Sorensen powers to solo Tour stage win

Dane Nicki Sorensen powered to a solo victory in the 12th stage of the Tour de France, a 211.5-km ride from Tonnerre to Vittel yesterday.

The Saxo Bank rider beat France's Laurent Lefevre and Italian Franco Pellizotti, who were second and third respectively. Italy's Rinaldo Nocentini retained the overall leader's yellow jersey.

Sorensen featured in a seven-man breakaway at the 64-km mark that quickly built a gap of over four minutes - and he proved the strongest of the group.

Andy Schleck and Cadel Evans also tried their luck early in the stage but they were swiftly reined in by the bunch.

Lance Armstrong suffered a puncture after 150 kilometres but the seven-times champion was quickly brought back into the bunch by four team-mates after he had had his rear wheel changed.

The stage went the fugitives' way as the sprinters' teams proved unwilling to work in the finale to set up a mass sprint.

Sorensen and Sylvain Calzati attacked the breakaway group with 22 kilometres left with only Nocentini's AG2R team setting the pace in the main pack.

The duo did not look back as the gap with the peloton went past the six-minute mark, and Sorensen went solo 5.5 kms from the line.

Today's 13th stage will take the peloton over 209 kms to Colmar with the tricky ascent to the Col du Platzerwasel on the menu.

Earpieces will be allowed in today's stage after the International Cycling Union (UCI) lifted a ban on all communications between sports directors and their riders.