Tuesday 16 / April / 2024
Cherbourg: Alberto Contador's Tour de France chances took another knock on Sunday as the Spaniard lost time to the big favourites, crashing for the second time in as many days during the second stage won by his team mate and world champion Peter Sagan.
Slovak Sagan perfectly timed his effort in the final climb to pip France's Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx-Quick Step) and Spain's Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) and take the overall leader's yellow jersey.
"It's a great day for the team," team owner Oleg Tinkov told reporters.
"It's sad for Alberto but last year he won the Giro (d'Italia) despite a crash so I still believe in him."
Contador, who fell off his bike 60 kilometres into the 183-km ride from Saint Lo, crossed the finish line 48 seconds behind Sagan and the other top guns at the exception of Australian Richie Porte (BMC).
"The team worked well, it's great to wear the yellow jersey. I'm a bit sad for Alberto but he is alright. He is strong," said Sagan.
Australian Porte, another podium contender, suffered a puncture in the finale and lost 1:45.
Belgian Jasper Stuyven thought he had the stage in the bag after attacking his breakaway companions with 8.5km left but he was caught 450 metres from the line as the stage favourites launched their effort.
Contador, Tour winner in 2007 and 2009, hit the deck again on a slippery road as part of a pile-up also involving Frenchman Warren Barguil, German Tony Martin and Spain's Joaquim Rodriguez.
After changing his bike, Contador was brought back into the bunch by several team mates but he could not follow the best.
Another favourite, France's Thibaut Pinot (FDJ), lost 11 seconds.
Sagan leads Alaphilippe overall by eight seconds and Valverde, who finished third overall last year, by 10.
Defending champion Chris Froome (Team Sky) and last year's runner-up Nairo Quintana (Movistar) are 14 seconds off the pace in fifth and seventh positions respectively.
