Australia’s Michael Matthews edged out world champion Peter Sagan to win the 197km 10th stage of the 2016 Tour de France between Escaldes-Engordany and Revel today.
The Orica-Bike Exchange rider, who was part of a small breakaway group, crossed the line in 4:22:39 to beat Tinkoff’s Slovakian star and Norway’s Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimenstion Data).
“It’s unbelieveable. The emotion at the moment, it is just sinking in at the moment.
“After two really bad years in this race, I was close to giving in. I just thought this race is maybe not for me and that I should perhaps focus on other races.
“Today my dream has come true,” said Matthews, who hails from Canberra.
“It was never the plan to go in a breakaway. We were hoping to have a bunch sprint into the finish after that hard climb coming into the final.”
Matthews said that his team-mates Daryl Impey and Luke Durbridge, who were also part of the front group, gave him their everything to help him secure the victory.
“No words, no words,” he said in disbelief.
Sagan took back the green points jersey from Britain’s Mark Cavendish.
Britain’s Chris Froome (Sky) remains 16 seconds ahead of compatriot Adam Yates (Orica-Bike Exchange) and 19 in front of Ireland’s Daniel Martin (Etixx-Quick-Step) in the overall standings.
Stage ten results
1. Michael Matthews (Orica-BikeExchange) 4:22:38
2. Peter Sagan (Tinkoff)
3. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data)
4. Greg van Avermaet (BMC Racing)
5. Samuel Dumoulin (AG2R La Mondiale)
6. Daryl Impey (Orica-Bike Exchange) +02
7. Luke Durbridge (Orica-Bike Exchange) +1:10
8. Damiano Caruso (BMC Racing) +3:01
9. Gorka Izaguirre (Movistar) +3:10
10. Tony Gallopin (Lotto Soudal)
Selected
62. Louis Meintjes (Lampre-Merida) +9:39
77. Reinardt Janse van Rensburg (Dimension Data)
General classsification
1. Christopher Froome (Sky) 49:08:20
2. Adam Yates (Orica-Bike Exchange) +16
3. Daniel Martin (Etixx-Quick-Step) +19
4. Nairo Quintana (Movistar) +23
5. Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) +37
6. Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) +44
7. Romain Bardet (AG2R La Mondiale)
8. Sergio Henao (Sky)
9. Louis Meintjes (Lampre-Merida) +55
10. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) +1:01
Selected
34. Daryl Impey (Orica-Bike Exchange) +27:26
121. Reinardt Janse van Rensburg (Dimension Data) +1:37:28
Points classification
1. Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) 242 points
2. Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) 204
3. Marcel Kittel (Etixx-Quick-Step) 182
King of the Mountains
1. Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) 80 points
2. Rafal Majka (Tinkoff) 77
3. Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin) 58
