Warren Barguil finished 21st after another strong performance on stage 11 in the Tour de France, which was the second day in the Pyrenees. Rafal Majka won the stage after an attack from the breakaway group, the yellow jersey of Christopher Froome wasn’t endangered today.
A very fast first two hours of constant attacks and different leading groups eventually led to a breakaway group of 7 riders, which left after 70km. On the Col d’Aspin Daniel Martin bridged the gap making the front group to eight riders.
On the Col de Tourmalet, the hors category climb of the day, Team Sky controlled the bunch and towards the top set a high pace. On the summit of the Tourmalet the yellow jersey group consisted of 20 riders and Warren Barguil followed at 55”.
In the descent, Warren Barguil showed his skills and closed the gap by himself. On the final ascent, the Côte de Cauterets the GC group split up again and Warren Barguil had to let go to finish 21st.
Rafal Majka (Tinkoff – Saxo) won the stage with a solo, which he started on the Col de Tourmalet. The yellow jersey of Christopher Froome (Team Sky) wasn’t endangered today.
After the stage Warren Barguil said:
“Today was painful on the bike as I was suffering from my crash of yesterday, but I only thought about the race.
“I know the Col de Tourmalet and knew on the summit that I had a chance to come back in the descent because I know exactly where to brake hard. Two times it almost went wrong as I passed the cows and the sports director car, so that was a little scary.
“I am happy with today’s result and I will continue to fight.
“It was complicated. Yesterday, I still had some adrenalin left from the crash. Today I didn't have any left. I felt the counter-effect today with the heat, but I'm still here. I didn't recover, I woke up several times during the night. On the bike, it really hurts in the back and the neck. I hope it will go better tomorrow. Today it started full gas and it never calmed down in the first 60 km. To recover from a crash, it was not the ideal day.
“Tomorrow should suit me better. It's steeper than the Tourmalet and steep slopes is what I relish. I hope to be better on Plateau de Beille. In the descent of the Tourmalet, I needed to close the gap at all costs but I didn't take any risks. I know the descent well. It was on my training roads. Even when I saw the cow on the road, I stared at her in the eyes and I rode past on the left.”
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