eloNews.com’s Live Coverage of the 12th stage of the 95th edition of the Tour de France, a 168.5-kilometer stage from Lavelanet to Narbonne.

This another transitional stage, taking the peloton from the Pyrenees to the Alps. Upon leaving Lavelanet (population 7,500), this stage stays in the foothills of the Pyrenees, with a few easy uphills for the first 75km. This is followed by 50km of rolling roads just inland from the Mediterranean coast before the course takes a straight shot across the plains for the final 25km into the ancient city of Narbonne (population 53,000) for a downtown finish on the Avenue General Leclerc.

There are 165 of the original 180 riders remaining in the Tour, the latest rider to leave the Tour is double stage winner Ricardo Ricco of Saunier Duval, who tested positive for a novel erythropoietic agent known as erythropoiesis receptor activator (CERA), a new agent, which medical professionals say is a promising treatment for anemia.