Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) finally broke a drought that has lasted since 2013 when he took a dominant victory in the uphill sprint on stage 2 of the Tour de France. The world champion came around Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx-QuickStep) in the final metres to take his fifth Tour stage victory, with Alahilippe and Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) completing the podium, and also earned himself his first yellow jersey. Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) crashed again and was dropped in the finale while Richie Porte (BMC) lost time due to a late puncture.

 

We have gathered several reactions.

 

Peter Sagan: I thought that we were sprinting for third place

Buffeted by winds and lashed with rain, today’s stage saw typical Normandy weather. Not only was the terrain challenging, with four categorised climbs over its length, but the coastal route around the Cotentin peninsula made riding even more tough. This didn’t stop Peter Sagan in his campaign for stage wins however, as the Slovakian rider took the win with a sterling effort and powerful finish. The UCI World Champion will wear the yellow jersey with pride tomorrow for the first time in his career, the first yellow jersey of the team and team owner Oleg Tinkov too, adding to his impressive performances in the season so far.

 

The Tour de France’s second day brought with it its first uphill finish. While only a small third category kick at the end of the day, it had the potential to be just that little bit too difficult for the pure sprinters, giving the all-rounders a chance to go for the stage win. After an opening stage that proved Peter Sagan had the power and the hunger to get to the line first, stage 2 was to give the UCI World Champion the kind of terrain on which he excels. It was a double edged sword though as GC leader Alberto Contador lost ground on the final climb, conceding time to his rivals after hitting the deck again on today's stage.

 

With Roman Kreuziger putting in a huge effort for the UCI World Champion, the peloton approached the finish. With it finally all back together, the race to the finish was on. Pushing hard for the win, Sagan was passed just a few hundred metres from the line, but the Slovakian rider hadn’t started his sprint yet, and as he put the power in, he took the win and the yellow jersey on the line – the first time he has worn the famous Maillot Jaune in his career.

 

In typically understated fashion, Sagan didn’t realise he had taken the win – or the yellow jersey – until after the stage.

 

“I am very happy as I didn't know I won today. Thank you to all my team-mates, and especially to Roman Kreuziger. He did the last climb full gas and was pulling all the way. Then in the final I did my best for a third place but it was really for the win.

 

“I'm very surprised I won. I thought there were still two guys in the front. Only at the very end I realized we were sprinting for victory. I'm very happy to be first. My team today did a very big job. Roman Kreuziger helped me a lot in the last climb. It's unbelievable. He rode 500 meters flat out. Julian Alaphilippe was very close to me at the end but I beat him.

 

“I'm in yellow first time. It's a very nice jersey. This is something special for sure. Compared to last year's Tour de France, I haven't changed. I'm just happy with what I've achieved since [world champion and Tour of Flanders winner]. In big races, experience counts. I do a lot of sacrifices to come to the Tour de France in good form but it's never easy to win even if it looks easy sometimes.

 

“It’s never easy to win. Sometimes it seems easy but it never is. This is the first time in yellow in my career after four years as a pro, so I don’t think it’s easy to win.

 

“You need luck and also condition. If a lot of things come together, you can do something. If you have bad luck it’s very hard to be at the front. I’m trying my best and making sacrifices to do it. But I also just want to ride my bike. I just want to have fun. That’s why I make my sacrifices.

 

“Sometimes when you want to go up and win, you have to fall first. I didn’t really fall last year, I was always there and finished second, third. I’m very happy what I did last year. I’m just happy to win and have the yellow jersey at the Tour de France.

 

 “It’s very hard to enjoy racing on the bike. When I did my first Tour de France it was a different race. Now everyone rides as if they don’t care about life. Last year it was very bad and this year is very bad but it’s the riders’ decision how they ride. But you never know if you’ll be able to continue in the race. Today I’m in yellow but maybe tomorrow I go home, this is the Tour de France.

“In this moment I’m not an important rider in peloton. Nobody cares. It’s as if they lost their brains. I don’t know what has happened. There are stupid crashes in the group. Before there was respect; when some did something, they threw bottles at him or beat him with a pump but cycling has lost this.

 

“Since my pro debut in 2010 things changed, they are worse. Now everyone wants to have a train. In the last 50 kilometers, there are 7 trains! Nobody does anything to pay attention and some riders do not know cycling.

 

“I have already had several years of sacrifices for the Tour. This year, I have worked for the classics before a rest period. I did some mountain biking before resuming competition in the Tour of California. Then there was a very hard Tour of Switzerland, both for the legs and the mind because we had very very difficult weather conditions. I'm happy to be here, there's not a better way to reward the sacrifices than having fun on the bike.

 

Sagan was quick to offer his support to teammate Alberto Contador and was confident he would recover.

 

“Alberto has had a bit of bad luck yesterday and today again. I was very close to him when he came down. It was bad luck and I hope for Alberto that he will heal fast - he will be strong for sure.

 

“I was very close to it. Tony Martin lost his grip because of speed bump. It was a stupid crash. If he crashed on my side I would have crashed too. It was just bad luck. I hope that Alberto heals fast. He’ll be strong for sure. Other riders will have bad luck too. Forty-eight seconds is not massive amount. I believe that Alberto can still fight for the Tour de France. We’re just at the start of the Tour de France.”

 

After today’s successes however, the team would be celebrating Sagan’s first day in the yellow jersey, as the new holder of the Maillot Jaune explained.

 

“I'm really happy to have this jersey for the first time in my career. It's nice to win here again after no stage wins for the last two years. This year I'm having a really good season, from the classics to now, I'm very happy for this. Thanks again to Oleg Tinkov and Tinkoff Bank for their support and confidence, and I’d like to dedicate this victory also to Oleg for making this all possible with his support.”

 

Sports director Steven De Jongh shared his enthusiasm, and was clearly proud of the team’s World Champion.

 

“The win with Peter is really nice. With 15km to go we never thought that the breakaway was going to come back but he lost time and it was up to Peter to do his sprint. He rode a great finish - it was world class from the world champ, and I'm really happy for him. It's nice for him after a few years with no wins to not only get the stage but to also take the yellow jersey.”

 

Tomorrow the race hits its second-longest stage as we start to head south from Normandy to the Pays de la Loire. Covering 223.5km, the day starts with an undulating profile that includes a fourth category climb, before a further two steep uncategorised climbs. With the climbing over in the first 60km however, it’s a long and fairly flat ride to the finish in Angers. Regardless of the outcome, Sagan will be working to do the yellow jersey justice.

