Rubén Plaza, a cyclist from Ibi, Alicante, 35 years old born on February 29, 1980 during a leap year, achieved in Gap the victory of his life, the 127th for Spain in the history of the Tour and the third in 2015, after the ones achieved by Purito Rodríguez in Huy and Plateau de Beille. The old Lampre rider attacked in the Manse climb, which he finished with a 55-second advantage, and surpassed Peter Sagan by exactly half a minute. The Slovak, who joined the escape for the third consecutive day, finished second for the fifth time in this edition, in which he has also had two third and two fourth places. Sagan doesn't finish, but he puts on a show.
At 17:44 minutes, with all the escapees at the finish line (and some in the shower), Vincenzo Nibali made his attack in Manse and took a 28-second lead over the group of favorites . There were also some movements there. Alberto Contador tried in the climb, without success. In the descent, Alejandro Valverde accelerated, but he was also neutralized. There was still the dangerous descent to Gap, historically marked by crashes: the most famous one suffered by Joseba Beloki in 2003. In the same turn where Rubén Plaza had just lost control, Warren Barguil sent Geraint Thomas off the road with a bump. Tejay Van Garderen and Nairo Quintana miraculously avoided the accident. There was no more story among the favorites. Chris Froome maintains the yellow jersey with 3:10 over the Movistar's Colombian.
The stage had begun with the announced withdrawal of Greg Van Avermaet, who travelled home to attend the birth of his child: "I hope to arrive on time". The Belgian won last Friday at the finish line in Rodez ahead of Sagan. The restless Slovak has been on the run for three consecutive days. He is trying to break his negative streak with any possible formula. In the process, he's consolidating his green jersey because, also for the third consecutive day, he was first in the intermediate sprint, which, added to his second place in Gap, puts him with an 84-point advantage over André Greipel.
The merger of two groups formed the definitive breakaway of the day with 24 riders. Sagan was there. And four Spaniards: Erviti, Navarro, Maté, and Plaza. But Adam Hansen attracted a lot of attention for a long time, a peculiar cyclist, known for his pranks on social media, who is here completing his 12th consecutive grand tour. If he finally finishes in Paris, he will tie Bernardo Ruiz's record. "I like cycling and I'm crazy," he said on Monday in AS. Hansen attacked 45 km from the finish line. Then Haller joined him. At that point, the peloton had already given its approval and was coming in at over 20 minutes. The stage was a matter for this duo and their adventurous companions.
Hansen and Haller started the ascent to Col de Manse (8.9 km at 5.6%), which they reached 12 km from the finish line, with a one-minute advantage over their pursuers. They succumbed soon on its slopes. Rubén Plaza didn't hesitate and attacked on the climb. There were 18 km left. Behind, a group with the ever-present Sagan was chasing. The intimidation that the Slovak provoked in his fugitive colleagues favored the progress of the Lampre Spanish rider. Plaza arrived at the top with a 55-second lead, but the feared descent still remained. The cyclist from Alicante had a scare in a turn, Sagan skidded in the same place... It was a heart-stopping finish. Plaza reached the bottom with a 30-second advantage: victory was his. Behind him, Sagan finished second for the tenth time since the last time he won a stage in the Tour, back in 2013. He is committed to the number two, but he must be patient. It took Plaza much longer, but at 35 years old, he has caught his big prey.
The Tour will stay in Gap this Tuesday. The second rest day will lead the peloton to its final stretch: four consecutive stages in the Alps, with the finish on Saturday at the legendary Alpe d'Huez, before landing on the Champs Élysées on Sunday. There are four days to decide the race. Froome has a good cushion, but messages of nonconformity are coming from the Movistar team. The Tour is not over.