Banking Team Hog The Limelight

Cycling mad IFAs were no doubt glued to their screens yesterday as they watched stage winner Zdenek Stybar (team Etixx-Quick Step) grab a cheeky victory in Le Harve on Stage 6 of this year’s Tour de France.

Tinkoff-Saxo’s ever-present Peter Sagan – who’s beginning to look like the bridesmaid, never the bride – snatched his third second place of the Tour.

Sagan said: “Today I demonstrated that I had good legs, but this is the race and today everybody expected me to make a move. You have to stay cool and sometimes things don’t turn out exactly how you want it to and sometimes they do. I didn’t notice the crash, but apparently it happened just behind me. Then Stybar attacked, where the climb flattened and the group didn’t have the legs. I said to the other riders that I wasn’t going to pull because they were all looking at me.

“If I had gone to the front to pull, I wouldn’t win the sprint. I’m still happy with my second place because it’s still some points for the green jersey, as Greipel wasn’t there. I won in the group, but the tactical situation made it very difficult, everybody knows it’s hard to win in the Tour. My strategy was to be at the front on the final climb and wait for the sprint, but there were nobody to close the gap to Stybar. I won the green jersey for three years in a row and it would be nice to do that again, but it will be difficult for sure”.

Tinkoff-Saxo Head Sport Director Steven de Jongh gave some background to the race: “I think that today was less hectic than the previous days and the boys did a concentrated job once again. Sagan was free to ride for the stage and he showed that he’s in very good condition. He positioned himself very well on the final climb and showed that he had the speed to pull it off today. But Stybar had different plans and he made a very clever move, while the sprinters were waiting for somebody to take responsibility.

“Peter was isolated up there in the group following the crash. That’s how it is, as we also have our focus on Alberto, but Katusha had some guys up there but they apparently didn’t want to take control. Peter took 2nd place, it’s a bit of a shame, but with that said, we are very happy that none of our riders were affected by the final crash that unfortunately cost Tony Martin a broken collarbone.”

Stage 7 takes them to Fougeres from Lavarot.

Standings:

Stage 6 Result:

1.		STYBAR Zdenek Etixx – Quick Step	04:53:46
2.		SAGAN Peter Tinkoff – Saxo	0:02
3.		COQUARD Bryan Team Europcar	–
4.		DEGENKOLB John Team Giant – Alpecin	–
5.		VAN AVERMAET Greg BMC Racing Team	–
6.		GALLOPIN Tony Lotto Soudal	–
7.		BOASSON HAGEN Edvald MTN – Qhubeka	–
8.		CIMOLAI Davide Lampre – Merida	–
9.		SIMON Julien Cofidis, Solutions Crédits	–
10.		IZAGIRRE Gorka Movistar Team	–

—

16.		CONTADOR Alberto Tinkoff – Saxo	–
58.		KREUZIGER Roman Tinkoff – Saxo	–
70.		ROGERS Michael Tinkoff – Saxo	–
72.		VALGREN ANDERSEN Michael Tinkoff – Saxo	–
87.		BENNATI Daniele Tinkoff – Saxo	–
126.		TOSATTO Matteo Tinkoff – Saxo	–
153.		MAJKA Rafał Tinkoff – Saxo	–
182.		BASSO Ivan Tinkoff – Saxo	4:45

General Classification

1.		MARTIN Tony Etixx – Quick Step	22:13:14
2.		FROOME Christopher Team Sky	0:12
3.		VAN GARDEREN Tejay BMC Racing Team	0:25
4.		SAGAN Peter Tinkoff – Saxo	0:27
5.		GALLOPIN Tony Lotto Soudal	0:38
6.		VAN AVERMAET Greg BMC Racing Team	0:40
7.		URAN Rigoberto Etixx – Quick Step	0:46
8.		CONTADOR Alberto Tinkoff – Saxo	0:48
9.		STYBAR Zdenek Etixx – Quick Step	1:04
10.		THOMAS Geraint Team Sky	1:15

—

15.		KREUZIGER Roman Tinkoff – Saxo	2:03
36.		ROGERS Michael Tinkoff – Saxo	8:59
81.		BENNATI Daniele Tinkoff – Saxo	19:23
90.		VALGREN ANDERSEN Michael Tinkoff – Saxo	21:32
131.		MAJKA Rafał Tinkoff – Saxo	31:13
154.		TOSATTO Matteo Tinkoff – Saxo	38:41
167.		BASSO Ivan Tinkoff – Saxo	44:11