 

 “We will see what we do for the yellow jersey - I will try every day, but if I lose it I have green, if I lose green I have my world champion stripes.

 

“We’ll see what happens and take the Tour de France day by day. The Tour is very long. You’ve got to get to finish in the bunch and stay calm because every day in the bunch is crazy. The riders don’t care about their lives. It’s better to keep calm and see what you can do.”

 

Alberto Contador: It’s difficult not to lose the morale

It was something of a bittersweet day for Tinkoff  as Alberto Contador was unlucky to be involved in a crash earlier in the day, as Sport Director, Steven De Jongh, explained.

 

“After 55km Alberto had a bad crash again - a rider came down in front of him and he went over and hurt himself, it was just bad luck. That's the reason why in the final he couldn't stand up to climb and he blew his legs. That was the reason that he lost time.”

 

De Jongh’s aim was to continue to support Contador in his recovery in the days to come.

 

“The next few days, firstly we will aim to recover - it's a long tour and with Alberto crashing again today we want to support him to let his body recover. We will talk this evening about the plan around defending Peter's yellow jersey.”

 

"I lost more time than I had hoped to lose,” Contador said. “I suffered another crash, I hit the handlebars and I was hurt on the other side than yesterday.

 

"Tony Martin, went down right in front of me. He lost hands off the handlebars and I landed on the floor. It was on the other side, totally the opposite side. I can feel something in the knee, calf and left shoulder. We'll see how things evolve.

 

“I must stay calm, not lose morale, I'm still standing but I can feel that both my legs were affected; I’m not pedalling as I like. Physically I’ve taken a hit.
 

“The Tour has really started on the wrong footing. I'm not happy at all. It's cycling. I must see if I can make up some time in the Pyrenees and the Alps, see what I can do. The important thing is to keep my morale, not fall part, which is sometimes complicated.

"You need to be mentally strong to overcome a Tour start as bad as this one, especially after so much hard work. But cycling is like that. I’ll have to try to be strong and not lose confidence. I have to think that it will be possible to recover when I get to my terrain. I tried to minimize my losses but I gave away some time in only two days of racing.

 

"I can’t be downbeat but my morale is not intact. I want to fight on, otherwise I’d be keen to get out of here. The time loss is worse than the body blows."

 

"Very mixed,” sports director Sean Yates told Eurosport about the results. “One has to be happy for Peter because he hit the goals he set out to hit. He won the stage most suited to him and took yellow so one cannot be anything but happy for him. On the other side of the coin we’re depressed, for want of a better word, over what happened to Alberto. He had another crash and lost a big amount of time to the other GC contenders. It’s far from ideal on that front. The show must go on. Alberto's a fighter. He's not going to throw in the towel. It's a long way to Paris."

 

Julian Alaphilippe: People tell me that I should be happy but…

Thanks to the work of his Etixx – Quick-Step teammates, Julian Alaphilippe was well-placed in the decisive part of the stage, the 700-m long ascent (with an average gradient of 5.7%), and hit the front with around 400 meters to go from a group which included many GC favourites and Classics specialists. Of these, only Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) managed to top the young Frenchman, passing him in the last 50 meters, thus claiming the honours and the yellow jersey. Alaphilippe concluded the day in second place, ahead of Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) and teammate Daniel Martin.

 

”The team did a great job controlling the race and bringing me in a good position, despite the rain and the narrow roads. I felt good and gave everything I had, but Sagan was better. In those last 500 meters I was thinking only of taking the victory, as I was feeling strong, but in the end I had to be content with second place. Maybe I started the sprint a bit too early, but to be honest I have no regrets, because I gave it my all and Sagan was simply better, he's the world champion for a reason", said 24-year-old Alaphilippe, who proved once again what a special talent he is.

 

As soon as he rolled over the line after what was a grueling finale, the Tour of California winner tried to shrug off the frustration of coming tantalizing close on his maiden World Tour victory, and although it wasn't easy, he eventually looked on the bright side of things, especially as he was among the few riders to climb on the podium in Cherbourg, where he donned the white jersey:

 

"I was disappointed, but then I cooled down and realized that it's my first Grand Tour and I still have many things to learn. I also have plenty of reasons to be happy, as I'm now leading the U25 classification and I am in good form. It's a huge pride to wear the white jersey and I want to thank the entire team for the great help of today. We came second two stages in a row, but at the same time we showed how strong and united we are. Hopefully, we will get a good result in the next days.

“Today I got my first emotion at the Tour de France but it's also a small disappointment because I've been so close to winning. It's a feeling of frustration. I've been told I should be happy and it's probably true because Peter Sagan is a big champion. This is my first Tour. I still have a lot to learn.

 

”To have the white jersey is good for my morale and for my team. I'm here to discover what the Tour is like. I'm also here to help my team the maximum I can. We'll ride full gas every day.

 

”I was terribly disappointed when I crossed the line because to be so close to victory is very frustrating. Then after I sat down, I realized it was my first Tour and it's the world champion who beat me. I console myself with that and with the fact that there are future stages to achieve great things.

 

”It was very nervous, tortuous and difficult, and in addition, the breakaway was far ahead, they did a great stage. We've been looking at this stage and we knew where we had to be in front. I do not really understand what happened because Sagan started so I went. I maybe made a little mistake. I was surprised to be so godd but in the end he passed me.

 

”I think I did a good final. At the time it hurts, it's hard to accept and digest but it's like that. It's good for the result because this is my first Tour and I still have everything to learn. It's one more step.

 

”I do not care who is ahead of me or behind. Today Peter Sagan was the strongest. I am especially happy because I will wear the white jersey and that's a bonus. Today, I did not expect to feel so well. I expected a tough sprint.

 

“I will wear the white jersey tomorrow. Then I will see day after day how I evolve, just as I did at the Dauphiné. If I can keep it, it’s fine. If I lose it, it will not be the end of the world. Obviously, I will give everything to keep it as long as possible and there are still many stages to have fun.

 

”I met my expectations and those of my team. Honestly, today I did not expect to be so good. I thought it would be really difficult to do a sprint like that in this field. I felt really comfortable. Second behind Sagan, it's frustrating but maybe it's my first Tour. It's hard to digest to finish second when you looked up at 100 meters to go and saw that you were in front. But I continue to learn.”

