Slovakian world champion Peter Sagan won the 11th stage of the 2016 Tour de France to increase his lead in the green jersey competition in Montpellier today.
World champion Peter Sagan takes another Tour de France stage win in Montpellier today. Photo: SuperSport
The Tinkoff rider outsprinted overall leader Chris Froome (Sky) and his Polish team-mate Maciej Bodnar to claim top honours in the 162.5km ride from Carcassonne.
The top three were part of a four-man breakaway group, which also included Froome’s Welsh team-mate Geraint Thomas, that went clear of the main peloton in the crosswinds in the closing kilometres.
Froome now leads compatriot Adam Yates (Orica-BikeExchange) by 28 seconds in the overall standings with Ireland’s Daniel Martin (Etixx-Quick-Step) third, a further three seconds back.
“It was something crazy that just happened,” Sagan said after collecting his second stage win of this year’s race.
“I can’t believe it, we went and then Froome and Thomas came with us. I said we were strong and they (the peloton) were never going to catch us and we just pulled very hard and it happened. Unbelievable.
“Everyone was concerned about the wind, but it was only in the last 15km. You knew you had to stay in the front because the bunch would split for sure,” said Sagan.
“To go in a break with the yellow jersey, green jersey and two other guys, you cannot plan that. It just happened. It’s crazy.”
Stage eleven results
1. Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) 3:26:23
2. Christopher Froome (Sky)
3. Maciej Bodnar (Tinkoff)
4. Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) +06
5. Christophe Laporte (Cofidis/Solutions Credits)
6. Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo)
7. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data)
8. André Greipel (Lotto Soudal)
9. Sondre Holst Enger (IAM Cycling)
10. Oliver Naesen (IAM Cycling)
Selected
11. Reinardt Janse van Rensburg (Dimension Data) +06
65. Louis Meintjes (Lampre-Merida) +1:09
166. Daryl Impey (Orica-BikeExchange) +5:39
General classification
1. Chris Froome (Sky) 52:34:37
2. Adam Yates (Orica-Bike Exchange) +28
3. Daniel Martin (Etixx-Quick-Step) +31
4. Nairo Quintana (Movistar) +35
5. Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) +56
6. Romain Bardet (AG2R La Mondiale)
7. Sergio Henao (Sky)
8. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) +1:13
9. Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing)
10. Roman Kreuziger (Tinkoff) +1:28
Selected
13. Louis Meintjes (Lampre-Merida) +2:10
37. Daryl Impey (Orica-BikeExchange) +33:11
115. Reinardt Janse van Rensburg (Dimension Data) +1:37:40
Points classification
1. Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) 309 points
2. Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) 219
3. Marcel Kittel (Etixx-Quick-Step) 202
King of the Mountains
1. Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) 80 points
2. Rafal Majka (Tinkoff) 77
3. Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin) 58
