Ramunas Navardauskas may have taken the win but the first card Garmin-Sharp played in stage 19 of the Tour de France was Tom-Jelte Slagter. Having taken a big turn for his Lithuanian teammate, the Dutchman who earned the most agressive rider award, played a key role in the victory.

Garmin-Sharp went into stage 19 of the Tour de France knowing that it was their final chance to take a win in the race and they made a successful plan that included several different steps. First Tom-Jelte Slagter was part of the early breakaway before taking off on his own and later Ramunas Navardauskas bridged the gap and rode off to take a solo win.

Slagter took a huge turn for his teammate before dropping back to the peloton and he was selected as the most aggressive rider of the race. He was relieved to have salvaged Garmin-Sharp's Tour on the very last day they had a chance.

“It couldn't be better," he said. "We came to the Tour with a very strong team and we lost our guy for GC but we kept fighting. At the end, we win this stage. It doesn't matter who is the winner, me or another team member. I'm happy.

"We worked really well in the breakaway and I had the legs to leave the guys behind when I realized the peloton wasn't very far behind. I knew Navardauskas was stronger for the final part. He can time trial very well so I gave him this last pull at the top of the hill. We had to win a stage. Tonight, it's champagne!”