With all the beautiful scenery and scent of lavender, it’s important to remember that there is a race on!

The stage was won by Nils Politt who took a solo victory, while Tadej Pogacar retained the leader’s yellow jersey.

Politt broke away clear with 12km left on the 159.4km run to Nimes after being involved in a long-range 13-man breakaway. It was great compensation for his team Bora-Hansgrohe, who had seen the retirement of team-mate and three-time world champion Peter Sagan prior to the start, through injury.

Sad for the Tour to lose Peter, but Nils was a delighted man and lovely to see him on the podium.

The route on Stage 12, passed through some remarkable landscapes – it may have been classed as a ‘flat’ stage but the road carved through some huge rock formations and tunnels – such as this one.

To see the peloton streaking through underneath was incredible – a long train running.

After the drama of Mont Ventoux, Stage 12, seemed to be a day when the peloton took control and everyone slowed down a bit! Who could blame them?

Here is a gorgeous scene, typical Tour, with a lovely peloton, a beautiful day, a flag and a fan taking a photo – what more could we want? Perfection!

Mont Ventoux nearing the climax of the stage – The road was heaving with people, all the way up, more or less – Just a remarkable sight to see.

Here, I have juxtaposed two views of the same scene, looking straight up with the people – and also the view to the side where the blue sky meets the side of the mountain. You can make out shapes of flags and motorbikes but it was very dreamlike – to me only – I’m sure that the climb twice in one day was more than real to the riders!

Mont Ventoux as the riders reach the climb for the first time – This time high up through the branches of the pine trees, which do grow there, at least at this point. The climb leaves the trees behind the higher it goes.

Lots of people, motobikes, flags all the fanfare and hurrah as the Tour arrives on the mountain.. the first time.