Tour de France 2005/12. stage

Result of the 12th stage
Stage winner	David Moncoutié 4:20:06 h
Second	Sandy Casar + 0:57 min
Third	Ángel Vicioso + 0:57 min
Fourth	Patrice Halgand + 0:57 min
fifth	José Luis Arrieta + 0:57 min
Intermediate results after the 12th stage
Yellow jersey	Lance Armstrong 46:30:36 h
Second	Michael Rasmussen + 0:38 min
Third	Christophe Moreau + 2:34 min
Green jersey	Thor Hushovd 142 P.
Second	Stuart O'Grady 120 P.
Third	Robbie McEwen 107 P.
Dotted jersey	Michael Rasmussen 160 P.
Second	Christophe Moreau 89 P.
Third	Santiago Botero 88 P.
White jersey	Alejandro Valverde 46:33:52 h
Second	Yaroslav Popovych + 3:09 min
Third	Andrei Kaschetschkin + 3:16 min

The 12th stage of the Tour de France 2005 was 187 kilometers long and led from Briançon to Digne-les-Bains . The route did not have any high passes, but was characterized by numerous smaller gradients, including two mountain ratings in the 2nd category.

After several unsuccessful attempts to break away, a leading group of eleven drivers formed after around 70 kilometers, including Axel Merckx , Sandy Casar and David Moncoutié . A little later, Stuart O'Grady and Thor Hushovd caught up with them. The lead on the field was initially between four and five minutes.

Moncoutié launched an attack on the climb to the Col du Corobin and was able to break away decisively. The leading group had to let him go and split into two parts. The Frenchman Moncoutié benefited from the disagreement in the first group of pursuers and finally won with a margin of 57 seconds, especially on the French national holiday . The second group of pursuers with Hushovd and O'Grady lost 3:15 minutes, while the peloton arrived 10:33 minutes behind.

The two-time stage winner Tom Boonen was no longer running . The previous leader in the points ranking fell the day before and sustained a knee injury. The new wearer of the green jersey was Thor Hushovd from the following day.

Intermediate sprints

1st intermediate sprint in La Roche-de-Rame (17.5 km)

First	Bradley McGee , 6 P. and 6 P.
Second	Robbie McEwen , 4 p. And 4 s
Third	Thor Hushovd , 2 p. And 2 s

2nd intermediate sprint in Embrun (44.5 km)

First	Sylvain Chavanel , 6 p. And 6 s
Second	Alberto Contador , 4 p. And 4 s
Third	Laurent Lefèvre , 2 p. And 2 p

Mountain ratings

Côte des Demoiselles Coiffées Category 3 (61 km)

First	Michael Boogerd , 4 P.
Second	Pierrick Fédrigo , 3 p.
Third	Stefano Garzelli , 2 p.
Fourth	Egoi Martínez , 1 P.

Col Saint-Jean Category 2 (88 km)

First	Juan Manuel Gárate , 10 p.
Second	Sandy Casar , 9 p.
Third	Stuart O'Grady , 8 p.
Fourth	Patrice Halgand , 7 p.
fifth	Axel Merckx , 6 p.
Sixth	José Luis Arrieta , 5 p.

Col du Labouret Category 4 (115.5 km)

First	Juan Manuel Gárate , 3 p.
Second	Axel Merckx , 2 P.
Third	José Luis Arrieta , 1 P.

Col du Corobin Category 2 (156.5 km)

First	David Moncoutié , 10 p.
Second	Juan Manuel Gárate , 9 p.
Third	Axel Merckx , 8 p.
Fourth	José Luis Arrieta , 7 p.
fifth	Sandy Casar , 6 p.
Sixth	Patrice Halgand , 5 p.

Col de l'Orme category 4 (156.5 km)

First	David Moncoutié , 3 p.
Second	Juan Manuel Gárate , 2 P.
Third	Axel Merckx , 1 P.