Tinkoff-Saxo’s Christopher Juul-Jensen made a qualified attempt to snatch the stage win in Route du Sud launching an attack in the finale. Although he was caught before the finish line, Juul-Jensen says that he’s pleased to have been given the chance. Team captain Alberto Contador finished in the first decimated group after a steep final kilometer, where Bryan Coquard took the win.
 
Upon crossing the finish line, Chris Juul-Jensen went into details with his attempt on stage 2.
 
"It feels very nice to be able to race at the front again and race aggressively in the finale. It's a smaller race compared to the ones I took part in the last few weeks and this gives me the opportunity to try and see what I can get out of myself, when the opportunity arises. Unfortunately, it would have been better if the two breakaways had held but you will never win if you never try. I'm happy to see I have digested the Giro quite well, I looked after myself back home and properly prepared for this race. I wanted to use this race to show I'm coming back into form and I'm very motivated to race”, says Chris Juul-Jensen and adds:
 
“Today we had a hard finale. The Route du Sud is a good training for the riders that will go on to the Tour. It's up and down all day and a good way to build your legs. In the finale, the riders in my group knew that our chances were getting thinner by the minute. I tried to attack towards the end but they were quickly coming from behind us. It was a tricky uphill finish and the final 500 meters were very hard. To have a realistic chance at winning we would have needed probably another 20 seconds of advantage in the final 2km”.
 
Chris Juul-Jensen was caught going into the final part of today’s 141km stage 2 from Auch to Saint-Gaudens and now directs his attention towards supporting team captain Alberto Contador.
 
“I'm very thankful to the team and Alberto who allowed me to give it a shot if I felt I had the legs. I'm still on the hunt for my first stage win as a pro, so I appreciate it they gave me that opportunity. Tomorrow, I will be focused on giving my best for Alberto. We have to make sure he is well placed to have the best result possible and, hopefully, we will then have to defend on Sunday. I had my chance yesterday and today but on Saturday and Sunday, we will all work hard for Alberto”, adds Chris Juul-Jensen.

Patxi Vila, Tinkoff-Saxo sports director, explains that Juul-Jensen’s attempt provided him with an ideal opportunity to gain experience.
 
"Today's stage was definitely calmer than yesterday, and shorter. With the race leader and team responsibilities better defined today, we knew we didn't have to work too hard. We stayed in the wheel and tried to finish the stage in the best way possible, in view of tomorrow 's queen stage. Just like yesterday, Juul-Jensen tried to attack for the stage win and nearly made it. He feels he has the form and Alberto Contador is well covered by the remaining six riders, so we allowed him to give it a shot and try to win the stage”, says Patxi Vila before adding:
 
“He tried it both days and today he commented he thought he probably made an error in choosing the moment to attack. However, he's a young rider and still lacks that kind of experience. He doesn't find himself often in situations, where he has a serious chance to win a stage, so he doesn't have the instincts. It's good though to give a young rider like him the chance to win a stage”.
 
Route du Sud heads into the high mountains on tomorrow’s stage to Bagneres-de-Luchon with Port de Balès as the main challenge. Vila notes that team captain Alberto Contador looks forward to the stage.
 
“Alberto feels in good shape after the first two days of racing and is getting back to race mode. He looks forward to Saturday's queen stage. After the initial transition stages he wants to race in what is his terrain. As I said before, one of the main goals we have in this race is tomorrow's stage, which will possibly define the GC. With Alberto having a good shape and high morale we will try to go for it. We will see how we feel tomorrow and after assessing our rivals we will set the final strategy”, concludes Patxi Vila.