Mende, France (AHN) – Spanish and Team Team Katusha rider Joaquim Rodriguez won the 12th stage of Tour de France Friday, beating his compatriot and yellow jersey contender Alberto Contador in the 210.5-km race.

The 31-year old Rodriguez captured his first career stage victory in Tour de France tracking the hilly route from Bourg-de-Péage to Mende.

Contador (Astana), the two-time Tour de France overall champion, finished in second place to made up 11 seconds of overall race leader Andy Schleck of Luxemburg (CSC) who still has a 30 second bulge.

Kazakhstani and another Astana member Alexandre Vinokourov rounded up the top-three by finishing third in the stage.