Description
1984 Tour de France – Stage 12
One hundred fifty riders started Stage 12 from Saint-Girons to Blagnac. It was a 111 km flat, hot day with strong winds.
From the start, numerous breakaway attempts occur: Leleu, Andersen, Vilamajo, Bérard & Clère. At the summit of the Sainte-Croix climb (km 15), Bernaudeau leads the way, with Fignon and Millar at the front. The pace remains high as Hinault makes a move, along with Peiper, Leali, and Le Bigaut, who all try their luck—but without success. Eddy Planckaert abandons the race. At km 36, five riders break away: Bondue, Nulens, Dhaenens, Van Vliet & Rault. Van Vliet wins the first intermediate sprint in Rieux-Volvestre at km 42. Soon after, the peloton regroups.
Before the feed zone in Bérat (km 64), Rogier attacked Bernard Hinault. The Frenchman goes solo, pursued by the Renault team leading the pack. Hinault is caught at km 77 after a 16 km chase, with a maximum lead of 41 seconds. With strong easterly crosswinds, the peloton splits into several echelons, igniting fierce battles. By the second sprint in Saint-Lys (km 84), the peloton regroups, with Greg LeMond crossing the line ahead of Fignon and Le Bigaut. Having been dropped by other riders, Herrera manages to regain his position.
Five riders surge forward again about 10 km from the finish at km 92: Van Vliet, Gauthier, Poisson, Nulens & Vallet. Vanderaerden, Brun, and Hoste chase them down, making the junction at km 100 with a lead of 1’10”. With two sprinters in the mix, the situation is unfavorable for the other breakaway riders. Pascal Poisson wins the final bonus sprint in Plaisance-du-Touch (km 95). Behind them, the Skil team leads an aggressive chase but cannot reel in the escapees, and the peloton finishes nearly a minute behind. Victory is decided among the breakaway group. Pascal Poisson launches an early sprint and surprises Vanderaerden.
Vincent Barteau retained the yellow jersey.
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