The halfway point of the 2012 Tour de France is marked by a stage that includes the tough climb of the Col du Grand Colombier featuring 17.4km of climbing at an average gradient of 7.1 per cent there is the smaller Col de Richemond to be negotiated before the riders head down to Bellegarde-sur-Valserine and the kick uphill in the final kilometre looks like being influential in determining the stage win It was on the descent of the Grand Colombier that Cadel Evans and his BMC Racing colleagues tried to put race leader Bradley Wiggins in trouble during the recent Critérium du Dauphiné briefly distancing the defending champion although with his Team Sky colleagues working hard to bridge the gap the Briton was able to rejoin the Australian in an episode that demonstrated his determination and resilience Geraint Thomas says: Looking at the profile you wouldn’t have thought it would be a GC day really but I think because of the route this year everyone’s got to take the opportunities that they can and now Brad’s in the jersey then people are going to attack Sky as much as possible but the GC guys will look for every chance they’ve got attack Brad obviously that 100-odd kilometres of time trialling plays into his hands massively So I think it will be slightly different racing to usual in this year’s Tour A lot more people need to be more aggressive To find out more about this year's Tour stages read our full 2012 Tour de France Preview with analysis of every stage and tips from Team Sky's Geraint Thomas Fantasy Cycling: The transfer window for the Stage 10 shuts at 11.14am on Wednesday and you have 4 transfers please consider subscribing to the site to support us directly As a subscriber you can read road.cc ad-free The revenue from adverts helps to fund our site then please consider subscribing to road.cc from as little as £1.99 Our mission is to bring you all the news that’s relevant to you as a cyclist Tony's journey in cycling media started in 1997 as production editor and then deputy editor of Total Bike acting editor of Total Mountain Bike and then seven years as editor of Cycling Plus He launched his first cycling website - the Cycling Plus Forum at the turn of the century In 2006 he left C+ to head up the launch team for Bike Radar which he edited until 2008 when he co-launched the multi-award winning road.cc - finally handing on the reins in 2021 to Jack Sexty His favourite ride is his ‘commute’ - which he does most days inc weekends and he’s been cycle-commuting since 1994 His favourite bikes are titanium and have disc brakes though he'd like to own a carbon bike one day road.cc's audience Report an advert on road.cc Privacy policy All material © Farrelly Atkinson (F-At) Limited, Unit 7b Green Park Station BA11JB. Tel 01225 588855. © 2008–present unless otherwise stated. Terms and conditions of use. Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker BELLEGARDE-SUR-VALSERINE, France - Thomas Voeckler nearly opted out of the Tour de France weeks ago because of an injured knee. Two days before the start, he was pained even more over allegations of doping by his French team. On Wednesday, the crowd-pleasing Frenchman gave his response - by winning the 10th stage. An in-your-face, trash-talking atmosphere dominated as riders entered the Alps on Wednesday with Bradley Wiggins retaining the yellow jersey by squashing attacks by rivals - one of whom complained that the Briton wasn't being respectful. The mood was decidedly sour before the 120.9-mile ride began along three hard climbs, after Tuesday's rest day was marred by an arrest by French police of a Cofidis team rider over a Marseille doping probe. Doping cases past and present have cast a shadow over this Tour. Voeckler, too, was burdened by the issue of doping. Two days before the Tour start, a French newspaper brought to light a previously unknown probe of his Europcar team on allegations of improper use of a controlled corticoid by its riders during last year's Tour - a claim the team vigorously denies. Some fans in Belgium, where the Tour started on June 30, booed Europcar riders following the news. Voeckler's victory was "really special because we had criticism before the Tour, because it really hurt me," he said. His victory "is a part of my answer - not my revenge - an answer" to the critics. Wiggins, too, and his Team Sky sent a message on Wednesday: Getting the yellow jersey off him won't be easy. Italy's Vincenzo Nibali, one of several rivals who tried to strip it, complained of a lack of respect from the Briton. At several points during the stage, Wiggins came under attack from his biggest rivals, but nearly all failed to make up any ground. Nibali tried to surge ahead in a big descent, Belgium's Jurgen Van Den Broeck attempted to jump ahead on the day's big climb, and reigning champion Cadel Evans tried to shake Wiggins near the end - to no avail. BELLEGARDE-SUR-VALSERINE, France — Thomas Voeckler nearly opted out of the Tour de France weeks ago because of an injured knee. Two days before the start, he was pained even more over allegations of doping by his French team. On Wednesday, the crowd-pleasing Frenchman gave his response — by winning the 10th stage. An in-your-face, trash-talking atmosphere dominated as riders entered the Alps with Bradley Wiggins retaining the yellow jersey by squashing attacks by rivals — one of whom complained that the Briton wasn't