Fredrik Kessiakoff (Astana), Anthony Roux (FDJ), Tomasz Marcynski (Vacansoleil) and Francesco Failli (Vini Fantini) shaped today’s 165 km stage of Tirreno-Adriatico. The stage began in Narni and ended at the top of the rise, Prati di Tivo. Team Sky and Team Saxo-Tinkoff dictated the pace in the field, and the break was always within reach. On the final climb, towards the end were only a handful of the favorites, including Saxo-Tinkoff’s Alberto Contador, who in his usual elegant style attempted several attacks without success. On the last mile, Chris Froome (Sky) made deep stabbing attacks and created a hole and won the stage.
Saxo-Tinkoff’s sports director, Philippe Mauduit said: ” First and foremost, I am pleased with the effort. Alberto is where he should be, and he attacked several times on the last climb. Sky is extremely good across the stage, and Froome put the icing on the cake for them and it is now difficult for us to make up the time loss. It would certainly require a more difficult stage profile than tomorrow’s stage offers. But the race is really not over yet. ” Alberto Contador finished the day sixth place and now fourth in the standings.
