Foix, France: Frenchman Warren Barguil won the 13th stage of the Tour de France, Friday as Nairo Quintana and Alberto Contador resurrected their yellow jersey hopes. It was Barguil’s first stage win on the Tour and he became the second French cyclist to achieve the feat on Bastille Day after David Montecoutie in 2005.
“It has been a dream come true for me,” Barguil stated after the 101km blast from Saint-Girons to Foix deep in the south west of France. “I have always grown up idolising Contador and to win a Stage in which he is participating is something surreal for me. I don’t really know what to say,” he added.
Colombia’s Quintana was second and Spaniard Contador third to take back almost two minutes on Italian Fabio Aru, who maintained the race lead at the end of the stage.
Reigning champion Chris Froome finished alongside Aru, 1 minute 48 seconds behind the winner, to keep hold of second place at a difference of six seconds with Frenchman Romain Bardet remaining third with a time difference of 25 seconds.
The attention however, was riveted to Froome. Will his legs hold good after a disappointing Thursday when he lost the yellow jersey? Or will he fightback? He hit back brilliantly with some short sprints that had the field opening up time and again. Overall, he was satisfied at the way he had fared. He had the smile back on his face even though he had the yellow jersey.
“Yesterday (Thursday) was a difficult day for me in the final but today (Friday) I felt good. I think it was a great outcome for us (Team Sky). Overall now we have two persons including me who are in race for the title (the other being Mikel Landa),” Froome informed.
Agencies
