Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) became the first Briton to win atop the Alpe d’Huez as he had too much for Chris Froome, Tom Dumoulin & Romain Bardet in a final sprint. Team Sky controlled the race on the final climb, setting a blistering pace that very few GC contenders could keep up with.
Steven Kruijswijk was part of an early breakaway and the majority of the Stage the Dutchman held the virtual yellow jersey, but Team Sky did not allow the jersey to leave Thomas' shoulders as they reeled him in on the final climb up Alpe d'Huez. With 5km to go, Chris Froome, Geraint Thomas, Romain Bardet & Tom Dumoulin were going to be contesting for the stage victory. Chris Froome and Romain Bardet were very active with attacks but Tom Dumoulin and Geraint Thomas did not panic and cycled at a constant pace to keep reeling them in. With 800m to go Bardet attacked before Geraint Thomas followed and breezed past him to the stage victory. Tom Dumoulin yet again pipped Chris Froome to 2nd.
Stage 12 Results;
1 ) Geraint Thomas (Team Sky | GBR) 5:18:37
2 ) Tom Dumoulin (Team Sunweb | NED) + 0:00:02
3 ) Romain Bardet (AG2R La Mondiale | FRA) + 0:00:03
4 ) Chris Froome (Team Sky | GBR)
5 ) Mikel Landa (Movistar | ESP) + 0:00:07
6 ) Primoz Roglic (LottoNL-Jumbo | SLO) + 0:00:13
7 ) Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida | ITA)
8 ) Jakob Fuglsang (Astana | DEN) + 0:00:42
9 ) Nario Quintana (Movistar | COL) + 0:00:47
10 ) Steven Kruijswijk (LottoNL-Jumbo | NED) + 0:00:53
GC Standings after Stage 12;
1 ) Geraint Thomas (Team Sky | GBR) 49:24:43
2 ) Chris Froome (Team Sky | GBR) + 0:01:39
3 ) Tom Dumoulin (Team Sunweb | NED) + 0:01:50
4 ) Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida | ITA) + 0:02:37
5 ) Primoz Roglic (LottoNL-Jumbo | SLO) + 0:02:47
6 ) Romain Bardet (AG2R La Mondiale | FRA) + 0:03:07
7 ) Mikel Landa (Movistar | ESP) + 0:03:13
8 ) Steven Kruijswijk (LottoNL-Jumbo | NED) + 0:03:43
9 ) Nario Quintana (Movistar | COL) + 0:04:13
10 ) Daniel Martin (UAE Team Emirates | IRL) + 0:05:11