Tejay van Garderen got safely through today's hectic and wet stage of the Tour de France while his teammate Daniel Oss sprinted to a top 10 result. However, the American admitted that he hates this kind of nervous stages.
BMC Racing Team's Daniel Oss finished 10th in a rain-slickened bunch sprint on the streets of London Monday on the Tour de France's final day on the British continent. Oss said he had not planned to try for the stage win that went to Marcel Kittel (Team Giant-Shimano) for the second time in three days, ahead of Peter Sagan (Cannondale Pro Cycling) and Mark Renshaw (Omega Pharma-Quick Step).
"The main objective was to keep Tejay van Garderen in a safe position and maybe get the yellow jersey with Greg Van Avermaet," Oss said. "But in the final I was there in a good position so I tried my sprint."
Van Garderen, who finished 42nd, said rain that began falling at the end of the 155-kilometer race added a dangerous element.
"The rain just made it so nervous," he said. "Everyone has fresh legs, everyone can fight really hard. I hate those finishes."
In the overall standings, Stage 2 winner Vincenzo Nibali (Astana Pro Team) kept the race lead. Van Avermaet (fourth) and van Garderen (11th) are among 20 riders within two seconds of the Italian national road champion as the race heads to France for the remaining 18 stages.
BMC Racing Team Sport Director Yvon Ledanois said he saw good teamwork to help the pair throughout the stages in Great Britain.
"It was important to support Tejay and Greg for the finals and Marcus Burghardt, Michael Schär and Daniel did a good job," he said.
Now the focus turns to Wednesday's stage and its several stretches of cobblestones, Ledanois said.
"Greg knows he has the possibility to take the jersey," Ledanois said. "He knows the first seven days for him are seven days that are very, very important."
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