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The breakaway stole the limelight on Stage 11 of the 2015 Tour de France, with the slopes of the infamous Col du Tourmalet once again determining the victor.
Helping to improve Tinkoff – Saxo’s morale and fortunes after yesterday’s brutalisation at the hands of Sky Pro Cycling, Rafal Majka rode clear of his breakaway companions on the Col du Tourmalet to claim the stage victory. No one could catch the Polish climber as he finished the stage over a minute clear of nearest rivals Dan Martin and Emanuel Buchmann.
The eventual break of the day had trouble forming during the first 80 kilometres of the stage due to the peloton’s fussiness over who was allowed to escape up the road. Eventually Thomas Voeckler (Europcar), Rafal Majka (Tinkoff-Saxo), Serge Pauwels (MTN-Qhubeka), Emanuel Buchmann (Bora-Argon 18), Daniel Martin (Cannondale-Garmin) and FDJ’s Steve Morabito and Arnaud Demare were allowed to ride away.
Joined by Astana’s Andriy Grivko, Dan Martin missed the initial formation of the breakaway and would have to bridge a gap of over three minutes to join it. With Andriy Grivko proving no help on the climb of the Col d’Aspin the Irishman set off alone to bridge the gap to the lead group.
Sensing an opportunity to distance his breakaway rivals Rafal Majka attacked with seven kilometres of the Col du Tourmalet remaining. The Polish rider wouldn’t be seen again by his former breakaway companions until the stage presentations, with Serge Pauwels his closest rival over a minute back for most of the remainder of the stage.
MTN – Qhubeka and Serge Pauwels would miss out on a historic podium finish in their first Tour de France after both Dan Martin and Emanuel Buchmann caught and past the Belgian rider before the finishing line. However, the African Pro-Continental team would be pleased with their fourth place finish on the stage.
Trek Factory Racing’s Bauke Mollema attacked on the final climb of the day, the Côte de Cauterets, to claw back ten seconds in the general classification and move up in to tenth overall after Vincenzo Nibali delivered a sub-par performance. Meanwhile, Team Movistar’s Alejandro Valverde clawed back a mere two seconds after he distanced the Maillot Jaune group in the dash for the line.
With most of the general classification riders having a relatively easy day, Stage 11 of the 2015 Tour de France will be remembered for Rafal Majka’s breakaway victory and no less than six retirements from the race.
2015 Tour de France – Stage 11 Results:
01. Rafal Majka (Tinkoff – Saxo)… 05:02:01″
02. Dan Martin (Cannondale – Garmin)… +1:00″
03. Emanuel Bachmann (Bora – Argon 18)… +1:23″
04. Serge Pauwels (MTN – Qhubeka)… +2:08″
05. Thomas Voeckler (Europcar)… +3:34″
06. Julien Simon (Team Cofidis)… +3:34″
07. Bauke Mollema (Trek Factory Racing)… +5:11″
08. Alejandro Valverde (Team Movistar)… +5:19″
09. Chris Froome (Sky Pro Cycling)… +5:21″
10. Alberto Contador (Tinkoff – Saxo)… +5:21″
2015 Tour de France – General Classification after Stage 11:
01. Christopher Froome (Team Sky)… 41:03:31″
02. Tejay Van Garderen (BMC Racing)… +2:52″
03. Nairo Quintana (Team Movistar)… +3:09″
04. Alejandro Valverde (Team Movistar)… +3:59″
05. Geraint Thomas (Team Sky)… +4:03″
06. Alberto Contador (Tinkoff – Saxo)… +4:04″
07. Tony Gallopin (Lotto Soudal)… +4:33″
08. Robert Gesink (LottoNL – Jumbo)… +4:35″
09. Warren Barguil (Giant – Alpecin)… +6:44″
10. Bauke Mollema (Trek Factory Racing)… +7:05″
Demoralised after yesterday’s destruction at the hands of Team Sky the other general classifications riders need to regroup and plan a counter-offensive. Join The Roar for live coverage of Stage 11 of the 2015 Tour de France from 10:00pm (AEST).
Beginning in Pau, the eleventh stage of the 2015 Tour de France will be a true test of endurance as the peloton climb no less than six categorised climbs. Climbing the Category 1 classified Col d’Aspin and the infamous Hors Categorie classified Col du Tourmalet, today’s stage won’t see the race favourites reach the final climb fresh for battle.
However, long before the stage victory is contested by either a lone escapee or small group of riders the sprinters will get a chance to battle each other at the intermediate sprint. Located 56.5 kilometres in to the stage before the serious climbing begins, Andre Greipel is expected to increase his narrow lead in the points classification over Peter Sagan.
Beginning 105 kilometres in to the stage, the Col d’Aspin will be the first serious challenge of the day. Officially 12 kilometres in length, the Category 1 climb features an average gradient of 6.5 per cent, the later half of the climb featuring sectors as high as 9.5 per cent.
Following the summit of the Col d’Aspin the riders will begin a descent roughly 13 kilometres in length that takes them to the beginning of the Col du Tourmalet. While the initial five kilometres of the ascent rarely gets above five per cent, the remaining 12 kilometres averages a challenging gradient of almost nine per cent. If anyone plans on making a daring long range attack this should be their launch pad.
Waiting on the other side of the Col du Tourmalet’s summit will be a long 30 kilometre descent that takes the riders to the foot of our final, decisive climb of the day the Côte de Cauterets. Officially listed as being 6.4 kilometres long, the climb features an almost step-like rise to the finishing line on the in-depth climb profile.
An average gradient of merely five per cent doesn’t tell the entire story however, with sections as high as 10 per cent lying in wait during the final four kilometres. The final 1300 metres can be broken down into three, potentially decisive, parts: a 700 metre-long section of five to six per cent, a 200-300 metre-long section of one to two per cent and final 300 metre-long section of six to seven per cent in gradient.
After yesterday’s demolition of the opposition all eyes will be on Team Sky and another display of domination is expected. However, eliminating a monumental chunk of the field’s general classification ambitions has its drawbacks as now several world-class riders have turned their minds towards securing an illustrious stage victory during the remainder of the race.
As a result, rogue breakaways will now be just that little bit more dangerous and difficult to control for Team Sky starting from today.
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