 

Daniel Martin: This shows the incredible depth of our team

One of the most consistent riders of the season in stage races, with two wins and several podiums to his name, Daniel Martin finished just outside the top three on Sunday afternoon, a result which he sees as promising for the ambitions of Etixx – Quick-Step over the next three weeks:

 

"It was a hard finish and everyone was suffering. I watched the sprint of Julian and Peter from behind and it was like they were going in slow motion. Another second today for us, it's true, but this just shows the incredible depth of this team. It was once again close and this only gives us extra motivation. I'm sure better days will come for us."

 

Alejandro Valverde: I’ve been a pro for 14 years, I can’t be a dark horse

He’s coming into the Tour de France after a brilliant podium in a demanding Giro d’Italia, and following a long recovery period in order to serve Nairo Quintana late in the Tour de France, also looking to peak at the Olympics road race. However, Alejandro Valverde’s (Movistar Team) consistence has always been in a league of its own. The Spanish superstar, always working hard in the wind for Quintana on stage two of the Tour de France - 183km between Saint-Lô and Cherbourg-en-Cotentin - brought his class to the fore in the demanding, closing stages, which featured the hills of Octeville and La Glacerie (Cat-3) plus a final kilometer uphill. He finished in third spot, behind Julian Alaphilippe (EQS) and stage winner, new GC leader Peter Sagan (TNK).

 

The commitment from every single Movistar Team rider towards Quintana was the best possible yet again today. Erviti, Oliveira, Anacona, the Izagirre Brothers, Herrada and Moreno always kept full focus to take care of the Colombian’s chances, Quintana always at the front on the last two côtes before finishing the race in a respectable 17th place. The result leaves him in seventh overall (+14”) as the GC sees four pre-race contenders losing time: Pinot (FDJ) and Nibali (AST), eleven seconds each; Contador (TNK), almost a minute behind Sagan; and Porte (BMC), almost two minutes back.

 

The ‘Grande Boucle’ goes for the big plains of the Center on Monday as stage three covers 224km between Granville and Angers, where another slightly uphill bunch kick awaits.

 

Alejandro Valverde said:

 

“We couldn’t take so many risks before the closing climbs; it wasn’t worth for me since, while it’s obvious that I could chase the stage win, everyone in this team has come to this Tour to help Nairo. He’s 100,000 times better positioned than me and with a better shot at the Tour that I’ll ever be. That said, in such a finish, with wide roads, it wasn’t difficult for me to get in a good place, and once there, you just don’t brake - you’ve got to go for it.

 

“I was doing well before the last kilometer uphill, but I made the choice to follow Matthews’ wheel in the final 500 meters, and I got a bit boxed in from the left-hand side as I sought for my sprinting distance. I thought Matthews would be stronger in such a kick, and once I got past his wheel, the rivals in front of me, super fast guys like Sagan and Alaphilippe, were impossible to overtake. 

 

"The plan was to get through the stage as well as we could, and we tried to stay near the front. I felt pretty good in the uphill, I thought I’d launch a sprint. I was in a good position but Sagan was too quick. 

 

“It’s clear there was a big crash today and Alberto’s definitely suffered some more, so it’s normal that he lost some time. Richie Porte’s also lost time with his mechanical and that’s bad luck. But we’re all good.

 

“[Asked by journalists about the GC] The dark horse? Seriously, I can’t be a dark horse after 14 years as a pro. And I don’t make any conclusions out of this third place. We’re all behind Nairo.

 

Michael Matthews comes up short in uphill sprint

After crashing in yesterday’s finale ORICA-BikeExchange’s Michael Matthews bounced back strongly on stage two of the Tour de France today, sprinting to fifth place in a fast and furious race to the line.

 

Another controlled team performance from ORICA-BikeExchange saw the Australian team move up to the front of the race inside the final 35kilometres.

 

Paris-Roubaix champion Mathew Hayman put in a huge shift to keep Matthews and Simon Gerrans well positioned for the finale with 2016 Tour of Romandie stage winner Michael Albasini also in close attendance.

 

The last rider of the day’s long breakaway was caught inside the final kilometre with Matthews narrowly losing out in the sprint to stage winner Peter Sagan (Tinkoff).

 

Matthews came home in fifth place with Sagan now moving into the race lead and the yellow jersey. Gerrans crossed the line just outside the top ten in 11th with Adam Yates close behind in 13th.

 

Gerrans is now 9th on the general classification, fourteen seconds behind Sagan going into tomorrow's stage three with ORICA-BikeExchange now leading the team classification. 

 

Sport director Matt White was content with the efforts with the team on what he acknowledged was a hard stage.

 

“It was a tough finale today,” said White. “The stage was reminiscent of a classics race and the uphill sprint was made up of an eclectic mix of the worlds best climbers and classics riders.

 

“The team rode very well throughout the stage, Michael (Matthews) was in a good position going into the finish he gave it everything and came very close.

 

“It has been a solid start to this year’s Tour de France for us, but it is a long race and we have got work to do.”

 

Wilco Kelderman: This sixth place is a confirmation of my good form

Wilco Kelderman sprinted to the sixth place in the second stage of the Tour de France in Cherbourg today. Team LottoNL-Jumbo’s climber was able to keep himself in front during the specialists’ finish. Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) won the stage and took the yellow jersey from Mark Cavendish (Team Dimension Data).

 

Kelderman already said after the first stage of the Tour de France that he wanted to go for his chances on Sunday and stay focussed the whole day.

 

“I aimed for a top result and it went well,” he said. “It was very chaotic during the final 10 kilometres. There was a lot of twisting and turning. I was always among the first 30 riders and had a good position. I found my spot in the finale and got the space to sprint. This sixth place gives me a good feeling.”

 

It didn’t look like that the bunch sprint was going to be for the stage win, because the breakaway stayed quite long. Jasper Stuyven (Trek - Segafredo) was caught with only 500 metres to go.

 

“I thought that they were going to make it,” Kelderman continued. “But at a certain moment, it went very fast in the peloton and the pace was high on the climbs, as well.”

 

"It went well today," he told NOS. "I roder well and came a bit closer, but when they accelerated, I could not follow. Sagan is slightly better in these finishes, but it was good. I have a good feeling about it. It's a nice confirmation that the form is good. It's nice to start the Tour de France in this way. Last year I was super disappointed by my early crash. Then I could offer nothing. This year I feel good and I try to keep that feeling. Now I can do well in the final so I'm happy. "

 

Sports Director Merijn Zeeman added:

 

“Before the race, no one gave the breakaway a chance because there were too much to aim for today. We really want to choose when to attack in this Tour de France so we can have a chance to make it when we do. The breakaway didn’t make it in the end and Wilco sprinted to sixth place. He did a terrific job. This was a finish for the specialists and it became a classic fight among the top favourites. Wilco was among them.”

