here is the top 6 for you.

1 Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Team Katusha
2 Peter Sagan (Svk) Cannondale
3 Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJ.fr
4 Michael Albasini (Swi) Orica Greenedge
5 Ramunas Navardauskas (Ltu) Garmin - Sharp
6 Matteo Trentin (Ita) Omega Pharma-Quick Step

Here is how i🌃t finished today and a quick look at the general classification.

1 Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Team Katusha
2 Peter Sagan (Svk) Cannondale
3 Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJ.fr
4 Michael Albasini (Swi) Orica Greenedge
5 Ramunas Navardauskas (Ltu) Garmin - Sharp
6 Matteo Trentin (Ita) Omega Pharma-Quick Step
7 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Tinkoff-Saxo
8 Bryan Coquard (Fra) Team Europcar
9 Daniel Oss (Ita) BMC Racing Team
10 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
 

General classification after stage 12

1 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana Pro Team 51:31:34
2 Richie Porte (Aus) Team Sky 0:02:23
3 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team 0:02:47
4 Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:03:01
5 Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ.fr 0:03:47
6 Tejay Van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team 0:03:56
7 Jean-Christophe Péraud (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:03:57
8 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling 0:04:08
9 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Lotto-Belisol 0:04:18
10 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana Pro Team 0:04:31

That is it from us today. You can get all the pictures and full report from today's stage here and tune in tomorrow for stage 13 to Chamrousse.