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2014 Tour de France: Kristoff repeats as peloton almost leaves it too late on Stage 15

July 20, 2014
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Alexander Kristoff (Norway/Katusha) took his second win in four days on Sunday’s stage to Nimes. The peloton left it very late to catch the day’s breakaway, bringing back two riders only in the last 150 km. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy/Astana) finished safely in the bunch and will carry his 4:37 gap over second place Alejandro Valverde (Spain/Movistar) into the final rest day.

The 222 km from Tallard to Nimes held no categorized climbs with a gradual descent and then a long flat section before the finish line. Two intrepid riders formed the day’s escape: Martin Elmiger (Switzerland/IAM Cycling), who had also been in Stage 11’s break, and Kiwi Jack Bauer (Garmin-Sharp). The duo took a maximum gap of 6:30.

A rainstorm lashed Nimes, and there was the threat of crosswinds. Around the 57 to go mark, crosswinds caused a split that left King of the Mountains leader Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain/Katusha) and Thomas Voeckler (France/Europcar) in a stragglers group. Up ahead, the Swiss/Kiwi alliance rode in a downpour.

Inside the 17 km mark, Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland/Omega Pharma-QuickStep) tried his luck, but he was reeled in. The sprinters teams seemed to have their calculations wrong, for the escape still had a 30 seconds gap with 3.6 km remaining. There was too much looking around at the head of the peloton as it negotiated six roundabouts in the final 5 km.

Another show of power from Tony Martin (Germany/OP-QS) seemed to wake the peloton up. Only then did the bunch pull back the escape with intent. Excruciatingly, the duo was caught 150 metres before the line, and Kristoff emerged from a chaotic group to take the victory.

Garmin-Sharp’s manager Jonathan Vaughters was very appreciative of Bauer’s efforts.

Tuesday is the final pause that refreshes in Carcassonne with the Pyrenees looming on Wednesday.

2014 Tour de France Stage 15
1) Alexander Kristoff (Norway/Katusha) 4:56:43
2) Heinrich Haussler (Australia/IAM Cycling) s.t.
3) Peter Sagan (Slovakia/Cannondale) s.t.
123) Christian Meier (Canada/Orica-GreenEdge) +2:05
126) Svein Tuft (Canada/Orica-GreenEdge) s.t.

2014 Tour de France GC
1) Vincenzo Nibali (Italy/Astana) 66:49:37
2) Alejandro Valverde (Spain/Movistar) +4:37
3) Romain Bardet (France/Ag2r) +4:50
127) Christian Meier (Canada/Orica-GreenEdge) +2:49:13
131) Svein Tuft (Canada/Orica-GreenEdge) +2:56:25

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