Tour de France 2011: stage 12 - in pictures

Green jersey holder Mark Cavendish looks to be in a focused mood ahead of the start of the first mountain stage in this year's Tour Photograph: Lionel Bonaventure/AFP/Getty Images

Whereas yellow jersey holder Thomas Voeckler, who's not renown for his climbing skills either, seems to be in a contemplative mood Photograph: Lionel Bonaventure/AFP/Getty Images

... and these fans are in an excitable mood Photograph: Joel Saget/AFP/Getty Images

Voeckler checks his tyre before the riders head off Photograph: Stefano Rellandini/Reuters

In case they don't know where they're going Photograph: Joel Saget/AFP/Getty Images

Sylvain Chavanel, centre, and the peloton take it easy on the first part of the stage. It's nice and flat. The suffering will come later in the day when they hit the mountains, including the 2,115m-high Col du Tourmalet Photograph: Lionel Bonaventure/AFP/Getty Images

Chavanel is joined by fellow countryman Voeckler Photograph: Lionel Bonaventure/AFP/Getty Images

The breakaway pack whiz past fields of sunflowers Photograph: Joel Saget/AFP/Getty Images

Fans cheer on Ruben Perez Moreno as he leads the breakaway Photograph: Lionel Bonaventure/AFP/Getty Images

Spain's three-time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador seems to be hurting Photograph: Joel Saget/AFP/Getty Images

He can't keep pace with the leaders, who include Samuel Sanchez and Jelle Vanendert, in the final climb of the stage Photograph: Christophe Ena/AP

Sanchez, riding for Euskaltel-Euskadi, breaks away from his nearest rival with 100m to go and there's absolutely no challenge. He's the only man with the stamina for a sprint finish and duly wins the stage. Voeckler, meanwhile, unexpectedly stays in touch with the big climbers and thereby retains his yellow jersey Photograph: Ian Langsdon/EPA