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DIGNE-LES-BAINS, France — Lance Armstrong retained the overall lead in the Tour de France, but lost a key teammate in a crash during Thursday’s 12th stage won by Frenchman David Moncoutie on Bastille Day.
Moncoutie became the 15th Frenchman since World War II to win on France’s national holiday. It was his second stage win in five Tours.
“It’s fabulous,” Moncoutie said. “I’m so happy to win. It’s July 14th.”
Moncoutie took the lead on the Col du Corobin, the fourth of five ascents on the 116.2-mile trek from Briancon to Digne-les-Bains, and cycled alone to the finish past cheering crowds. The Cofidis team rider completed the stage in 4 hours, 20 minutes, 6 seconds.
Armstrong cruised in with his main rivals in a group more than 10 minutes back, but lost teammate Manuel Beltran, who crashed and dropped out of the race.
The Spanish rider, known as “Triki” by his teammates, fell on the Cote des Demoiselles Coiffees climb, the stage’s first ascent.
He got back on his bike but later quit on the advice of a Tour doctor.
He was being kept overnight for observation at a hospital, although initial examinations found no serious injury.
Beltran, 34, is a specialist mountain climber and will be missed by Armstrong when the race heads into the Pyrenees on Saturday. He has been part of the American’s Tour-winning team since 2003.
“It could be very critical with the days that we have coming up,” Armstrong said. “Three tough days in the Pyrenees. We don’t want to lose any climbers and Triki is one of our pure climbers.”
But Armstrong said he felt he could rely on his remaining seven Discovery Channel teammates to help fill Beltran’s place in the mountains that straddle France and Spain.
Moncoutie became the 15th Frenchman since World War II to win on France’s national holiday. It was his second stage win in five Tours.
“It’s fabulous,” Moncoutie said. “I’m so happy to win. It’s July 14th.”
Moncoutie took the lead on the Col du Corobin, the fourth of five ascents on the 116.2-mile trek from Briancon to Digne-les-Bains, and cycled alone to the finish past cheering crowds. The Cofidis team rider completed the stage in 4 hours, 20 minutes, 6 seconds.
Armstrong cruised in with his main rivals in a group more than 10 minutes back, but lost teammate Manuel Beltran, who crashed and dropped out of the race.
The Spanish rider, known as “Triki” by his teammates, fell on the Cote des Demoiselles Coiffees climb, the stage’s first ascent.
He got back on his bike but later quit on the advice of a Tour doctor.
He was being kept overnight for observation at a hospital, although initial examinations found no serious injury.
Beltran, 34, is a specialist mountain climber and will be missed by Armstrong when the race heads into the Pyrenees on Saturday. He has been part of the American’s Tour-winning team since 2003.
“It could be very critical with the days that we have coming up,” Armstrong said. “Three tough days in the Pyrenees. We don’t want to lose any climbers and Triki is one of our pure climbers.”
But Armstrong said he felt he could rely on his remaining seven Discovery Channel teammates to help fill Beltran’s place in the mountains that straddle France and Spain.
“I feel very confident that with those seven guys we can manage,” Armstrong said.
His lead over second-place Mickael Rasmussen of Denmark stayed at 38 seconds, with French rider Christophe Moreau still third overall, 2:34 behind the six-time champion.
Italian rider Ivan Basso is 2:40 back, fourth overall, with Jan Ullrich 4:02 behind in ninth.
They all finished together in a large group 10:33 behind Moncoutie. Armstrong was 41st.
Moncoutie is way down in the overall standings, so Armstrong did not lay chase when the French rider and a group of other racers low down in the standings rode off ahead.
The race was run under hot sun — a weather change that Armstrong welcomed as “perfect.”
“The first week was bad — rain, cold,” he said.
Past midway in the three-week Tour, Armstrong is aiming to keep his race leader’s yellow jersey all the way to the finish in Paris on July 24 and retire with a seventh consecutive victory.
His lead over second-place Mickael Rasmussen of Denmark stayed at 38 seconds, with French rider Christophe Moreau still third overall, 2:34 behind the six-time champion.
Italian rider Ivan Basso is 2:40 back, fourth overall, with Jan Ullrich 4:02 behind in ninth.
They all finished together in a large group 10:33 behind Moncoutie. Armstrong was 41st.
