UAE Team Emirates’ fine form at the 2018 Tour de France continued as Alexander Kristoff did the team jersey proud with a powerful sprint into the wind that earned him a respectable second-place finish in Valence on Stage 13.
It was a day for the sprinters – who had survived the Alps – to demonstrate their power, and a day for the GC contenders to stay safe and minimise any time loss.
UAE Team Emirates set off among a depleted peloton of 154 riders, taking on a flat 169.5km route from Bourg d’Oisans.
The race unfolded as expected with a breakaway forming after 22km and being allowed to stretch its lead to 2:20” before gradually being reeled in.
Leading the chase were UAE Team Emirates who controlled the peloton by taking on over 35 per cent of the workload from the 70km-90km mark.
Kristoff used the team’s efforts to snatch 11 more green jersey points as he contested the intermediate sprint at Saint Quentin Sur Isere, winning the battle, but crossing the line fifth behind the four man breakaway.
The European champion continued to fight until the end, ensuring he was in good position to challenge for the stage win near to the finish line. With 5.6kms to go the final breakaway rider was absorbed into the peloton, the pace increased and the sprint trains began to form.
The Norwegian saw the moves ahead and sprang into action, bullying his way to the front of the pack. With 200m to go he illuminated the race by forcing a three-way sprint with Arnaud Demare (Groupama FDJ) and Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe).
Kristoff timed his attack well, but narrowly missed out on first place by a matter of inches after world champion Sagan came round him to cross the line first in 3:45:55.
Kristoff said: “I had a good finish, but unfortunately it was not enough. I tried to keep Sagan behind me, but he’s an unbelievable guy. He’s beaten me like this before and did it again today so I am of course disappointed.
“I timed my attack perfectly and kept my pace until the finish line, but he [Sagan] was just faster.”
Team leader Dan Martin, meanwhile, crossed the line safely with no time loss and has now moved up from 10th to ninth place in the overall standings.
Looking ahead to Saturday’s stage, Martin said: “After two weeks of racing, tomorrow will be hard, but we’re going to give it a go. It’s always really hot in that area, which suits me as well.
“That said, I don’t think the GC guys will be racing for the stage win tomorrow. I think it’ll be one for the breakaway.”
Stage 14 sees the peloton ride from Saint Paul Trois Chateaux to Mende – a 188km hilly route that features four categorised climbs. The final 3km climb leads up to the finish and averages 10 per cent, which will be a punishing finale for the puncheurs looking to take stage glory.
