Sorenson takes tour stage by 48 seconds

VITTEL, France, July 16 (UPI) -- Nicki Sorenson pulled away over the last 3 miles and won Thursday's 127-mile 12th stage of the 2009 Tour de France by 48 seconds.

Sorenson and Sylvain Calzati had pulled away from the lead pack of seven riders with about 14 miles to go. With 3.3 miles left, Sorenson made his move and Calzati slipped back to the chase group.

Sorenson finished the Tonnerre-to-Vittel route in 4 hours, 52 minutes, 24 seconds and was able to take the stage by nearly a minute over Calzati and four other riders. It was the third time Sorenson won a stage that finished in Vittel.

There were no changes among the overall Tour de France standings. Rinaldo Nocentini owns a 6-second lead over Alberto Contador with Lance Armstrong, a seven-time Tour de France winner, 8 seconds off Nocentini's pace.

Friday's 13th stage is a 120-mile ride from Vittel to Colmar with two Category 2 climbs and a Category 1 climb that covers more than 5 miles at a 7.6 percent grade.