Moncoutie is way down in the overall standings, so Armstrong did not lay chase when the French rider and a group of other racers low down in the standings rode off ahead.
The race was run under hot sun — a weather change that Armstrong welcomed as “perfect.”
“The first week was bad — rain, cold,” he said.
Past midway in the three-week Tour, Armstrong is aiming to keep his race leader’s yellow jersey all the way to the finish in Paris on July 24 and retire with a seventh consecutive victory.
Highlights from the 12th stage of the Tour de France
<b>Stage:</b> Thursday’s 12th stage went through the Alps for the last time on a 116.2-mile run from Briancon to Digne-les-Bains, taking riders over five moderate ascents on Bastille Day, France’s national holiday.<b>Winner:</b> David Moncoutie, France, Cofidis, in 4 hours, 20 minutes, 6 seconds.
<b>How Others Fared:</b> Sandy Casar, France, Francaise des Jeux, was second, 57 seconds behind; Angel Vicioso, Spain, Liberty Seguros, was third in the same time. Lance Armstrong was 41st and Jan Ullrich was 50th, both 10:33 behind Moncoutie.
<b>Yellow Jersey:</b> Six-time champion Armstrong keeps the yellow jersey — he leads Mickael Rasmussen of Denmark by 38 seconds and Christophe Moreau of France by 2:34.
<b>Quote of the Day:</b> “It didn’t even occur to me.” — Armstrong, when asked how it felt to ride in the Alps for the last time.
<b>Next Stage:</b> Friday’s 13th stage is a flat 107.8-mile trek from Miramas to Montpellier.
12th Stage results
116.2 miles from Briancon to Digne-les-Bains1. David Moncoutie, France, Cofidis, 4 hours, 20 minutes, 6 seconds.
2. Sandy Casar, France, Francaise des Jeux, 57 seconds behind.
3. Angel Vicioso, Spain, Liberty Seguros, same time.
4. Patrice Halgand, France, Credit Agricole, same time.
5. Jose Luis Arrieta, Spain, Illes Balears, same time.
6. France Pellizotti, Italy, Liquigas-Bianchi, same time.
7. Axel Merckx, Belgium, Davitamon-Lotto, same time.
8. Juan Manuel Garate, Spain, Saunier Duval, same time.
9. Thor Hushovd, Norway, Credit Agricole, 3:15.
10. Stuart O’Grady, Australia, Cofidis, same time.
11. Massimo Giunti, Italy, Fassa Bortolo, same time.
12. Stephan Schreck, Germany, T-Mobile, 3:18.
13. Giovanni Lombardi, Italy, CSC, 3:21.
14. Robbie McEwen, Australia, Davitamon-Lotto, 10:33.
15. Peter Wrolich, Austria, Gerolsteiner, same time.
16. Janeck Tombak, Estonia, Cofidis, same time.
17. Sebastien Hinault, France, Credit Agricole, same time.
18. Fred Rodriguez, United States, Davitamon-Lotto, same time.
19. Yuriy Krivtsov, Ukraine, AG2R Prevoyance, same time.
20. Philippe Gilbert, Belgium, Francaise des Jeux, same time.
<b>Also</b>
32. Jose Azevedo, Portugal, Discovery Channel, same time.
33. Pavel Padrnos, Czech Republic, Discovery Channel, same time.
38. Jose Luis Rubiera, Spain, Discovery Channel, same time.
41. Lance Armstrong, United States, Discovery Channel, same time.
42. Yaroslav Popovych, Ukraine, Discovery Channel, same time.
45. George Hincapie, United States, Discovery Channel, same time.
48. Paolo Savoldelli, Italy, Discovery Channel, same time.
53. Bobby Julich, United States, CSC, same time.
59. Guido Trenti, United States, Quick Step, same time.
62. Levi Leipheimer, United States, Gerolsteiner, same time.
65. Benjamin Noval Gonzalez, Spain, Discovery Channel, same time.
84. Floyd Landis, United States, Phonak, same time.
144. Christopher Horner, United States, Saunier Duval, same time.
Manuel Beltran, Spain, Discovery Channel, abandoned.
