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Tour de France 2012: Andre Greipel pips Peter Sagan with Bradley Wiggins set to surpass Chris Boardman

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Greipel pips Sagan with Wiggins set to surpass Boardman's hold on yellow jersey

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UPDATED:

15:52 GMT, 14 July 2012

Andre Greipel claimed a third victory of the Tour de France with a stage 13 success to Le Cap d'Agde.

Yellow jersey Bradley Wiggins led Team Sky colleague Edvald Boasson Hagen into the finishing straight of the 217-kilometre route from Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux, but Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) burst from behind the Norwegian's wheel to triumph.

In retaining the overall race lead he won last Saturday, Wigginsis set to become the Briton with the most time in the maillot jaune, beating Chris Boardman's record of six days.

It was Greipel's third stage success after wins on stages four and five, equalling Peter Sagan's haul of triumphs. Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale) was second, with Boasson Hagen third.

Photo finish: Andre Greipel (right) pips Peter Sagan to the stage win in Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux, as Bradley Wiggins maintained his overall lead in the race (below)

Photo finish: Andre Greipel (right) pips Peter Sagan to the stage win in Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux, as Bradley Wiggins maintained his overall lead in the race (below)

In charge: Wiggins

In charge: Wiggins

Tour de France – results and standings

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The win, two weeks prior to the London 2012 Olympic road race, showed Greipel will be a major threat to world champion Mark Cavendish's bid for gold on the opening day of the Games on July 28.

With Team Sky's priority Wiggins' bid to win the Tour and with Chris Froome a place behind in second overall, Cavendish has had limited support in his sixth Tour and was cast adrift on the 1.6km Mont Saint-Clair, a brutal short, sharp category three ascent rising out of the coastal town of Sete.

Wiggins retained a lead of two minutes five seconds from Froome, with Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale) 2mins 23secs behind in third and Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) fourth, 3:19 adrift.

The Tour enters the Pyrenees on the 191km 14th stage from Limoux to Foix, which features two category one climbs, but is likely to favour a breakaway.

Leading the charge: Greipel (left) breaks for victory as Wiggins (right) kept hold of the yellow jersey and will break Chris Boardman's six-day record as holder

Leading the charge: Greipel (left and below) breaks for victory as Wiggins (right) kept hold of the yellow jersey and will break Chris Boardman's six-day record as holder

Photo finish: Andre Greipel (right) pips Peter Sagan to the stage win in Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux
Brits in yellow

BRADLEY WIGGINS (2012, six days)
Took the maillot jaune on stage seven and enhanced his lead with victory on stage nine.
CHRIS BOARDMAN (1994, three days; 1997, one day; 1998, two days) Won the Tour prologue on three occasions to enjoy spells in yellow.
DAVID MILLAR (2000, three days)
Like Boardman, Millar took the yellow jersey on his Tour debut after a prologue success.
SEAN YATES (1994, one day)
A short-lived spell in yellow came towards the end of his career.
TOM SIMPSON (1962, one day)
The first Briton to wear the maillot jaune.

Five Frenchman were in the eight-man Bastille Day escape.

The best-placed overall was Maxime Bouet (Ag2r La Mondiale), who began the day in 54th place, more than an hour behind Wiggins.

Michael Morkov (Saxo Bank-Tinkoff) attacked alone 60km from home. The Dane was attempting to mark the fifth anniversary of his father's death with victory and increased his lead over his escape colleagues to 1:10 with 40km to go, with the peloton 3:15 behind.

BMC Racing took to the front as the winds threatened havoc and there was a split in the peloton, but none of the overall hopefuls were affected.

Another obstacle was Mont Saint-Clair.

Leading the way: Wiggins continued his assault on the title as he hopes to become the first Briton to win the race

Leading the way: Wiggins continued his assault on the title as he hopes to become the first Briton to win the race

Morkov reached the lower ramps with
less than a minute's lead over Wiggins' yellow jersey group and was
swamped by the peloton as Evans forged forward with Wiggins, Jurgen van
den Broeck (Lotto-Belisol) and Nibali in pursuit.

Froome was behind the maillot jaune, while Cavendish was dropped early on.

I heard it through the grapevine: The peloton winds its way through the French countryside

I heard it through the grapevine: The peloton winds its way through the French countryside

Van den Broeck was first over the summit, 23km from the finish, to begin the steep and narrow descent.

The bunch reformed at the start of the run-in along the coast, with Team Sky's Michael Rogers and Froome at the front and a group of stragglers, including Cavendish, more than a minute behind.

Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) attacked off the front and Michael Albasini (Orica-GreenEdge) followed.

Breakaway: Riders make an ascent

Breakaway: Riders make an ascent

With 8km to go, the peloton were 10 seconds behind the duo and the Cavendish group more than three minutes adrift and out of contention.

Lotto-Belisol, riding for Greipel, were leading the pursuit into the final 5km, with Sagan on the German's wheel.

