Alpe d'Huez awaits as Geraint Thomas takes yellow jersey in spectacular style

Stage 12
Eurosport 1/ITV4, 11.25am Thursday

Geraint Thomas is the new leader of the Tour de France as Team Sky spectacularly took complete control of the race on the slopes of La Rosiere on Wednesday.

For much of the day it appeared a breakaway might succeed for a second successive stage but it was in behind that the real action was bubbling up as first Movistar and then Tom Dumoulin’s Sunweb team tried to take Sky out of their comfort zone.

It was a tactic that for all bar Dumoulin, who managed to make his attack stick and finish second on the stage, would prove terminal to their chances.

First Thomas attacked, joining Dumoulin before passing long-time leader Mikel Nieve on the run in to take the stage and leader’s jersey while Froome followed his teammate to finish third and move up to second in the general classification, 1min 25secs behind Thomas.

In behind, Nairo Quintana, Mikel Landa, Vincenzo Nibali and Romain Bardet all fell further behind the Sky duo and must be wondering how they can turn their deficits around after witnessing the British outfit put on another masterclass of climbing strength at the Tour.

For Sky, their headache will be deciding who is their number one option. Bookmakers still think Froome is their undisputed leader with the four-time Tour winner now just 8-13 to win a fifth yellow jersey.

Meanwhile, new leader Thomas is now seen as his most credible threat having been slashed from 8-1 to 5-2.

Perhaps the only rider who can take some heart from his performance yesterday is Dutchman Dumoulin, who moved up to third in the general classification, 1min 44secs off Thomas. He is an 8-1 chance to land a second Grand Tour.

There is no let-up for the peloton today with three super-category climbs to tackle on a 175km route from Bourg-Saint-Maurice to the top of the iconic Alpe d’Huez.

Some of the great names of cycling such as Bernard Hinault, Fausto Coppi and Marco Pantani have won atop the Alpe but the question for punters today is will we see Sky attempt to rub further salt into their rivals’ wounds in another GC showdown or will a breakaway be allowed to stay away?

The last three visits to the legendary Alpine ascent have seen attackers battle it out for the stage win and given how hard Wednesday was for all the peloton, it would make sense if the yellow-jersey contenders let the breakaway battle it out at the finish.

Interestingly a Frenchman has been successful on each of those occasions and Warren Barguil and Lilian Calmejane look ideal candidates to make that four this afternoon.

Barguil is sure to be on the hunt for King of the Mountains points again while Calmejane is a climber of real potential.

Recommendations
W Barguil
1pt e-w 20-1 bet365
L Calmejane
1pt e-w 200-1 bet365

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport

Like us on Facebook RacingPostSport