Michael Matthews Sprints to Victory in Stage 10 Tour de France
Michael Matthews of Orica-BikeExchange won Stage 10 of the 2016 Tour de France in a sprint finish in Revel. He and Peter Sagan (Tinkoff), Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) and Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data) sprinted to the line, and Matthews survived to win. Matthews has now won a stage victory in all three Grand Tours. Sagan took over the lead in the Green Jersey competition today, passing Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) in the standings. Chris Froome retained the Yellow Jersey over Adam Yates (Orica-BikeExchange). There are nine cyclists within one minute of Froome with Mont Ventoux looming on Stage 12.
A couple of breakaway groups formed early, but did not build a gap to the peloton and were most of the riders were caught by the peloton. Rui Costa (Lampre-Merida) stayed out in front of the peloton and was the first over the top of the Port d’Envalira, winning the Henri Desgrange prize for being the first rider to cross over the highest point of the Tour. Henri Desgrange was the first race director of the Tour. Peter Sagan ((Tinkoff) was near the front of the peloton, while the other sprinters stayed in the back of the peloton to conserve energy for the finish. Team Sky controlled the pace of the peloton at the front protecting Chris Froome.
A four rider breakaway formed on the descent, Sagan, Rui Costa, Michael Matthews (Orica–BikeExchange) and Vincenzo Nibali (Astana), building a 50-second lead. This breakaway soon grew to 15 riders, and they built a 6-minute lead with 117 km (72 miles) to go. The group includes Vincenzo Nibali (Astana), Peter Sagan (Tinkoff), Samuel Dumoulin (AG2R-La Mondiale), Greg Van Avermaet (BMC), Edvald Boasson Hagen and Steve Cummings (Dimension Data), Tony Gallopin (Lotto-Soudal), Rui Costa (Lampre-Merida), and Sylvain Chavanel (Direct Energie).
Sagan won the intermediate sprint, which moved him ahead of Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) in the Green Jersey competition. At the end of the day, Sagan was 38 points ahead of Cavendish. The 15 man breakaway was reduced to 7 at the 25 km to go as Sagan attacked and split the breakaway group. Unfortunately for Sagan, the 7-man group had three Orica-BikeExchange riders, and they proceeded to attack the group in the final section of the stage and wear down Sagan and the others. Daryl Impey of Orica-BikeExchange led the group in the final kilometer with Sagan following on his wheel and Matthews in third. Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) started the final charge to the line, with Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data) following. But Matthews sprinted ahead of the group, with Sagan close beside him. Matthews held on to win at the line.
Stage Results
1
|
Michael Matthews
|
Orica-BikeExchange
|
4:22:38
|
2
|
Peter Sagan
|
Tinkoff Team
| |
3
|
Edvald Boasson Hagen
|
Dimension Data
| |
4
|
Greg Van Avermaet
|
BMC Racing Team
| |
5
|
Samuel Dumoulin
|
AG2R La Mondiale
| |
6
|
Daryl Impey
|
Orica-BikeExchange
|
0:00:02
|
7
|
Luke Durbridge
|
Orica-BikeExchange
|
0:01:10
|
General Classification Standings
1
|
Chris Froome
|
Team Sky
|
49:08:20
|
2
|
Adam Yates
|
Orica-BikeExchange
|
0:00:16
|
3
|
Dan Martin
|
Etixx - Quick-Step
|
0:00:19
|
4
|
Nairo Quintana
|
Movistar Team
|
0:00:23
|
5
|
Joaquim Rodriguez
|
Team Katusha
|
0:00:37
|
6
|
Bauke Mollema
|
Trek-Segafredo
|
0:00:44
|
7
|
Romain Bardet
|
AG2R La Mondiale
| |
8
|
Sergio Henao
|
Team Sky
| |
9
|
Louis Meintjes
|
Lampre - Merida
|
0:00:55
|
10
|
Alejandro Valverde
|
Movistar Team
|
0:01:01
|
11
|
Tejay Van Garderen
|
BMC Racing Team
| |
12
|
Roman Kreuziger
|
Tinkoff Team
|
0:01:16
|
13
|
Fabio Aru
|
Astana Pro Team
|
0:01:23
|
Point Competition Standings
1
|
Peter Sagan -
|
Tinkoff Team
|
242 pts
|
2
|
Mark Cavendish
|
Dimension Data
|
204
|
3
|
Marcel Kittel
|
Etixx - Quick-Step
|
182
|
4
|
Michael Matthews
|
Orica-BikeExchange
|
124
|
5
|
Greg Van Avermaet
|
BMC Racing Team
|
112
|
6
|
Bryan Coquard
|
Direct Energie
|
112
|
7
|
André Greipel
|
Lotto Soudal
|
89
|
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