Danish rider gaining confidence: “I think we still have a lot of surprises in our legs in the next two weeks.”
Having said that he was determined to bounce back after a disappointing first day in the Pyrenees, Jakob Fuglsang did just that on Sunday, but had to make do with second on the stage to Bagnères de Bigorre.
The Astana rider attacked just after Dan Martin (Garmin-Sharp) made his move on the final climb of the day, La Hourquette d’Ancizan, and bridged across. The two then joined forces to lead over the summit and onwards down the thirty kilometre descent to the finish.
“We got over the final climb and started the descent and I was hoping that they wouldn't catch us but never certain that we could make it,” said Fuglsang, speaking of their flat-out ride to hold off the chasers behind. “Froome was alone and had to do all the work himself, but none of the other teams were attacking him.”
Fuglsang’s escape was reminiscent of his move with Samuel Sanchez on stage seven of the Critérium du Dauphiné. On that occasion the duo made it to the finish, and there Sanchez outsprinted the Dane to the line.
Martin is another known fast finisher, and was a big danger to Fuglsang. He jumped just before the last corner, got a bike length going through it and then pulled away to the line. “My race with Martin came to the final kilometers and then for a sprint he took the final turn ahead of me and got the win,” said Fuglsang. “Congratulations to him. I would have liked to win myself.
“In any case it was a good day for the team after losing three riders in the first week. I think we still have a lot of surprises in our legs in the next two weeks.”
Having started the day seventeenth overall after cracking somewhat yesterday, he jumped up five places to twelfth. He is now three minutes and seven seconds behind the race leader Chris Froome (Sky) and is determined to continue advancing.
“The goal remains the same now as it was at the start in Corsica - a top ten finish in the Tour de France,” he stated.
The race has its first rest day tomorrow. The next rendezvous for the GC riders is Wednesday’s time trial, after which they will duke it out on Mont Ventoux next Sunday.