Tour de France: Tom Boonen wins stage 12
{{date|July 20, 2007}}__noTOC__
{{Tour de France 2007}}[[Image:Tom Boonen Nancy TDF 2005.JPG|thumb|left|Tom Boonen wearing the green jersey in 2005. {{Image source|[[Commons:User:EmmanuelFAIVRE|EmmanuelFAIVRE]]}}]]
[[w:Tom Boonen|Tom Boonen]] of [[Belgium]] has won stage 12 of the [[w:2007 Tour de France|2007 Tour de France]]. Boonen edged out [[w:Erik Zabel|Erik Zabel]] and [[w:Robert Hunter (cyclist)|Robbie Hunter]], the winner of yesterday's stage, in a tight sprint.

Boonen continues to wear the [[w:Maillot vert|green jersey]], which has been his since stage 6. The green jersey is award for the points classification, which is often considered the [[w:Cycling sprinter|sprinters]] competition.

Boonen was among the favorites in this category in both 2005 and 2006, but ended up withdrawing during the Tour. Zabel has won the points classification six times, all in a row (1996 through 2001). Last year's winner was [[w:Robbie McEwen|Robbie McEwen]], but he retired after stage 8 with a knee injury.

[[w:Michael Rasmussen|Michael Rasmussen]] of [[Denmark]] retains the overall lead, finishing the stage with the [[w:peleton|peleton]]. Saturday's stage is a time-trial, which is considered a weakness for Rasmussen as he defends his 2'35" lead.

[[w:Pierrick Pierrick Fédrigo|Pierrick Pierrick Fédrigo]] and [[w:Amets Txurruka|Amets Txurruka]] had a two-man break-away. They led by as much as 11 minutes with 85 km to go. But as so often happens, the peleton caught up with them just before the finish, and neither of them could hang on for a top ten finish.

The 178.5 [[w:Kilometre|km]] stage 12, from [[w:Montpellier|Montpellier]] to [[w:Castres|Castres]], is the second of two transition stages between the Alps and the Pyrenees, with just one category 2 climb.

The top ten standings in the overall, remain unchanged as they all finished with the peleton.

==[[w:Yellow jersey|General classification]] after stage 12==

{| class="prettytable"
!Rank!!Rider!!Team!!Time
|- bgcolor=yellow
|'''1'''
|'''[[w:Michael Rasmussen|Michael Rasmussen]]'''
|'''[[w:Rabobank (cycling)|Rabobank]]'''
|align=right|    '''57h 37' 10"'''
|- 
|2
|[[w:Alejandro Valverde|Alejandro Valverde]]
|[[w:Caisse d'Epargne|Caisse d'Epargne]]
|align=right| +2' 35"
|-
|3 
|[[w:Iban Mayo|Iban Mayo]]
|[[w:Saunier Duval-Prodir|Saunier Duval-Prodir]]
|align=right| +2' 39"
|- 
|4 
|[[w:Cadel Evans|Cadel Evans]]
|[[w:Predictor-Lotto|Predictor-Lotto]]
|align=right| +2' 41"
|-bgcolor=lightblue
|5
|[[w:Alberto Contador|Alberto Contador]]
|[[w:Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team|Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team]]
|align=right| +3' 08"
|-
|6 
|[[w:Carlos Sastre|Carlos Sastre]]
|[[w:Team CSC|Team CSC]]
|align=right| +3' 39"
|- 
|7 
|[[w:Andreas Klöden|Andreas Klöden]]
|[[w:Astana Team|Astana Team]]
|align=right| +3' 50"
|- 
|8
|[[w:Levi Leipheimer|Levi Leipheimer]]
|[[w:Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team|Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team]]
|align=right| +3' 53"
|-
|9 
|[[w:Kim Kirchen|Kim Kirchen]]
|[[w:T-Mobile Team|T-Mobile Team]]
|align=right| +5' 06"
|-
|10
|[[w:Mikel Astarloza|Mikel Astarloza]]
|[[w:Euskaltel-Euskadi|Euskaltel-Euskadi]]
|align=right| +5' 20"
|-
|}

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/cycling/6908705.stm
|title=Boonen bags win ahead of rivals
|author=
|pub=BBC Sport
|date=July 20, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/cycling/6907983.stm
|title=Stage eleven - as it happened
|author=Andy Nicolson
|pub=BBC Sport
|date=July 20, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.letour.fr/2007/TDF/LIVE/us/1200/index.html
|title=stage 12 - Montpellier  Castres 178.5 km
|author=
|pub=Tour de France
|date=July 20, 2007}}

{{publish}}
{{archived}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tom Boonen wins stage 12}}
[[Category:Sports]]
[[Category:Cycling]]
[[Category:2007 Tour de France]]
[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:France]]

[[fr:Tour de France cycliste 2007 : 12e étape]]
[[pl:Tom Boonen wygrał 12. etap Tour de France 2007]]
__noTOC__
Tom Boonen wearing the green jersey in 2005. 
Tom Boonen of Belgium has won stage 12 of the 2007 Tour de France. Boonen edged out Erik Zabel and Robbie Hunter, the winner of yesterday's stage, in a tight sprint.

Boonen continues to wear the green jersey, which has been his since stage 6. The green jersey is award for the points classification, which is often considered the sprinters competition.

Boonen was among the favorites in this category in both 2005 and 2006, but ended up withdrawing during the Tour. Zabel has won the points classification six times, all in a row (1996 through 2001). Last year's winner was Robbie McEwen, but he retired after stage 8 with a knee injury.

Michael Rasmussen of Denmark retains the overall lead, finishing the stage with the peleton. Saturday's stage is a time-trial, which is considered a weakness for Rasmussen as he defends his 2'35" lead.

Pierrick Pierrick Fédrigo and Amets Txurruka had a two-man break-away. They led by as much as 11 minutes with 85 km to go. But as so often happens, the peleton caught up with them just before the finish, and neither of them could hang on for a top ten finish.

The 178.5 km stage 12, from Montpellier to Castres, is the second of two transition stages between the Alps and the Pyrenees, with just one category 2 climb.

The top ten standings in the overall, remain unchanged as they all finished with the peleton.

fr:Tour de France cycliste 2007 : 12e étape
Sports Cycling 2007 Tour de France Europe France