Between the teams Tejay van Garderen, the American now second overall, and Chris Froome, the gap reached one second after the 28 kilometers between Plumelec Vannes.
Actually, the difference between the two teams is limited to 62/100, according to the timekeepers that are based on the time of the fifth rider of each team. Even less than 75 hundredths of a second separating the first two in the previous year in 2013 in the Tour (Orica to Quick Step).
What are the beneficiaries of the day?
L According race looked like an election night, each claiming to have pulled it off because of the limited variation between the four favorites of the Tour. Barely thirty seconds between Sky and Froome Astana Italian Vincenzo Nibali, the fifth step of the Tinkoff behind Alberto Contador.
However, the most enviable record could return to Nairo Quintana, visibly legs to approach the mountain discover that the Tour starting Tuesday in the Pyrenees.
His Movistar team placed third the year, just 4 seconds victorious training. Without that performance is a real surprise given the composition of the Spanish group, strengthened by several specialists against the clock (Castroviejo, Dowsett, Malori).
The team of Colombian climber lost some time -from the order of ten seconds-when it is disorganized in the last third course. But, then returned to normal.
“All is well for now” , welcomed his Spanish teammate Alejandro Valverde, a key man in this discipline. “The mountain looks good” .
Nibali, for its part, has reassured the day after his performance against-Mûr-de-Bretagne, when he was behind in the finish climb.
“I had good feelings. I am confident, I think yesterday (Saturday) was special. I was a bit stuck, I do not know why because I am fit “, assured the Italian champions, emerging Tour winner.
The most impressive of the favorites, a again, was Froome, author of endless relay on the road bordered by the Brittany crowd. But the yellow jersey has nibbled to finish as 3 seconds Quintana, now pointed to 1 min 59 sec overall.
What are the losers?
The big armadas ( BMC, Sky, Movistar, Tinkoff, Astana) confiscated the top five, the other teams have picked up the crumbs. Seeking to limit especially sensitive.
In this registry, AG2R La Mondiale, which had everything to fear from the day sold 1 min 14 sec compared to van Garderen, an opponent to be taken into account for a possible podium finish. However a lesser evil if we take into account the handicap suffered because of the puncture occurred at the beginning Christophe Riblon course.
Thibaut Pinot has spent ten seconds. For the Franche-Comté and the FDJ, the game was uneven without the presence of a roller as William Bonnet, forced to retire after his serious fall last Monday in the third stage.
Main loser Day, the Russian team Katusha (19th only) disbursed 1 min 53 sec. Overall, the delay of its Spanish climber Joaquim Rodriguez, winner of the Mur de Huy, grew up near the four minutes.
Finally, Warren Barguil, whose team was deprived of Giant his best specialist (Tom Dumoulin) dropped over a minute and a half. Without following his first Tour, so committed so encouraging either provided compromised.
Very easy to look in Cadoudal, a climb he knows every meter a heart, has mostly enjoyed Morbihannais the presence of the Breton public came in droves: “Thank you for this tremendous support. This is a moment I will never forget. “
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