Bike shop Downey's Tour de France Recap 12th Stage

 Follow our bike shop Santa Fe Springs' blog updates on the 2012 Tour de France from now until July 22nd. 
Britain's David Millar claimed an emotional victory in the 12th stage yesterday after what has been a harrowing tour for the Garmin-Sharp team which has lost a number of riders including their team leader, Ryder Hesjedal. 
Bicycling.com asked David Millar about the 12th stage win in light of the team's difficulties. "It's massive. It's been a horrific Tour for us so far," said Millar. "I really wanted to do something...prove that we're still here and show that Garmin-Sharp is one of the best cycling teams in the world." 
France's Pierre Rolland took his maiden victory in the 10th stage, followed by another win in 11. 
Britain's Bradley Wiggins further secured his lead against Australia's defending champion Cadel Evans in the 11th stage. Evans had begun stage 11 in second place, only one minute, 53 seconds behind Wiggins, but dropped to fourth overall at 3:19. 

bike shop Downey's Tour de France Recap

Our bike shop in Downey has been eagerly anticipating the 99th Tour de France this year.
The first week has been a great one. If you missed out, you can catch the highlights here on our blog.
There was plenty of Tour de France news in the weeks leading up to the race this year.  2012 has been marked by a number of unexpected factors including some injuries, team changes, and the news of doping charges that have stripped retired Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong of his titles.
The beginning of the race was also full of drama, with a few crashes, including one multi-bike pile-up that included the legendary Mike Cavendish, in the last stretch of Stage 4. Cavendish emerged from the crash uninjured, but unhappy, according to his manager.
Emotions ran high with the crash, and Germany's Andre Greipel's Stage 4 victory. Greipel came through the finish with roaring elation at his first-ever Tour de France win.
He was yet again victorious in Stage 5, coming to the front in the final hundred meters in what he described as "the hardest sprint of my life."
Check back with our blog in the coming weeks for more updates on the Tour de France, and video of the highlights.