Saxo-Tinkoff dominated the sixteenth stage of the Tour de France
Team Saxo-Tinkoff’s Nicholas Roche showed great aggressiveness from the start of today’s 168 km long sixteenth stage of the Tour de France starting in Vaison La Romaine and finish in Gap, and the Irish Frenchman took part in prolonged breaks with 26 riders.
As they hit the second category climb, Col La Manse, Rui Costa (Movistar), made an aching cut in the side of his now former followers. It was all Katusha-fighters who attacked, prompting the entire field to burst into pieces, but Team Saxo-Tinkoff’s Alberto Contador and Roman Kreuziger both sat in the favorite group, and they took turns to test Team Sky with more attacks and eventually isolated Chris Froome.
On the descent Team Saxo-Tinkoff put pressure on Chris Froome with an accelerated pace. Richie Porte (Sky) was waiting and drove Alberto Contador back to the favorite group.
Nobody could re-establish contact with Rui Costa (Movistar), who took a meritorious solo victory.
Team Saxo-Tinkoff demonstrated that they have not given up a run for the victory: “The fact that we are still running after the victory is not just something we say. We showed today that we continue to put pressure on Froome, and we are willing to take risks. We had both Nicholas (Roche), Roman (Kreuziger) and Alberto who put Froome under pressure on the final climb and descent. I’m really proud of the way we raced. We attacked on several fronts, and we keep focusing on what we need. Tomorrow is the difficult time trial, and there is not so much tactics. Just full throttle, “said Saxo-Tinkoff’s sporting director, Fabrizio Guid