 

Tony Gallopin misses out on first target at the Tour de France

 

Tony Gallopin was well positioned in the first group and he finished seventh.

 

He said: 

 

“This was the first stage I had marked and I wanted to follow as long as possible on the steep finish. It was good that there were four escapees today, that way it was less nervous in the bunch, although at times the course was narrow. There were only few flat sections during the stage and in the end there wasn’t only the climb towards the finish but also an uphill section with eight kilometres to go.

 

“The teammates did a good job to get me to the finish in a good position. The peloton had to chase hard to catch Stuyven, it was a very strong performance of him. In the end Jürgen Roelandts protected me and helped me to stay at the front. In the first one and a half kilometres of the last climb I could follow the best riders of the group, then it was half a kilometre flat and then we came to the steepest part with a fight man against man. Peter Sagan turned out to be the strongest. I gave all I had and finished seventh. When I look at the top ten of the stage I see the names I had predicted.”

 

Richie Porte: It’s quite a hard one to take but I have to move on

It was a day of mixed emotions for BMC on Stage 2 of the Tour de France with Greg Van Avermaet finishing in eighth place, and Richie Porte suffering a flat tire in the final five kilometers to finish 1’45” behind.

 

Tejay van Garderen put in a solid effort to finish with the General Classification contenders, and move into the top twenty overall.

 

The 183 kilometer stage included a tricky uphill finish which Van Avermaet had his sights set on for the stage win. With 50 kilometers to go the pace in the bunch picked up as a four-rider breakaway still held an advantage of over five minutes. BMC Racing Team riders were perfectly positioned at the front of the peloton trying to reel the breakaway in, when Porte had to stop and change his rear tire and lose time in the crucial last kilometers of the stage.

 

Van Avermaet held on to contest the sprint, which saw his top ten finish elevate him to sixth place on the General Classification.

 

Porte said:

 

"It was a disaster but what can you do. I was sitting second wheel in perfect position. I don’t know what the hell I hit, but the next thing I know I had a flat. I had to buckle the seat belt there going back through the peloton; it was quite dangerous. It’s a disaster but there’s nothing really you can do. Just move on I suppose.

 

“I had Burghardt come back, but I mean when they’re going that fast there’s not much you can do in terms of a bike change. It all just happened so quickly that by the time Burghardt got back to me the bunch was gone anyhow.

 

“It’s going like last year in the Giro, minus the two minute penalty, but it probably would have been quicker to take the two minute penalty than the wheel change I got anyhow. The Tour is far from over, but it’s quite a hard one to take. At the end of the day I guess we’ll just pretend like it never happened and wait for the mountains to come. It’s only a bike race isn’t it? So I’m sure the sun will come up tomorrow.”

 

Tejay van Garderen: Porte and I are still co-leaders

Tejay van Garderen said:

 

"Two minutes could mean nothing. Contador also lost time and the Tour is a marathon. Richie hopefully is able to stay strong in his head and keep fighting.

 

"I think it’s a kneejerk reaction on his part. I still see us as co-leaders and equals and he will still be getting support on the road. He just needs to stay positive.

 

"We're co-leaders and anything can happen. We saw Contador lose time and he crashed yesterday, Richie lost a bit of time today and anyone of these next 19 days could be my turn for bad luck. We’ve got to keep Richie strong and focused and give him a bit of a morale boost tonight. It’s bad luck for him.

 

“It was with about 5km to go, so everyone is fighting and everyone is nervous. It’s hard to hear anything. I think Amael was there to help him out. But obviously Greg was going for the stage, and I needed to focus on not losing time, so what can I say. It’s bad luck for him

 

"Any moment could be anyone's moment for bad luck in the Tour. We just need to keep him strong mentally. I know that he has the fitness so I know that if he stays positive then I’m sure he can claim some of that time back. Quintana lost nearly two minutes on stage 2 of the Tour last year and almost ended up winning the Tour. Richie needs to keep that in mind. This thing is nowhere near over.

 

"I’ve been lucky so far. Hopefully that continues but it’s only stage 2 and you can’t lose focus even for a second in this race.

 

“I was up there in the final. It was a hard finish. I was full gas at the end. It was hard for the 40-50km leading into the climb so it definitely shook things up more than I expected. Today I had to stay focused on not losing time.”

 

Greg Van Avermaet: If I could have done my sprint, not many would have passed me

Greg Van Avermaet said:

 

“Today we had two objectives; protecting Tejay and Richie and going for the stage win. We kept together in front until the last climb and then everyone had to go their own way. I did a good sprint even though I was on my own. I was in a good position.

 

“The chase to pull the breakaway came late. At first some teams were riding but then no one was, and then we did as we approached the climb to be safe at the front. The roads were narrow and it’s always tricky so it’s good that no one crashed.”

 

He told Sporza:

 

"I was ideally placed on that last climb, on the wheel of Sagan who was behind Kreuziger that set the pace. After that things went wrong. It is too bad because I felt very strong. I even had something left in the tank. I saw Valverde pass me and tried to catch up with Rodriguez, but I faded and then I was boxed in about 300 meters from the finish. Then you start to sprint from the second row. That's too far back.

 

"The guys in front of me faded. I had to wait, wait and wait, but the finish was close. If I had been sitting in his Sagan’s wheel, I had been up there. Whether I could pass him or not, I don’t know. Now I just never got my chance. It is difficult to live with this. This was my best chance to win and it is now over. My condition is really good. If I could launch my sprint, I do not think many guys would have passed.

 

"My Tour is not over yet, but I'd rather be sprinting for a win or a podium. Now I failed and the chance to take yellow is over.

 

"It was a long sprint, I had seen the danger. Let us hope that I will get a second chance.

 

"If I could sprint fully, I could live with a second or third place, but now I sprint from the second row and I had no chance.

 

"The sprint was hard enough and it suited me perfectly. Everybody was on his limit, but it did not work out. I am particularly disappointed that I did not give everything. There are a number of stages where I have a chance at victory, but this was my best chance. "

 

Jasper Stuyven: Of course I thought about Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne

Jasper Stuyven put on a thrilling performance in stage two of the Tour de France as he valiantly tried to hold off the peloton in the closing kilometers only to be caught 450 meters from the line.

