Thor Hushovd takes his second stage victory as Voeckler retains his overall lead in 2011 Tour de France
Garmin-Cervelo team’s Thor Hushovd took his second stage victory and won the 16th stage of 2011 Tour de France on Tuesday, July 19. Thomas Voeckler maintained his overall leader’s yellow jersey.
The race started in Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux and ended in Gap. The 33-year-old Norwegian professional cyclist took a total of 3 hours, 31 minutes and 38 seconds to cover the distance of 163 kilometres.
After winning the stage, Thor told the media, "It's unreal, It started well with the team time trial and seven days in the yellow jersey, then I won the stage alone and now I've won the stage today against my countryman and with my teammate Hesjedal behind
me.”
Edvald Boasson Hagen of Sky Procycling was the runner-up. His team-mate, Ryder Hesjedal, was in the third place with a difference of 2 seconds.
In the last 15 kilometres, a major flash-point occurred back in the peloton, when the three-time Champion, Alberto Contador, launched the attack in the second climb and took a lead ahead of Schleck brothers and Voeckler.
The two cyclists, Cadel Evan and Samuel Sanchez, increased their pace and managed to follow Contador. Both of them managed to gain a lead and the advantage shifted to Cadel.
However, Voeckler increased his pace and managed to gain an overall lead, ahead of Cadel Evans, who was 1 minute and 54 seconds behind the Frenchmen. Frank Schleck was in the third spot with further 3 seconds down to Cadel. But the biggest loser of the day
was Andy Schleck, who was 3 minutes and 3 seconds down to Thomas.
A ten men-breakaway formed early in the stage, which included Marco Marcato (Vacansoleil-DCM), Tony Martin, Andriy Grivko (Astana), Thor Hushovd, Alan Perez Lezaun (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Sky), Ryder Hesjedal, Dries Devenyns (Quickstep),
Mikhail Ignatiev (Katusha) and Jeremy Roy (FDJ).
With 56 kilometres remaining, the breakaway group gained an advantage of 6 minutes before Katusha rider Ignatiev attacked in the final 20 kilometres. Hesjedal increased his pace and managed to pass Ingnatiev. He was then joined by the other two cyclists,
Hushovd and Edvald Boasson.
However, Thor Hushovd increased his pace and managed to gain a lead and crossed the finish line ahead of the other cyclists.
Hushovd further added, "I was thinking that it was a bit like a national championships, which is incredible. We're the only two Norwegians in the race and we're fighting it out for the win."
The next stage will start in Gap and end in Pinerolo. All the cyclists will cover the distance of 179 kilometres.
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