Bagnères de Luchon, France - 3,819 riders finished the 2012 Etape du Tour Act 2 in a race run in tough conditions that some said made it one of the toughest sportives they had ever done. There was steady rain and cold conditions on several of the climbs and descending was tough as low cloud restricted visibility for mant of the descents. Temperatures hit around zero degrees at the top of the legendary Tourmalet.
At 201 kilometres the Pyrennees stage from Pau to Bagnères de Luchon was considered to be one of the toughest stages of this year's Tour as it takes in the Col Col d’Aubisque, Col du Soulor, Col du Tourmalet, Col d’Aspin and Col de Peyresourde. The etape was run on Bastille Day, ensuring plenty of support from French crowds, although no doubt there would have been more of them had the weather been slightly better.
The winner of Act 2 was Nicolas Roux, who also won Act 1 of the Etape, in 6:44.27, just 24 seconds ahead of second place David Devecchi. The final finisher was Jordi Moix Latas who completed in 19:24.19.
Organisers ASO posted on their website that there had been numerous riders who failed to complete: "You spent the day lost in the clouds, in fog Pyrenees. Despite these difficult conditions, you are 3820 finishers. A lot of clouds don't allow you to observe the beautiful scenery of the Pyrenees. The race was a huge accumulation of mythics ascents and tense descents.
"Dropouts have again been very numerous and a lot of you were disappointed. You are still 3820 arrivals, valiant fans who went after the effort." It probably sounds better in French!
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