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The Finale: The Queen's stage has got its final furious awaited. At the end of 175.5 kilometers with three mountains of the highest category, the best riders of the legendary 21 towers of Alpe d'Huez still had enough power for mutual attacks. Vincenzo Nibali and Nairo Quintana have tried it first – without success. Romain Bardet was able to settle in the meantime, but was caught up again. Chris Froome also set the tone, but he did not escape either. Nibali collided with a police motorbike four kilometers from the finish and lost time. In the end, five riders are in the final straight: Froome, teammate Geraint Thomas in yellow jersey, Bardet, Mikel Landa and Tom Dumoulin. As in the eleventh round, Thomas had the strongest punch there
The result: Thomas also won the twelfth round of the 105th Tour de France, slightly extending his lead in the overall standings – and creating even a first, his real captain Froome is fourth behind Dumoulin and Bardet. Click here for the race report.
The attack of the day: The field started at high speed, it took a long time before a group of escapees could form. The then was busy with Alejandro Valverde and Steven Kruijswijk ahead. Kruijswijk finished sixth overall, 2:40 minutes behind Thomas. During the second climb of the day, the Dutchman attacked by the breakout group, led a six-minute lead on the peloton and thus meanwhile in the virtual yellow jersey. Then Sky increased the pace, and Kruijswijk was surpbaded after a 70 – kilometer solo trip just before the finish. After all, he was still allowed to cross the famous Dutch curve
Loser of the stage: There are some candidates: Quintana, for example, who had to miss the last climb and probably lost his last chance to win the tournament. Or unlucky Nibali, who was taken to the hospital after the scene and had to end the tour because of a vertebral fracture. In the end, the choice falls on Froome. The Briton had never won at Alpe d'Huez and was determined to change that. He must also start slowly to reduce the gap to his "badistant" Thomas. But his attack four kilometers from the finish remained ineffective. Instead, Thomas triumphed again. "I will try to keep the yellow jersey for a few more days, but I keep driving for Froome," Thomas said on arrival. It's getting harder and harder to believe.
Winner of the stage: Tom Dumoulin. Even on the steepest mountain pbades, the Dutch can now compete with the best drivers. It's impressive, because his strongest discipline is the time trial. Here he is at least as strong as Froome and Thomas. And during the time trial, the Tour de France will decide the penultimate stage this year. If anyone can prevent a Sky victory from Thomas or Froome, that is Dumoulin. The rest seems too far or too weak in the time trial. The winner of the Giro 2017 is currently third in the standings
The Secret Star: The 21 towers of Alpe d'Huez are the most famous pbadage of the Tour de France However, the most beautiful is the climb to the Lacets of Montvernier. 18 tight hairpin bends lead, no spectators are allowed on the roadside. That's how the beauty of this climb is even better. In 2015, the mountain was for the first time on the program of the tour. Now, the return has followed. Although not much sport happened on the section, it was not bad in this panorama. That the Lacets of Montvernier are still frequented.
The Extinction of the Sprinter: On Wednesday, Marcel Kittel and Mark Cavendish did not finish in the allotted time and had to leave the tour. This time, Fernando Gaviria, Dylan Groenewegen (both already two winners) and André Greipel had big problems and gave up the race during the stage. Thus, the sprint field before the next Friday flat stage (Liveticker SPIEGEL ONLINE) has been thinned. A week ago, Michael Matthews had already given up because of illness. Is the waiting period too short for sprinters? The organizers of the round have in any case cut in their own flesh
German failures: In addition to Greipel, his riders Marcel Sieberg and Rick Zabel have also abandoned the race. Thus, out of the eleven German drivers started, there remain more than six. Tony Martin came out of Rad in the first week of play. Apart from the victory of John Degenkolb, the Tour de France is disappointing from a German point of view this year. In 2017, Marcel Kittel had secured five stage victories in Germany, in 2015 there were even six German successes. One of these brands is far this year. Simon Geschke, who was able to roll in the group of favorites up to ten kilometers from the finish line, did well
Editor's Note: Vincenzo Nibali leaves the tour because of # 39, a back injury. We have completed the information.
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