<b>Overall Standings</b>
(After 12 stages)
1. Lance Armstrong, United States, Discovery Channel, 46 hours, 30 minutes, 36 seconds.
2. Mickael Rasmussen, Denmark, Rabobank, 38 seconds behind.
3. Christophe Moreau, France, Credit Agricole, 2:34.
4. Ivan Basso, Italy, CSC, 2:40.
5. Alejandro Valverde, Spain, Illes Balears, 3:16.
6. Santiago Botero, Colombia, Phonak, 3:48.
7. Levi Leipheimer, United States, Gerolsteiner, 3:58.
8. Francisco Mancebo, Spain, Illes Balears, 4:00.
9. Jan Ullrich, Germany, T-Mobile, 4:02.
10. Andreas Kloden, Germany, T-Mobile, 4:16.
11. Floyd Landis, United States, Phonak, same time.
12. Alexandre Vinokourov, Kazakhstan, T-Mobile, 4:47.
13. Jorg Jaksche, Germany, Liberty Seguros, 5:33.
14. Cadel Evans, Australia, Davitamon-Lotto, 5:55.
15. Yaroslav Popovych, Ukraine, Discovery Channel, 6:25.
<b>Also</b>
17. Bobby Julich, United States, CSC, 6:37.
24. George Hincapie, United States, Discovery Channel, 12:15.
26. Jose Azevedo, Portugal, Discovery Channel, 13:01.
29. Christopher Horner, United States, Saunier Duval, 15:22.
30. Paolo Savoldelli, Italy, Discovery Channel, 16:06.
45. Jose Luis Rubiera, Spain, Discovery Channel, 41:14.
87. Pavel Padrnos, Czech Republic, Discovery Channel, 1:08:57.
97. Benjamin Noval Gonzalez, Spain, Discovery Channel, 1:17:50.
118. Fred Rodriguez, United States, Davitamon-Lotto, 1:41:16.
146. Guido Trenti, United States, Quick Step, 1:56:39.
Tour de France Stages-Winners
July 2 — Stage 1, Fromentiere to Noirmoutier-en-L’Ile, individual time trial, 19 km (11.8 miles) (stage: David Zabriskie, United States; overall: Zabriskie)July 3 — Stage 2, Challans to Les Essarts, 181.5 (112.8) (Tom Boonen, Belgium; Zabriskie)
July 4 — Stage 3, La Chataigneraie to Tours, 212.5 (132) (Boonen; Zabriskie)
July 5 — Stage 4, Tours to Blois, team time trial, 67.5 (41.9) (Discovery Channel; Lance Armstrong, United States)
July 6 — Stage 5, Chambord to Montargis, 183 (113.7) (Robbie McEwen, Australia; Armstrong)
July 7 — Stage 6, Troyes to Nancy, 199 (123.7) (Lorenzo Bernucci, Italy; Armstrong)
July 8 — Stage 7, Luneville to Karlsruhe, Germany, 228.5 (142) (McEwen; Armstrong)
July 9 — Stage 8, Pforzheim, Germany, to Gerardmer, France, 231.5 (143.8) (Pieter Weening, Netherlands; Armstrong)
July 10 — Stage 9, Gerardmer to Mulhouse, 171 (106.3) (Mickael Rasmussen, Denmark; Jens Voigt, Germany)
July 11 — Rest day in Grenoble
July 12 — Stage 10, Froges to Courchevel, 178.5 (110.9) (Alejandro Valverde, Spain; Armstrong)
July 13 — Stage 11, Courchevel to Briancon, 173 (107.5) (Alexandre Vinokourov, Kazakhstan; Armstrong)
July 14 — Stage 12, Briancon to Digne-les-Bains, 187 (116.2) (David Moncoutie , France; Armstrong).
July 15 — Stage 13, Miramas to Montpellier, 173.5 (107.8)
July 16 — Stage 14, Agde to Ax-3 Domaines, 220.5 (137)
July 17 — Stage 15, Lezat-sur-Leze to Saint-Lary Soulan, 205.5 (127.7)
July 18 — Rest day in Pau
July 19 — Stage 16, Mourenx to Pau, 180.5 (112.2)
July 20 — Stage 17, Pau to Revel, 239.5 (148.8)
July 21 — Stage 18, Albi to Mende, 189 (105)
July 22 — Stage 19, Issoire to Le Puy-en-Velay, 153.5 (95.4)
July 23 — Stage 20, Saint-Etienne to Saint-Etienne, individual time trial, 55.5 (34.5)
July 24 — Stage 21, Corbeil-Essonnes to Paris, Champs-Elysees, 144.5 (89.8)
