2014 Tour de France Stage 16 Report

Carcassonne - Bagneres-de-Luchon 237.5km

There were two abandonments on the rest day, Simon Yates of Orica-GreenEDGE and the world champion Rui Costa of Lampre-Merida. There was a breakaway of 21 riders that included Michal Kwiatkowski, Tony Gallopin, Thomas Voeckler and Bernie Eisel. Rafal Majka took the first categorised climb (Cat 4), which put him in the virtual polka-dot jersey and Montaguti took the second category 4 climb. Kluge beat Van Avermaet at the intermediate sprint, in which all the points were taken by the break. It was on the infamous 2nd Category, Col de Portet-d'Aspet, 19 years ago, where Fabio Casartelli died on the race after a horrific crash on the descent. The race paid its respects as Christian Prudhomme, Bernard Hinault and Bernard Thévenet all laid flowers at his memorial. Thomas Voeckler took 5 points at the top of the climb, Michael Rodgers took 3 points and Bakelants with TJ Slagter taking the minor points. At the summit their lead over the peloton was 10 minutes and 10 seconds. On the 3rd Category Col des Ares, Thomas Voeckler pipped Jose Serpa to take 2 points at the summit. Roger Kluge, Bernie Eisel, Samuel Dumoulin, Jeremy Roy and Florian Vachon were all dropped on the lower slopes of the Supr-category Port de Balés. Richie Porte was dropped by the peloton on the climb. Tommy Voeckler attacked from the front group but was joined by Jose Serpa. Cyril Gautier attacked from the group of 4 at the front. Jurgen van den Broeck, Fulsang and Rolland and Rodriguez were the next ones to be dropped by the peloton. Frank Schleck and Tejay Van Garderen were dropped to lower the number of riders in the yellow jersey group to just 13. Meanwhile, a tired, exhausted and pain soaked, Cyril Gautier was dropped by the front group but kept them in his sight. The home favourite Thibaut Pinot attacked with Valverde and Nibali. However, Romain Bardet was dropped and his 16 second lead over Pinot was in jeopardy. Serpa beat Voeckler and Rodgers to take  25 points at the summit, Kiryienka and Gautier went over in fourth and fifth. Thibaut Pinot distanced himself from Nibali, Valverde and Péraud. Gautier attacked on the descent but was caught and passed  by Mick Rodgers with a mere 4km to go. Kiryienka attacked with 1500m to go as he was 10 seconds behind Rodgers. Mick Rodgers held on to win the stage from Voeckler and Kiryenkia, 9 seconds back. In the GC, Romain Bardet and Tejay Van Garderen were both unhitched by the yellow jersey group. Pinot moved up to third, past Bardet.

Stage 16 Result:

1.	AUSROGERS Michael	38	TINKOFF-SAXO	06h 07' 10''
2.	FRAVOECKLER Thomas	159	TEAM EUROPCAR	06h 07' 19''	+ 00' 09''
3.	BLRKIRYIENKA Vasili	3	TEAM SKY	06h 07' 19''	+ 00' 09''
4.	COLSERPA José	118	LAMPRE - MERIDA	06h 07' 19''	+ 00' 09''
5.	FRAGAUTIER Cyril	154	TEAM EUROPCAR	06h 07' 19''	+ 00' 09''
6.	BELVAN AVERMAET Greg	148	BMC RACING TEAM	06h 07' 23''	+ 00' 13''
7.	POLKWIATKOWSKI Michal	74	OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK STEP	06h 07' 46''	+ 00' 36''
8.	ITAMONTAGUTI Matteo	88	AG2R LA MONDIALE	06h 08' 00''	+ 00' 50''
9.	NEDSLAGTER Tom Jelte	98	GARMIN - SHARP	06h 09' 21''	+ 02' 11''
10.	FRAGALLOPIN Tony	134	LOTTO-BELISOL	06h 09' 21''	+ 02' 11''

Selected Other Groups:

16.	FRAROY Jérémy	128	FDJ.FR	06h 15' 42''	+ 08' 32''
17.	FRAPINOT Thibaut	127	FDJ.FR	06h 15' 42''	+ 08' 32''
18.	ESPVALVERDE BELMONTE Alejandro	11	MOVISTAR TEAM	06h 15' 42''	+ 08' 32''
19.	FRAPÉRAUD Jean-Christophe	81	AG2R LA MONDIALE	06h 15' 42''	+ 08' 32''
20.	ITANIBALI Vincenzo	41	ASTANA PRO TEAM	06h 15' 42''	+ 08' 32''
21.	CZEKONIG Leopold	201	TEAM NETAPP-ENDURA	06h 15' 42''	+ 08' 32''

30.	FRABARDET Romain	82	AG2R LA MONDIALE	06h 17' 32''	+ 10' 22''
31.	FRAROLLAND Pierre	151	TEAM EUROPCAR	06h 18' 03''	+ 10' 53''
32.	BELVAN DEN BROECK Jurgen	131	LOTTO-BELISOL	06h 18' 42''	+ 11' 32''
33.	NEDMOLLEMA Bauke	61	BELKIN PRO CYCLING	06h 18' 42''	+ 11' 32''
34.	LUXSCHLECK Frank	161	TREK FACTORY RACING	06h 18' 42''	+ 11' 32''
35.	FRAMOINARD Amaël	144	BMC RACING TEAM	06h 19' 18''	+ 12' 08''
36.	SVKVELITS Peter	149	BMC RACING TEAM	06h 19' 18''	+ 12' 08''
37.	USAVAN GARDEREN Tejay	141	BMC RACING TEAM	06h 19' 18''	+ 12' 08''
38.	USAHORNER Christopher	114	LAMPRE - MERIDA	06h 19' 18''	+ 12' 08''
39.	GBRTHOMAS Geraint	8	TEAM SKY	06h 19' 18''	+ 12' 08''
40.	ESPMATE MARDONES Luis Angel	175	COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CREDITS	06h 19' 18''	+ 12' 08''
41.	FRARIBLON Christophe	89	AG2R LA MONDIALE	06h 19' 18''	+ 12' 08''