being respectful. Voeckler, too, was burdened by the issue of doping. Two days before the Tour start, a French newspaper brought to light a previously unknown probe of his Europcar team on allegations of improper use of a controlled corticoid by its riders during last year's Tour — a claim the team vigorously denies. Voeckler's victory was ''really special because we had criticism before the Tour, because it really hurt me,'' he said. His victory ''is a part of my answer — not my revenge — an answer'' to the critics. At several points during the stage, Wiggins came under attack from his biggest rivals, but nearly all failed to make up any ground. Nibali tried to surge ahead in a big descent, Belgium's Jurgen Van Den Broeck attempted to jump ahead on the day's big climb, and reigning champion Cadel Evans tried to shake Wiggins near the end — to no avail. ''Wiggins looked at me at the finish and I really did not like the way he did it,'' said Nibali, who won the Spanish Vuelta in 2010 and is fourth overall at the Tour. ''They are really strong at the moment, but he should show more respect for his competitors.'' Sky has controlled the Tour in a style reminiscent of that of the former US Postal team of Lance Armstrong, who is facing allegations by US anti-doping officials that he used performance-enhancing drugs. Wiggins has bristled at the comparison of the teams in social media. ''I don't feel like I have to sit here and justify to everyone . . . To me, it's them [ragging] all over everything I've done by just saying 'he's cheating' — or whatever. And that's what really gets to me,'' he said. Wiggins also echoed comments in the past by Armstrong, who repeatedly said he never failed a drug test and said during his career that he was the world's most-tested athlete for doping. Wiggins finished the stage 3:16 behind Voeckler, in 13th place. Home Delivery Gift Subscriptions Log In Manage My Account Customer Service Delivery Issues Feedback News Tips Help & FAQs Staff List Advertise Newsletters View the ePaper Order Back Issues News in Education Search the Archives Privacy Policy Terms of Service Terms of Purchase Work at Boston Globe Media Internship Program Co-op Program Do Not Sell My Personal Information Nibali: La Planche des Belles Filles is the first test Nibali: Froome was the most impressive Nibali: We've all come here with big ambitions Glass half full for Nibali after Besançon time trial Nibali looks for allies to take on Wiggins Nibali used the treacherous descent of the Col du Grand Colombier to launch a constitutional challenge to Bradley Wiggins' yellow jersey but in spite of gaining a lead of a minute at one point his insurgency was quashed by Sky's storm troopers on the slopes of the final climb Nibali would go on to finish alongside the yellow jersey and the other overall favourites 3:16 down on stage winner Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) but complained afterwards that Wiggins had shown a distinct lack of respect by staring him down as they crossed the line Bradley turned and looked at me," Nibali said he needs to have a bit of respect for his adversaries Sometimes turning around and looking into your face is an insult." Nibali made headlines at the weekend when he told L'Équipe that Wiggins didn't impress him and while he acknowledged the pre-eminence of Sky thus far he warned that the lie of the land can change very quickly in cycling "You need to show a bit of respect for your adversaries but the wheel can turn for everybody," he said "We've never had riders kicking and punching each other as happens in football so to turn around and look at a rival in the face like he did was not very nice." Nibali's attack on the way down the Grand Colombier with over 40 kilometres to go carried all the surprise of an advertised peaceful protest but his manifestation nonetheless gained plenty of traction and at least caused some mild discomfort for the Sky regime as they're all going very well and we're looking to isolate Wiggins as much as possible," said Nibali although he was unable to form a coalition to buttress his attack Nibali found support from inside his own party – Peter Sagan had gone up the road in the day's early break in search of points to tighten his grip on the green jersey and the Slovak proved to be a useful ally when he waited for Nibali "I was able to make a nice attack because Peter was up ahead and I was able to get across to him," Nibali said "He took some great lines through the corners too so we had a minute by the bottom of the climb." Nibali opted to rein in his efforts when Sagan fell back on the slopes of the final climb "I wasn't feeling very well in the finale so when he was dropped I didn't have the same conviction that I could continue going ahead so I sat up," he explained I realised it would be difficult so I eased up and looked to keep the gap as it was without trying to force it too much." Nibali remains in 4th place overall, 2:23 down on Wiggins, but while his efforts on Wednesday ultimately had no effect on the status quo, the Sicilian will hope to carry the fight to Sky once again on the road to La Toussuire on stage 11 "Tomorrow is a different stage with a summit finish but it's not a really very difficult stage," he said it's not a long stage and sometimes shorter stages can cause bigger changes in the classification We'll have to see what the various GC