There was a further split in the peloton inside the final 4km, with Wiggins and his Team Sky colleagues present in the front group, as Vinokourov and Albasini were caught with 2.6km to go.

Uneasy rider: The peloton pass a bucking horse

Uneasy rider: The peloton pass a bucking horse

The gap in the peloton was closed as counter attacks began, with Luis-Leon Sanchez (Rabobank) making a late acceleration.

Wiggins led the pursuit and overtook Sanchez in the finale in his attempt to set up Boasson Hagen.
But Greipel powered to another triumph as the top of the general classification remained unchanged.

Tour de France 2012: Bradley Wiggins builds lead with stage nine win

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Wiggins digs deep to build Le Tour lead over rival Evans with stunning win on stage nine

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UPDATED:

16:07 GMT, 9 July 2012

Tour de France leader Bradley Wiggins enhanced his advantage in the yellow jersey with a stunning victory on stage nine's individual time-trial.

Wiggins (Team Sky) clocked 51 minutes 24 seconds to triumph on the 41.5-kilometre race against the clock from Arc-et-Senans to Besancon.

The triple Olympic champion, who on Saturday succeeded prologue winner Fabian Cancellara in the maillot jaune, began the day with a 10-second lead over defending champion Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) and enters Tuesday's rest day with an advantage of 1min 53secs.

Yellow jersey: Team Sky rider Bradley Wiggins crosses the finish line during the individual time trial

Yellow jersey: Team Sky rider Bradley Wiggins crosses the finish line during the individual time trial

Evans placed sixth on the day in 53:07, as Team Sky celebrated a one-two on the stage, with Chris Froome second in 51:59. Olympic time-trial champion Cancellara (RadioShack-Nissan) was third in 52:21.

Froome, who won stage seven, climbed into third place overall, 2:07 behind his team-mate and 14 seconds behind Evans.

Gritted teeth: Great Britain's Christopher Froome at the end of the ninth stage

Gritted teeth: Great Britain's Christopher Froome at the end of the ninth stage

The time-trial, coming ahead of the rest day, could be significant in the race for the maillot jaune, with this year's Tour featuring more than 100km of racing against the clock before the finish in Paris on July 22.

Wiggins is now firmly in pole position to be the first British Tour winner – and Froome could join him on the podium.

The day's events were also a useful marker for the 44km August 1 Olympic time-trial at Hampton Court, when Wiggins hopes to add to his haul of three Olympic gold medals. Wiggins and Froome are Britain's Olympic time-trial selections.

Race against the clock: Fabian Cancellara of Radioshack-Nissan on the way to Besancon

Race against the clock: Fabian Cancellara of Radioshack-Nissan on the way to Besancon

As race leader, Wiggins started last, three minutes behind nearest rival Evans, who he was seeking to beat to Besancon, the watch-making centre of France.

At the first time check, after 16.5km, Wiggins led the field in 21:05 and was beating Evans by 1:02. Froome was five seconds behind his team-mate.

Wiggins again led through the second time check, at 31.5km, in 39:02, 16 seconds faster than Froome and 1:19 ahead of Evans.

Trailing: Wiggins now leads Cadel Evans of the BMC Racing team by just under two minutes

Trailing: Wiggins now leads Cadel Evans of the BMC Racing team by just under two minutes

The 32-year-old maintained his scintillating pace in the final quarter of the race to triumph by 35 seconds from Froome, with Cancellara a further 22 seconds behind.

David Millar (Garmin-Sharp) was 36th in 55:38 and Steve Cummings (BMC Racing) 39th, nine seconds further adrift.

Mark Cavendish (Team Sky), the world road race champion, was 6:27 behind in 1:00.07.
Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale), who began the day in third overall, 16 seconds behind, finished in 53:31 to place eight on the stage and fall to fourth place, 16 seconds behind Froome.

Lion heart: British ace Wiggins celebrates his stage win on the podium in Besancon

Lion heart: British ace Wiggins celebrates his stage win on the podium in Besancon

Germany's Tony Martin (Omega Pharma-QuickStep), the world time-trial champion, clocked 53:40 to place 12th despite wearing a cast on his fractured wrist and later revealed he suffered a puncture.

Froome was nine seconds behind Wiggins after the opening prologue, but punctured on the opening road stage to Seraing, losing 1:25 on the stage.

Had the 27-year-old not suffered that misfortune he would be ahead of Evans in the standings.

Tour de France 2012: Bradley Wiggins relieved to keep yellow jersey

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Wiggins relieved to keep yellow jersey after challenge from defending champion Evans

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UPDATED:

16:25 GMT, 8 July 2012

Leader: Wiggins retains the yellow jersey

Leader: Wiggins retains the yellow jersey

Bradley Wiggins admitted he was made to work hard to retain his Tour de France yellow jersey and overall 10-second lead over Cadel Evans.

Wiggins had to be alert after Evans tried gain vital seconds in the closing moments of the 157.5-kilometre stage eight from Belfort to Porrentruy in Switzerland, but the Briton had enough strength to finish level with the defending champion.

