PEYRAGUDES, France — For his three previous victories at the Tour de France, Chris Froome took advantage of the first big mountain stage to deliver the decisive blow.
On Thursday, that tried and trusted strategy never got going, and he surrendered the overall race lead to Fabio Aru.
Until the final 350 meters of the 214.5-kilometer (133 miles) marathon through six grueling ascents in the Pyrenees, the well-oiled Sky machine had everything under control.
Froome’s teammates had set a fast tempo that prevented others from attacking – a tactic that prepared the ground for Froome’s expected assault in the steep final section leading to the finish in the ski station of Peyragudes.
Froome’s move never came.
Not only was he unable to attack, the British rider also cracked during the climb. Frenchman Romain Bardet won Stage 12 ahead of Rigoberto Uran and Aru, who seized the lead from Froome by six seconds.
Bardet is third overall, 25 seconds off the pace. Uran was handed a 20-second penalty for accepting a water bottle in the last five kilometers, which is not allowed, and lies in fourth place overall, 55 seconds back.
When Aru launched his attack in the final few hundred meters, Froome was only able to follow the Astana team leader for a few bike lengths before he cracked. He ended up crossing the line in seventh place, 22 seconds behind Bardet.