The game of professional bike racing is played out on the roads but it is also played out between the ears. The psychological battle is a never-ending one. In the press, on the bike, in the peloton and then at decisive moments the riders try to steal some advantage. For the leading two men in this Tour - Andy Schleck and Alberto Contador - they know this all too well.

The finale of Stage 12 was going to be a place where a psychological point might have been made. A short, sharp climb of three kilometres to the end, the stage would have made the teams look closely at how they approached the run into Mende. For Contador the finished represented a place where he had tasted success before, twice in fact. The final climb into Mende is used in the Paris-Nice race and the narrow roads and steep gradients are known to many.

What transpired on the slopes of the final climb is a little taste of the Pyrenees. Contador is the best climber in the world and a stronger time trialist than Schleck. Schleck and the Saxo Bank team will spend the next few days thinking through how they are going to stop this happening in each stage.

Who's Hot ..

Alberto Contador - No doubt sensed a time gain. He took flight with two kilometres to go and made up 10 seconds on the lead of Schleck. What he also did was deliver a message to Schleck to tell him there are no free rides whilst Schleck is in yellow. In doing so Contador put the sword into the back of Alexander Vinokourov who was up the road and looking at a stage win. Shame about that.

Joaquin Rodriguez - A great victory by the little man. His team (Katusha) now have the pressure off and have their stage win after a banged up Robbie McEwen has had a below average ride in the Tour.

Thor Hushovd - He is after the green jersey like a man possessed. Back in green and aggressive Hushovd is a great example of how the green jersey is won.

Who's Not ..

Andy Schleck - Lost time today when he should have gained it. A move by Contador saw him unable to respond. His response time was incredibly slow. He looked tired as Contador took off. And then post race Schleck Twittered: "Hard day didn't feel to good today! my team was awesome @albertocontador got your 10 second back from so we equal again.'') Andy - stop winking at your sworn enemy!!

Ryder Hesjedal - Spent all day in the break and then went boom as soon as it went uphill at the end. At one point this Tour his over exited Jonathan Vaughters said Hesjedal would make the top 5 overall. Maybe not.

Lance Armstrong - Looked like a domestique not a Tour great today.

Brad Wiggins - A man of no morale. Wiggins got shelled out the back early on the climb and now must be wondering about the hype of him winning a Tour one day.

Results of Stage 12

1 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha 4:58:26

2 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana

3 Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana 0:00:04

4 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:00:10

5 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank

6 Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi

7 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team Radioshack

8 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank

9 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 0:00:15

10 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas-Doimo

General Classification after Stage 12

1 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 58:42:01

2 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 0:00:31

3 Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 0:02:45

4 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 0:02:58

5 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:03:31

6 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team Radioshack 0:04:06

7 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 0:04:27

8 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha 0:04:58

9 Luis León Sánchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0:05:02

10 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas-Doimo 0:05:16

11 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo 0:05:30

12 Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana 0:06:25

13 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin - Transitions

14 Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale 0:06:44

15 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervelo Test Team 0:07:34

16 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team 0:07:39

17 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team HTC - Columbia 0:07:47

18 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:08:08

19 Thomas Löfkvist (Swe) Sky Professional Cycling Team 0:08:24

20 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team Radioshack 0:09:05

Mountains Classification

1 Anthony Charteau (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 107 pts

2 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Quick Step 92

3 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 64

4 Christophe Moreau (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne 62

5 Mario Aerts (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 58

Points Classification (Green Jersey)

1 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team 167 pts

2 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 161

3 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Team Katusha 138

4 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team HTC - Columbia 132

5 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 122