 

Stuyven narrowly lost taking home a prestigious Tour victory in the nail-biting ending, but was first over the final category-three climb to secure the polka dot jersey, and also earned the combative award for the stage. To Stuyven, though, these were little consolation in overcoming the disappointment of missing the victory.

 

"It's nice to have the polka dot jersey although I am not really a climber, and it's nice to be on the podium," said Stuyven. "It's a good thing to have this after today, but that was not what I was going for in the final and right now I can only feel disappointment. When you are that close to a stage win in the Tour… In the end, I was starting to believe in the victory, and that makes it a huge disappointment."

 

Stuyven joined three others early in the 183-kilometer stage to form the day's breakaway, a move that looked hopeless with many hungry and fresh teams vying for a win only two days into the Tour and the prestigious yellow jersey on the line.

 

But when the gap held steady to the leaders, down to three men in the final part of the stage, and the teams appeared to play a poker game in the pursuit, the tables turned in favor of the escapees.

 

Clearly the strongest, Stuyven jumped away from his compatriots on a climb with less than 9 kilometers remaining and set his sights on the finish. Stuyven looked to be on his way to a thrilling victory in his first Tour until the road pitched steeply up 1.5-kilometers from the end and decided else wise.

 

Stuyven said: "I knew what was coming because we had a video of the finish from Josu (Larrazabal, Head of Performance). I knew it was going to be hard, so I just tried to spin, keep a high cadence and keep the power going. Everything was going well until the steepest part, right after the roundabout, I had a really hard moment to push the watts. My legs were empty.

 

"I looked back at the top of the KOM and saw a Tinkoff guy coming, and I knew they were pulling for Sagan, and they were not going to slow down. You know then it's over. Then you hear they are coming, and they pass you, and you just crack.

 

"I am disappointed because maybe I won't get this close again. I had good legs, and I knew I was the strongest of the group, but when you don't win it's always a feeling a little bit of disappointment.

 

"I tried my best. This is the Tour, and I came here to not just be one of the 200 riders. I wanted to show myself; I felt good yesterday already and today I was aiming higher. It was nice to be up there in the Tour and maybe tonight and tomorrow I will be more happy with what I have done.

 

“My main feeling is disappointment. In the breakaway, I knew I'd be the fastest if we were to arrive for the victory. I could keep a good pace in the first part of the climb but I felt empty in the steep part. It's a good thing I have at least the polka dot jersey even though I'm not really a climber. It's a nice jersey to have but my legs will hurt tomorrow.”

 

"450 meters is not long, but still too long. I tried, but the steep section of the last climb was too much."

 

"It had been a tough day and I felt that it would be difficult. I believed in it, especially with my speed, 10 kilometers from the finish.

 

"Of course I thought about Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne. But I knew what was yet to come today. I believed in it, but this is a strong field.

 

"I did not have this plan all day but I wondered who would ride in the peloton. BMC have Van Avermaet, but are still aiming for the GC. The other teams would perhaps look at each other.

 

“The jersey is a nice consolation prize, but at the moment I'm still mostly disappointed. This was a very big opportunity.

 

"Whether I will defend the jersey? I will do that. On paper I have it for two stages but I will have to look at it tonight."

 

Trek-Segafredo has made its presence felt in the first two days, earning trips to the podium for the best young rider and now the mountains jersey for their efforts. Although they missed out on the win each day they have played a significant part in each finale, finishing in the top ten both days.

 

Overshadowed by Stuyven's electrifying performance at the end of stage two, Bauke Mollema quietly grabbed the reins when his Belgium teammate was caught and sprinted to ninth place behind stage winner Peter Sagan (Tinkoff).

 

"I came to the front with a lot of speed," explained Mollema. "I was about to go and then got boxed in close to the front by a BMC rider, and I lost a lot of speed there. After this, the first riders were gone. My legs were good, and the most important was I did not lose any time. It was a shame that they took Jasper back in the final 450 meters. All day I was hoping he would make it, he was so close."

 

Director Kim Andersen agreed as he summed up the stage, which surprisingly turned into a close battle for victory:

 

"It was not the plan for Jasper to go into a small group - a bigger group, yes - but when you are there in the Tour de France, you don't stop. A breakaway like this you don't really think it's possible for the victory, but there was so much playing in the peloton, and they didn't know who should pull, and that's why they could go to the end. Then, we really thought Jasper could make. It was really close. I am so proud of Jasper."

 

Edward Theuns: I knew it would be difficult to defend the white jersey

"I tried to do as much as possible and was in the front end of the peloton, but it was too fast for me," Edward Theuns told Sporza. "I knew it was not going to be easy to maintain the white jersey. I just wanted to do my best to defend the white jersey, but the final climb was too difficult for me. That's not a disaster.

 

"It was very exciting. The team management was constantly encouraging Stuyven. I am very sorry that he was caught just before the finish, but fortunately he was rewarded with the polka-dot jersey and the combativity prize. That was a nice consolation. We obviously have a fruitful room. It can only be good for the team."

 

Chris Froome: It’s not over for Contador and Porte

Chris Froome finished 10th on a dramatic day two at the Tour de France to move up on the general classification.

 

Froome recorded the same time as stage winner Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) after a gruelling final three kilometres that saw the peloton drastically slim down.

 

His strong finish moved him up the standings to fifth overall, 14 seconds back on Sagan, while GC contenders Richie Porte (BMC) and Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) both lost significant time.

 

 

He was well marshalled by the team in the last 10km and closely followed over the line by Sergio Henao and Mikel Landa, who sit 22nd and 24th respectively, on the same time as Froome.

 

Speaking to TeamSky.com back at the bus Sport Director Servais Knaven hailed another strong stage for the team, while highlighting the advantages of staying towards the front of the peloton.

 

He said: "A good day again. Froomey's up to fifth on GC and he didn't lose time - that was the goal. Some of the GC riders lost time - Richie [Porte] with his flat tyre and Alberto [Contador] because he's crashed twice in the first two days, and that's a bit of a pity, but Chris is going well. For us, that's the main thing.

 

"I don't know how the crash happened today but it's always better to be near the front to avoid crashes and not only in the final kilometres, but all day. You don't know what's coming up. The crash was in a small village today and they can always be tricky so the further up the front you are, the better it is."

