Bluegrass Endurance: 2025 Tour de France Stage 12 Thoughts

Stage 12 - Auch to Hautacam - 180.6K (3850m Vert) - Mountain

This race never surprises as a break of 52 riders went up the road with only one person a GC threat, Lenny Martinez - don't think he is long term - who was up there for Mtn points. Was funny to hear them try and build up Lenny saying if he had two minutes on the final climb he could win but I think that was to build excitement as no way Lenny can hold 2:00 on an HC climb if the big guns go for it which seems they might. Sure anything can happen if Tadej, Jonas and Remco wait till very late to attack but that is about his only chance. But hey, it is the announcers job to try and create drama.

That said while the break got up to 2:00 minutes it was not given much of a leash so clear the main pack wanted to be there for the final. It seemed clear MVDP is going to do what he can to get points for the Green points jersey as he was also in the group. He got second in the sprint for 17 points as Biniam's teammate took first at the intermediate sprint to deny MVDP the full 20 points. The points did move MVDP into second for the green jersey. In watch live was looking to see MVDP then go back to the peloton as his day was done as no more points he was going to get.

Once the break hit the slopes of the Cat 1 Col des Borders the break started to fall apart as expected as while not the hardest climb of the day it was plenty hard. Even Lenny was falling off the back - based on what had seen so fat in the TdF was not that surprising but long way to go. With 8.5k to the top of the climb the 52 rider break was down to 24 riders and still lots of climbing to go, Meanwhile back in the peloton 1:49 back Remco was being dropped with a long way to the top of the Cat 1 climb. Was going to be interesting to see if this was just a bad spell or he just does not have it. To be honest I have never thought Remco was in the same category as Jonas and Tadej when comes to climbing but I guess they have to keep it interesting. He for sure is a good, even great, rider but when the road climbs more seriously he is not in the same class. Then again I am writing this while watching and maybe he will show me wrong, and he did use his descending skills and that Joans and Tadej did not press the downhill. He is good at coming back and he showed that here. I will say Remco does seem to know his limits and quite often shoots to pacing instead of going with the lead - sometimes works other times it does not. The final climb will tell as once on the climb there is no downhill to catch up.

As they reached the top of the Cat 1 the front was full of Visma guys so they would appear to have the advantage - I say appear as Tadej is smart enough that he only has to watch Jonas and Mateo and since Remco got back on he is an unknown when road goes up for the final climb. The thing now was to get to the next Cat 2 climb safely and then over and own to start the real race up the HC climb of the Hautacam. Healy was off the group by just over a minute but truth is this was not surprising as Healy is a great rider but the effort put out to get the yellow as huge while Tadej and Jonas rode hard but not the same effort. Next up is the Cat 2 climb of the Col des Borders and then a descent to the climb of the day. At the front was Woods, Skjelmose and Armirail with 40K to go. In watching was they were no longer showing Remco as behind the Yellow jersey of Healy who was 2+ minutes behind Tadej and Jonas - oh yea Roglic was in the group as well and once over the top of the Cat 2 and going down to the final climb Remco was back on so will be interesting - maybe - as we waait for the last 13.5K climb that averages 7.8% grade.

Well if you were waiting for a move you did not have to wait long as Tadej went early with around 11K to go and only Jonas could even stay close - but was a long way to go and Jonas did not give up but saw Jonas out of the saddle early so was going to be interesting to see how Tadj played this with so long to go. It was not over as often Tadej put sin a dig then settles and Jonas just sets into a pace he can hold. As they climbed it was clear Jonas was working to maintain which was a smart move as if Tadej faltered, did not seem likely, or just slowed to rest up for the uphill TT tomorrow Jonas could minimize the damage as still lots of miles to go in this TdF as anyone - even Tadej, can have a bad, well not so good, day. But the lead kept slowly open which was a good sign Tadej was just working at his comfort level as well and with 6K to go the gap was about 1:00.

Interesting to look back and see Remco do his usual measured ride and slowly licking off riders and was only about 1:20 behind Jonas with over 5K to go. With Roglic just ahead of Remco and Jonas starting to look back would be interesting as to how that battle would go for the rest. The thing was while Jonas was slowly losing the to Tadej the ones behind were not gaming on Jonas - as it stands they are by far the two best. Tomorrow TT will be even more interesting as only 1lK but is 8K uphill so nowhere to hide for anyone.

With not much to go Lipowitz was moving up as Roglic slipped back and the gap from Lipowitz to Jonas was at about 30 seconds and the lead Tadej had on Jonas with 1K to go was edging towards 2:00. Could see in Tad's face he was pushing it at the end as he pushed his lead. You cold see he wanted every second as he did not celebrate and pushed alway through the line and Jonas was suffering as well - he they were riding super fast - and Tadej had a 2:10 lead at the end on Jonas and Jonas was followed closely by Lipowitz. Remco who was the first of the big guns to get dropped rode a great measured ride to finish 3:34 behind but only 2+ behind Jonas.

What a ride and while not really surprised at Tadej I thought Jonas would be closer and clear they both put in a hard effort and will make tomorrow ITT even more interesting. While Tadej has a comfortable lead and looks in control all it takes is one bad day to wipe out the lead. Hats off to Remco who showed he may not be the climber Tadej and Jonas are but he knows what he can do and rides to do the best he can and thus is still in this - well if Tadej has a bad day.

ITT tomorrow with a good climb for the last 8K followed by another mountain stage the day after so there is lots of time for bad days - we shall see.

Race Highlights: