The Spaniard Ruben Plaza Molina celebrates after his stage win.
At the finish Geraint Thomas was smiling a little again after his spectacular crash in the 16th stage. “I do not know exactly what happened. It was a tight corner, I am taxed, “said the aide of leader Chris Froome, after he had made on Monday at the breakneck downhill at speed 75 for one of the most dramatic moments in the 102 Tour de France.
For the sports headlines of Ruben Plaza Molina outsiders saw as a solo winner, while the favorites to leader Froome the upcoming day off with some leisurely pace had brought forward and crossed the finish line with 18:12 minutes behind. Strong fourth stage was the Berlin Simon Geschke.
As the escapees were in the target already, the spectacular scene of the day occurred. Thomas had fallen on the dangerous descent of the Col de Manse down the embankment, the audience gasped. But the Briton rose quickly gets on his bike and continued his journey. “A bit of a headache, but everything else okay” – nothing more stayed with Thomas for the time being after the accident back. “He’s a tough guy, I have no doubt that he will be ready again in the Alps,” Froome said of his fallen teammate, who fell back from fifth to sixth place overall.
Only on the last 20 kilometers to the final climb and the descent dangerous it was for Froome again frantically. But the little pinprick by defending champion Vincenzo Nibali did the sovereign leader not hurt. The Italian, who attacked on the descent, his deficit decreased to Froome in 7:49 minutes. “Now come four more serious stages – the race is definitely not over,” said Froome and longs for the Tour-end and the second victory after 2013
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The 35-year-old Plaza Molina had on the last climb accessibilty 18 kilometers to go from a 23 strong leading group discontinued. The Spaniard resisted the persecutors, led by Peter Sagan. The man in the green jersey risked on pursuing during the departure everything: But the bottom line remained for Sagan again, only the second place. The French call the Slovaks in allusion to his now five second places in the Tour 102. “Monsieur Deuxième”. His pesky balance since his last Tour stage victory on 5 July 2013: Second ten times, four times third
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Geschke used on 201-kilometer day trip to the Gap “clearance” to him had given his team manager. Previously Geschke had excellent – but unsuccessful work in the final – for the hapless John Degenkolb done. Despite the successful concept of the Giant-Geschke Alpecin team remains without stage win. Weary crouching Geschke on a cooler in front of the team car, from his beard was dripping sweat. As a reward for a brave performance in the first Alpine stage to the tireless Berlin remained only the pats on his caregivers. “Unfortunately, I was back just close to it. I wait further for the perfect day, “said a sad Geschke.
At the top of the overall classification, there were no changes: Froome comes with 3:10 minutes ahead of the Colombian Nairo Quintana and 3:32 minutes ahead of American Tejay van Garderen in the second rest day on this Tuesday. The anger over the unsavory Froomes urine attack on Saturday has now subsided. Nevertheless, the British resent the constant suspicions. “The Wild West times the Tour of ten or fifteen years have passed. Therefore, the driver should no longer be pursued with the same suspicions – cycling has changed “, underlined accompanied by permanent distrust the yellow jersey
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For the triple stage winner Andre Greipel it’s in the upcoming days in the Alps just about sporting survival. Only the finale this Sunday on the Champs Elysées in Paris has become the 33-year-old lottery Soudal captain again painted red in the tour calendar. His total ninth stage success had Greipel day before can even celebrate with one, two glass of champagne.
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