"I think the stage went well. The main objective was to stay up front and not lose any time. That worked out well for us," Froome said.

 

"They’re pretty significant gaps but it’s of course too early to count them out. The Tour will be won and lost by minutes sometimes so these gaps are still insignificant.

 

"It’s unfortunate and that comes with the territory in these kind of stages. That’s why we really try to make a big effort to be up front. Guys like Ian Stannard and Luke Rowe are up there protecting me on days like these and keeping me at the front to give me the best chance to stay out of trouble and out of harms way.

 

"That’s why you get your team to ride at the front, that’s why you fight for position. You give yourself the best chance to stay out of trouble. There are no guarantees but you give yourself the best chance.

 

"It was pretty full on. It was sketchy coming into the final and I couldn’t really hear much but all in all I’m happy to have stayed out of trouble and not lost any time to the other contenders.

"I felt alright coming into the finish. The legs feel good. Lets see. We’re still a few days away from the big mountains but for now everything is feeling like it should." 

 

“It was a big old chase and a bit frantic in the peloton, and that finish climb was tough as well”, Geraint Thomas told CyclingWeekly. “It was a real hard pace but we got Froomey in a decent position. I went slightly out the back over the top where it was really stringing out but I think Froomey was safe and that’s the main thing.”

 

“It hasn’t been as stressful as past years, for now, tomorrow might be different. I think everyone just seems a bit more calm, its definitely a good think though, I’m not complaining.”

Pierre Rolland and Cannondale praise Navardauskas after hectic day in the Tour de France

For Cannondale, Pierre Rolland finished with the front bunch on a day that saw several general contenders lose time due to splits and mechanicals. Tom-Jelte Slagter launched an attack in the final two-kilometres and Ramunas Navardauskas kept Rolland in the perfect position in the final show-down.

 

"I tried to stay ahead because if you don’t have to brake suddenly, you don’t spend as much energy,” Rolland told L’Equipe. “Of course we take a little more wind. But when you are in hundredths position, I assure you it's 100 times worse. It was not easy with bad weather and the finish was extremely technical with two climbs and then the uphill finish after two days. It was tense because everyone is fresh. I was lucky to have teammates that brought me into a good position without taking risks, without crashing or missing splits. I thank them for that. "

 

Matti Breschel added: "The final was HECTIC!" 

Lawson Craddock said: "Happy to have another day under my belt. This has been an incredible experience so far." 
 

Tom-Jelte Slagter said: "Good teamwork kept our team leader out of trouble." 

DS Fabrizio Guidi said: "Every team needs a guy like Ramunas. It's easy to tell someone how to be in a situation, but to see them do it? It's not always so easy. Ramunas was fantastic today."

 

Warren Barguil: Mission accomplished

Warren Barguil was right in the mix working his way into the select final group. He battled to 14th place, with Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) taking the stage honours in the sprint and also taking the leader’s jersey. Barguil is now fourth in the general classification.

 

Warren Barguil said: “It has ended up being a stressful stage. I suffered a small crash in the early part of the race. There was a crash in front of me as I went over a speed bump, I managed to break but riders crashed into me from behind and suddenly I was on the ground.

 

“The guys protected me well throughout the stage, and in the finale, I was always in the top 10. However, there was a sprinter that boxed me in and I lost 5-6 places. At that point it was impossible to regain my initial position. This finale was definitely not easy but now we can have some respite as two sprinters stages are out of the way.

 

"The last climb went well, I was well positioned and the guys did a great job today. I was a bit stuck in a roundabout and it cost me five or ten positions. I made an effort in the hard part and after this it was a straight line to the finish. It was hard to get back but the legs are good. It is already good. Mission accomplished. 

 

“I could not avoid the crash since Contador fell in front of me. I managed to stop with Matthews but three guys came back and we got back. This is a silly crash.”

 

Laurens ten Dam added. “It was a hard stage. I was with Tom [Dumoulin] at the bottom of the final climb and I tried to help him as much as possible. Warren was really good in the front already. I think it was a good day for him because he stayed with the best and didn’t lose any time.”

 

“We had the goal to protect Warren and to bring him in a good position towards the finish,” explained coach Marc Reef. “Warren crashed during the day. It was not a very bad crash but it’s not ideal that this happens. The guys waited for him and brought him back to the bunch.

 

“We knew it was a tough finale, with the climbs, the team did a great job and in the end with the 14th place, we can be happy.”

 

Joaquim Rodriguez: I needed a harder finish

Even though it’s only the second day for the 103rd Tour de France, the racing was already difficult and demanding for the 198 cyclists taking part in this year’s race. For Team KATUSHA, both Joaquim ‘Purito’ Rodriguez and Jurgen Van den Broeck put themselves in the front group to arrive on the same time as stage winner Peter Sagan.

 

”It has been a very fast finale. At some 350 meters from the finish there was a moment that I saw Sagan, Valverde, Alaphilippe and all team leaders in the front. I thought ‘if I try now’ there will maybe be a moment of hesitation, but that did not happen. Sagan caught me almost immediately. Then I realized it would be impossible for me to fight for the victory. The finale was not a real finale for me, although, of course, I prefer this to a flat stage, but it is obvious that this final missed some toughness to be ideal to me. Also, to be clear, I did not crash. I know Radio Tour said so, but it is not true. I am very healthy,” clarified Joaquim Rodriguez.

 

Teammates Alberto Losada and Angel Vicioso did go down, but team leader Rodriguez was not part of that crash. Losada and Vicioso are both OK.

 

Rodriguez and Van den Broeck finished 15th and twentieth respectively, all on the same time of 4:20.51 for the 183 km stage from Saint-Lô to Cherbourg.

 

“We knew this final today was very difficult and not perfect for Joaquim. It was dangerous with the rain and the turns, so we wanted him in front in good position. He was there in the front, but there were so many fast riders up there like Sagan that it was impossible for him to win,” said sports director José Azevedo.

 

After yesterday’s hard fall, team rider Michael Mørkøv was still on the start line for stage 2.

 

”This was a very difficult day for Michael and he suffered a lot just to be able to finish the stage so we need to congratulate him for all that he did. We are happy to have a rider on the team with such strong character. He cannot push with two legs because the injured leg is so swollen, so if he can get through tomorrow’s critical stage, I believe he can start to recover after that. Tomorrow is a little flatter, but there are all of these small ups and downs so it makes it difficult,” concluded director Azevedo.

