Ion Izagirre, a cyclist from the Basque region, secured a solo victory on stage 12 of the Tour de France. Meanwhile, defending champion Jonas Vingegaard managed to hold onto his narrow lead. The stage, which took riders through the picturesque Beaujolais vineyards, saw Vingegaard maintain a slim 17-second advantage over Tadej Pogacar in the overall standings, with three challenging mountain stages still to come.
Izagirre’s triumph marked the second stage win for his team, Cofidis, following Victor Lafay’s success in San Sebastian. Additionally, it was the second victory by a Basque rider in this year’s Tour, with Pello Bilbao previously winning stage 10. Izagirre expressed joy for the Basque riders’ achievements, highlighting the celebration that awaited them.
The stage featured approximately 25 kilometers of climbing over the hilly 189-kilometer route from Roanne to Belleville. The peloton faced a relentless pace, leading to over 100 riders falling off the pace in the renowned vineyards of France. An elite group formed during the race, but even that group splintered multiple times. It was on the demanding fifth climb, the Col de la Croix Rosier, with a length of 5.3 kilometers and an eight percent gradient, that the 34-year-old Izagirre made his decisive move. He extended his lead and held on all the way to the finish line in Belleville.
Thibaut Pinot, a Frenchman, also benefited from being part of the breakaway group, gaining over four minutes on the main contenders and re-entering the top 10.
Looking ahead, the upcoming stage, coinciding with France’s national holiday on July 14, features a challenging route with a summit finish at Le Grand Colombier in the Jura mountain range, a familiar obstacle in recent Tours. Tadej Pogacar expressed confidence and a desire to win on this climb, highlighting its significance and his intention to launch an attack if his legs permit.