Frenchman Thibaut Pinot triumphed, 26 seconds from Evans (BMC Racing), with Tony Gallopin (RadioShack-Nissan) third and Wiggins fourth.

'I think it was a lot harder than I expected it to be,' Wiggins told Eurosport.

'I was surprised at the size of the group over the last climb but we were there and we were present so it was good day for the team.

'The boys were incredible, they really marshalled the race fantastically and set us up to be able to go with them on the last climb.

'It was a tough day for a lot of people.'

Wiggins became the fifth Briton to don the maillot jaune on stage seven and will be hoping to extend his lead at Monday's 41.5km time-trial to Besancon.

But the three-time Olympic champion thinks he is already in a tremendous position heading into the next couple of days.

Keeping in touch: Wiggins stays with Cadel Evans (centre)

Keeping in touch: Wiggins stays with Cadel Evans (centre)

Keeping in touch: Wiggins stays with Cadel Evans (centre)

'It's a fantastic position to be in after the first week and two tough days down,' he added.

'The time-trial tomorrow and then a rest day so it's certainly some of the toughest ones ticked off, that's for sure.'

Chris Froome was delighted after helping team-mate Wiggins resist the challenge of Australian Evans.

Froome finished seventh on Sunday to move up to sixth in the overall standings.

'Cadel tried and a lot of people were trying today to put us under pressure but Bradley's in super form and we've all worked really, really hard for this so we're not just going to let this get away from us so easily,' Froome told Eurosport.

Winner: Pinot celebrates on the podium

Winner: Pinot celebrates on the podium

Froome does not expect the relentless pressure of the Tour to let up and revealed he is not particularly relishing tomorrow's time-trial.

'Time-trials are one of the hardest disciplines in cycling, you've just got to brace yourself,' he said.

'Turn yourself inside out to get the best time possible. It's something Bradley excels in so hopefully it should be a good day for us.

'I'll give it my best shot and see where I end up at the end of the day.'

The only downside for Froome is that he lost the King of the Mountains polka dot jersey to Astana's Fredrik Kessiakoff.

'The jersey wasn't another objective for me coming to the Tour de France so it was a bonus,' he added.

Tour de France 2012: Fabian Cancellara wins opening prologue

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Wiggins makes solid start to Tour de France as Cancellara lands opening prologue

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UPDATED:

16:10 GMT, 30 June 2012

Swiss on a roll: Fabian Cancellara crosses the finish line to win the prologue

Swiss on a roll: Fabian Cancellara crosses the finish line to win the prologue

Bradley Wiggins' bid to become the first British winner of the Tour de France began with a second-placed finish as Fabian Cancellara won the opening prologue in Liege.

Wiggins is seen as the main rival to defending champion Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) and clocked seven minutes 20.51 seconds on the 6.4-kilometre course.

Swiss rider Cancellara
(RadioShack-Nissan) was the penultimate rider to roll down the ramp and
finished in 7mins 13secs to take the race lead on the opening day for
the fifth time.

Australian Evans, the final rider on the course, finished in 7:30, losing just under 10 seconds to Wiggins.

It was the fourth time Cancellara has won a Tour prologue, following successes in 2004, 2007 and 2010, plus his time-trial win in Monaco in 2009.

But the Olympic time-trial champion is likely to possess the maillot jaune only on a temporary basis.

The distance and time gains are minute in the context of the 3,497km race to Paris on July 22, which continues tomorrow with the first road stage, the 198km stage one from Liege to Seraing, a suburb of the Belgian city, and concludes on a category four climb.

Great start: Fabian Cancellara takes the overall leader's yellow jersey

Great start: Fabian Cancellara takes the overall leader's yellow jersey

Great start: Fabian Cancellara takes the overall leader's yellow jersey

Wiggins (Team Sky) is looking to become the first Briton on the Tour podium in three weeks' time and demonstrated his supreme form by pushing Cancellara close and taking an advantage of more than nine seconds over Evans, who finished 13th.

The 32-year-old Londoner, who was born in Ghent, Belgium, was denied the chance to become the fifth Briton to don the yellow jersey, but will be happy with his display.

At the intermediate time check after 3.2km Wiggins, who was the 188th starter in a field of 198 riders, trailed by six seconds in 10th place.

But he overhauled provisional leader Sylvain Chavanel (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) of France in the second half of the route to claim a narrow lead.

The next 10 riders attempted to beat Wiggins' time and only Cancellara did.

Chavanel placed third, with Evans' team-mate TJ van Garderen fourth to take the best young rider's white jersey.

Chris Froome (Team Sky) finished in 7:29 to place 11th and second Brit behind Wiggins, while Commonwealth Games time-trial champion David Millar (Garmin-Sharp), who had been a doubt for his 11th Tour due to illness earlier this week, clocked 7:31 to place 16th.

Steve Cummings (BMC Racing) was a place behind in 17th. World time-trial champion Tony Martin (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) had to change bikes due to a mechanical problem and finished in 7:36 to place 45th.