 

“Today was not a stage for me, but we tried to put ‘Purito’ in the front. Yesterday was hectic and we lost one guy in the crash. So it hasn’t been a super start, but there are many days to come and I think we will perform better day by day,” said Alexander Kristoff as he looks ahead to stage three.

 

Vincenzo Nibali: It’s normal for me to lose time here

"I think we did pretty well today with Fabio [Aru] in the front positions at the finish and me not far behind,” commented Vincen Nibali on the Team bus after the finish.

 

"I lost 11 seconds to the GC contenders because I missed a bit of power in the final sprint. When the final sprint started I couldn't follow the first riders and there was a small gap but I'm confident because I think it's perfectly normal after one month without racing. On the contrary I'm satisfied with my performance because in a difficult stage with narrow roads and a high rhythm, we demonstrated that our legs are good.”

 

"It was a tough day,”Fabio Aru told Rai. “We had the rain in the first part and in the finale, Vincezo and I were in front. That's okay.”

 

Rui Costa hit the deck but feels good in first hard Tour stage

Rui Costa was in the front group (18th place) at the finish and Louis Meintjes was a few meters behind which was were enough for him to be classified with a loss of 11" to Sagan because of a gap in the front group which was created by riders in front of the South African climber.

LAMPRE-MERIDA supported Rui Costa and Meintes in the proper way and the team reacted very well when a crash occurred in the peloton and Rui Costa, Cimolai and Meintjes were involved. Luckily, no one had physical problems and they could all get back on the bike and rejoin the peloton.

Rui Costa approached the climbs in the front positions of the peloton and on the final ramp he was together with all the favourite riders.

 

"In a stage with a nervous course like today, it was important to have good legs and I think I had good feelings. I even managed to overcome the slight hiccup of the crash without problems. I hit some tiders who had already gone,” says Rui Costa. “The final was very intense. In the last 25 km there was a constant fight for positions and in those moments you spend a lot of energy.

 

“I rode well on the climb but needed a bit more strength to fight for a place among the first. I am sure I will have the opportunity to try soon.”

”Today I hit the ground,” he wrote in his diary. “But I only have slight abrasions, nothing special. It was impossible to avoid because they fell in front of me. I fell over Alberto Contador and I repeat my apology but I could not avoid it. Moreover, I can tell you that the rain hampered hinder our performance. It was a very nervous day, dangerous and with crashes. I was recovering after the crash, could rejoin the peloton and be in the first small group. The legs were good. Every day I have to see how the body reacts to the difficulties and decide the strategy while not forgetting and respecting the goal of the team which is to fight for a stage win. I want to thank the Portuguese fans who came to support me on the road. It was with pride that I saw some Portuguese flags.”

 

In the overall classification, Rui Costa is 20th at 14" to the news yellow jersey Sagan and Meintjes is 32nd at 25".

 

Thibaut Pinot happy despite small time loss at the Tour de France
There is no reason to hide it: the FDJ team was relieved on Sunday night. Thibaut Pinot missed a split in the finale (11 seconds) but it can't take away his smile.

 

"I'm happy," he said, turning the legs on his home trainer. "It was a tricky stage. There will be others, two or three, and my turn will come, but for now, it's good."

 

"Thibaut missed a split in the sprint but it does not matter," confirms sports director Yvon Madiot. "Iit's not like he was dropped on the last climb like Contador. Tonight we are happy to have finished this stage. There was wind, rain, constant braking, direction changes, road changes, small roads. The course was a bit crappy. And then there are the crashes as everyone wants to be in front. Thibaut, with his teammates, went to the front when needed but we had carefully studied the course. We knew there would be low risk of echelongs and therefore it was not necessary to keep Thibaut under pressure all day. Yes, it costs energy to stay a little behind but not as much as it does for those fighting to stay in front. And they take the risk of crashing."

 

In the end, because Arthur Vichot had carte blanche to join the fight for a result and even if he has good legs, he had to settle for 22nd place. The result was decided in the last roundabout when the peloton was single file.

 

"It's good for us to have a rider in the GC," said Madiot about Vichot who is 25th overall, seconds ahead of Sébastien Reichenbach and Thibaut Pinot. "Tomorrow I think it will be quieter. The sun will come back and the roads will be wider. I know the route by heart."

 

Romain Bardet: It’s been a positive start

Romain Bardet finished in the first group.

 

"The results of the first two days are positive,” he said. “There were no setbacks except for the crash of Jan Bakelants on Saturday. I was very well supported. There was no loss of time in the two stages which were complicated to manage. I avoided the crash in Corentin and felt good.

 

Alexis Vuillermoz: As  I feared, the finale was not hard enough

"As I feared, it was rather a finish more like that of Le Havre and less like that on Mur-de-Bretagne,” Alxis Vuillermzo said. “The sprinters survived and it was not a battle between puncheurs and climbers. We saw Tinkoff take the win with Sagan so obviously when the sprinters were there. It was fast and a big fight. Personally, I was a little short on the last 500 meters. It was impossible and suicidal to attack. Besides, no one did.”

 

Small time loss for Mathias Frank on stage 2

“The whole IAM Cycling team did an amazing amount of work for me,” Mathias Frank commented as he was climbing onto the team bus after taking 27th place, 10 seconds behind the day’s winner and new yellow jersey wearer Peter Sagan (Tinkoff).

 

 “I really thought the breakaway would make it to the end because the favorites’ teams refused to ride,” Rik Verbrugghe, sports manager for IAM Cycling, said when analyzing the day’s stage.  “In the end, we worked for Mathias Frank and Jarlinson Pantano. Unfortunately, they were caught in a small gap in the final straight.”


 

Stef Clement and Oliver Naesen from the only Swiss team in the World Tour both hit the tarmac in a mass crash.  This did not prevent them from reaching the finish line before being examined by the doctor in order to avoid any unpleasant surprises in the coming days.

 

 “The Tour is really something different from other races, and we have to forget our old habits,” Oliver Naesen carefully reflected at the end of his second day as a neophyte at the Grande Boucle.

 

Edvald Boasson Hagen misses 2% on historic day for Dimension Data

For Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka it was a magical day, taking the start in Saint-Lo as the leaders of the Tour de France thanks to Cavendish’s terrific victory on stage 1. With the yellow jersey in the African Team camp, the crowds flocked to the Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka bus, just to catch a glimpse of the Manxman before the 183km stage got underway.

