BAGNERES-DE-BIGORRE, France — Briton Simon Yates won the 12th stage of the Tour de France on Thursday, a mountainous 210-km (130-mile) ride from Toulouse, as the main title contenders stayed quiet in the first Pyrenean climbs of this year's race.
With an individual time trial scheduled for Friday, none of the top guns attacked, and 40 riders broke away from the peloton.
France's Julian Alaphilippe retained the overall leader's yellow jersey with a 1:12-minute advantage over defending champion Geraint Thomas.
Tim Wellens, part of the breakaway, consolidated his lead in the mountains classification by reaching the top of the Col de Peyresourde (13km at 7%) first.
Yates, Austrian Gregor Muehlberger and Spain's Pello Bilbao were alone in front at the top of the last ascent of the day, the Hourquette d'Ancizan (10km at 7.5%), and they stayed ahead in the final descent into Bagneres-de-Bigorre.
Yates took the final bend first and, with only 100 metres left, held a decisive advantage in a three-man sprint with Bilbao finishing second and Muehlberger third.
In contrast to his twin brother and Mitchelton-Scott team mate Adam, Yates has no ambitions in the general classification this year after finishing a disappointing eighth in the Giro d'Italia.
The spotlight will switch back to the overall contenders on Friday's 13th stage, when Thomas will look to increase his lead over his main rivals in the 27.2-km time trial in Pau.
Australian rider Dennis
located at Tour stage finish
Meanhwhile, Rohan Dennis made it back to his Bahrain Merida team bus, having gone off the radar after abandoning the Tour de France on Thursday.
Time trial world champion Dennis, one of the favorites for Friday's individual effort against the clock, pulled out 80km from the finish of the 12th stage, organizers said.
The Australian's team Bahrain Merida, however, were unable to locate him for over an hour, before he was spotted with his bike parked against the team bus near the finish line.
"Our priority is the welfare of all our riders so will launch an immediate investigation but will not be commenting further until we have established what has happened to Rohan Dennis," Bahrain Merida had said in a statement.
According to French TV, Dennis was seen arguing with his team car before climbing off his bike. — Reuters