guys want to do because if someone wants to attack alone against four Sky riders Nibali already expressed his desire to form alliances during his rest day press conference and he will be all too aware that raging alone against the machine is rarely a long-term occupation there are others who really need to show courage now," he said Bradley Wiggins defended his Tour de France lead today on the mountain stage to Bellegarde-sur-Valserine and then his response to a question about doping cynics. "I don't feel like I should have to sit here and justify everything I have done to the world," Wiggins said in a press conference today. "I'm not some s**t rider who has just came from nowhere. I've been three times Olympic champion on the track. People have to realise what kind of engine you need to win an Olympic gold medal as an individual pursuiter." Wiggins responded to a journalist who asked about his response to a doping question four days ago when the race finished in Porrentruy, Switzerland. He gave a strong response, coloured with profanity, to those who write in Twitter and other social media outlets to compare his Sky team with Lance Armstrong's former US Postal/Discovery Channel team. Several of Armstrong's former team-mates are linked with doping and the US Anti-Doping Agency charged Armstrong with doping in the last month. He was also asked why his Sky team told journalists they could not question him about French cyclist, Rémy Di Gregorio ahead of yesterday's rest day press conference. French police arrested Di Gregorio yesterday in connection with a doping investigation. His Cofidis team have pulled him from the Tour and temporarily suspended him. The journalist pointed out that Wiggins used to race for Cofidis, but more importantly has some reason to speak for the peloton since he leads the Tour de France. Wiggins' response today lacked profanity and went on for longer, around 2-45 minutes. At the end, he looked at the translator and asked, "Did you get all that?" The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox! "I didn't lose my cool, I just said what I think. It's completely different. If I'd lost my cool, this table would've been on the floor down there. That's the difference. I just don't feel like I have to sit here and justify to everyone. "To me, it's them p**sing all over everything I've done, by just saying 'Oh yes, he's cheating' or whatever. That's what really gets to me. Everyone in their individual jobs works hard at what they do. Everyone on this Tour has got a certain job to do and they work hard on it. That's no different to the riders and the position I'm in now. Yes, I'm in the yellow jersey and I'm inspiring maybe kids to take up cycling, this, that and the other. "But ultimately I've worked hard to be in this position and I deserve every minute of what I've been through this last week or so, especially after sitting at home last year and watching it on the telly. There's one reason why I'm in this position and that's because I've worked hard and I shouldn't have to justify all that other stuff which we spoke about the other day to certain parts of the world. "I'm tested by the UCI God knows how many times a year, God knows how many times on this race and the Dauphine. Blood tested in the morning. What more can I do? Other than that? I don't know. I'd love to know. I'm only human at the end of the day. I'm not this robot. I'm just a kid from London who happened to be good at cycling, made it here. "I make mistakes in my life, I swear, I'm not this fantastic role model that everyone wants me to be. I am good at riding my bike and performing on my bike. Other than that, sitting up here, answering all these questions every day, trying to be articulate about it. I don't know what else I can do, other than that." Wiggins taking nothing for granted in 'dream scenario' Di Gregorio arrested by police at Tour de France Daniel Martin courts King of the Mountains jersey Wiggins' special yellow Tour de France skinsuit Wiggins proud of Tour time trial stage win Wiggins lashes out after doping accusations Tour de France 2012: Teams, riders, start list Tour de France 2012 provisional start list Stage 10: Voeckler wins and saves his Tour Stage nine: Wiggins destroys opposition in Besancon TT Stage eight: Pinot solos to Tour win as Wiggins fights off attacks Stage seven: Wiggins takes yellow as Froome wins stage Stage five: Greipel wins again as Cavendish fades Stage four: Greipel wins stage after Cavendish crashes Stage three: Sagan runs away with it in Boulogne Stage two: Cavendish takes 21st Tour stage victory Tour de France 2012: Comment, analysis, blogs Analysis: What we learned at La Planche des Belles Filles Analysis: How much time could Wiggins gain in Tour's time trials Blog: Tour presentation - chasing dreams and autographs Cycling Weekly's live text coverage schedule Brits in the Tours: From Robinson to Cavendish Tour de France 2011: Cycling Weekly's coverage index Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1 *Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1 Cycling Weekly and its team of expert journalists brings cyclists in-depth reviews extensive coverage of both professional and domestic racing as well as fitness advice and 'brew a cuppa and put your feet up' features Cycling Weekly serves its audience across a range of platforms from good old-fashioned print to online journalism