 

Even though the rain fell quite consistently at the stage start, the yellow jersey shone brightly at the front of the peloton as the African Team took its place at the head of affairs from kilometer zero. 4 riders, Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo), Vegard Breen (Fortuneo), Paul Voss and Cesare Benedetti (Bora-Argon18) got the early jump on the pack and the African Team were happy to let them go 6’30” up the road.

 

With Cavendish protected up at the head of the peloton, Steve Cummings, Daniel Teklehaimanot and Natnael Berhane set a constant tempo for the majority of the stage. Cummings showed his strength by controlling proceedings for close on 100km all by himself. With a number of stage favourites in a variety of teams, some assistance was expected but it wasn’t until 30km to go when eventually BMC Racing came to the fore.

 

As expected, the climb saw Cavendish being distanced resulting in the yellow jersey being relinquished to Sagan. That took nothing away from a historical day, where for the first team ever, an African Team held the Tour de France yellow jersey. Initially, they had hopes of Edvald Boasson Hagen contesting for the stage win today too, but after the Norwegian’s crash yesterday, he wasn’t able to follow the front runners up to Cherbourg. Serge Pauwels would be the African Team’s best placed rider on the stage in the end, finishing in 38th, 17 seconds off the pace.

 

Rolf Aldag, Head of Performance, said:
 

“We won the yellow jersey yesterday and it was a great team effort. It was an impressive victory of Mark. Today the plan was to show respect to the yellow jersey, if you have it you have to ride and defend it.

 

”We wanted an early breakaway and then to stay in control of the race. Four guys got away and they got more time than what we were hoping for because they had a really strong ride. We committed Steve Cummings and he did a brilliant job and then we asked other riders to join in and keep it controlled.

 

”We knew in the final there would be big time gaps. Edvald was our guy and he really made it quite far, Cavendish was trying to hold on as long as he could. It worked out until 2km to go and then Mark paid for his efforts, he was on the limit.

 

”Edvald crashed yesterday at 65km/h so we had our doubts if he would be healthy enough. He has the shape, he proved it at nationals but that big hit he took yesterday just took away that 2% he needed to be present at the end.”

 

"It was a bit wet,” Cavendish told Eurosport. “It was nice when we saw a bit of blue sky, nice to take the long sleeve jersey off. It was super nice. Steve Cummings rode incredible on the front. We knew it was going to be hard for me to keep it but we thought why not give it a go. So that’s that. It’s not often I’m on the turbo after a stage so it shows I went a little bit deeper than I wanted to today.

 

” I’ve lost too much time to take back yellow but I’d like to wear green for a little bit. There’s a chance because the first week is a bit flatter, so it’s a while before Peter goes and gets all those 20-pointers in the intermediates in the mountains. But we’re happy to have worn the yellow."

 

Paul Voss loses mountains jersey, Sam Bennett fights on

After the fall in yesterday's stage, it was in doubt whtther Sam Bennett would be able to continue the Tour de France. In the morning, the Irish fighter decided together with the team doctor to give it a go. 

 

”I'm very happy that there is nothing broken. I could sleep well und therefore it was possible to take on the stage with a protective bandage at the fingers,” said Bennett.

 

Immediately after the official start, it was once again Paul Voss in the polka dot jersey who attacked to collect some more KOM points. After a few meters, BORA – ARGON 18 teammate Cesare Benedetti, Jasper Stuyven (Trek Segafredo) and Vegard Breen (Fortuneo) were able to join him

 

Voss tried everything to defend his jersey today, but Stuyven and Breen were the ones to take the points. After he realised that he was not able to beat them in sprints, he tried to go on a solo like yesterday, but all his efforts were countered by either Stuyven or Breen.

 

75km from the finish line there was the only sprint of this stage. Benedetti won it and got 20 points. Voss as second got 17 points in the points classification.

 

For Benedetti the fight ended 25k from the finish. Voss showed fighting spirit in a very difficult final but was caught with 2km to go.

 

Sam Bennett finished the stage in last place and will also be on the start line for tomorrow's third stage.

 

“Today I rode very offensively from the beginning and I tried everything. The chance was that we could get through to the finish, but probably it was at the point of 8k to go when we gambled too much. It´s a shame but we tried everything. You have to try as long as you can - now I need 2 days of rest in the peloton,” said Paul Voss.

 

”In the last 40k it was really hard. My my legs were still fresh and also the last kilometres should have suited me, but suddenly I got cramps. I rode together with Emu (Emanuel Buchman) to the finish and I think we did just lose a few seconds,” said Patrick Konrad.

 

Vegard Breen: I will remember this day for a long time

Fortuneo-Vital Concept had Vegard Breen in the break. The Norwegian was caught 3 kilometers from the finish but will remember his first breakaway at the Tour de France.

 

"In the beginning, the break was like all the other I have been part of but then I looked at the many people and I realized I was atthe Tour de France. I will long remember this day. The goal was to score points for the KOM classification but in the end we were close to get the stage win. I believed in it. More exactly I had to believe. We really hurt ourselves. It would have been crazy to continue without hope. Although tomorrow's stage is long, I think I can recover well. I'll be there for the Pyrenees."

 

Broken wrist for fighting Arnold Jeannesson at the Tour de France

After his crash yesterday, Cofidis GC rider Arnold Jeannesson woke up during the night with pain. After examination, micro cracks in the left wrist were found. Nevertheless, hestill started the race hoping not to suffer too much during the stage.  He reached the finish together with Luis Angel Mate, 26" behind Sagan.

Luis Angel Mate said:
 

"It was a tiring day with the difficult weather. We had to fight hard to be in a good position to tackle the finalw but after his crash at Utah Beach, Arnold Jeannesson had to be careful not to crash again. I approached the last two climb with him a little behind me and we passed many riders. Arnold has great form. He managed to finish less than thirty seconds behind the winner. We lacked the power to do better but his performance was outstanding, among the best. It demonstrates that he is geeing better but he will have to recover. There will probably be nice things to do.”

 

Cofidis manager Yvon Sanquer said: 

"On such a stage, technical, difficult and with miserable weather, Arnold Jeannesson defended himself well despite yesterday’s crash. However, Daniel Navarro had a difficult day and missed a split in the finale.”

 

Sprinter Christophe Laporte said:

 

"Monday’s finish in Angers is a slight false flat and comes after a long day. I prefer when it's like this – a long sprint after a tiring day.”