In the 11th stage of Tour de France (2.WT, 07-29/07) Guillaume Martin went into the offensive again. A big break took off in the fast beginning of the stage, with Thomas Degand and Guillaume Martin present. Degand rode his own pace on Montée de Bisanne. The front group was further reduced, with Guillaume Martin present at the foot of the final climb on La Rosière. The French rider finished 19th and advances to 24th spot in the GC. The whole team finished within the time limit. On Friday the third mountain stage will take the riders to the Alpe d'Huez summit.
Guillaume Martin:
"I tried to anticipate once more. Not because I had the legs, but because of my race insight. I knew the course and knew where I had to anticipate. I did not feel too strong, but accelerated on the right moment. I was dropped on the first climb, while a lot of non-climbers stayed in front. I was able to return in the descent, but that was not too good for the morale."
"On Col du Pré I was dropped again, but I could return in the descent once more. We were 12 in the front group, but because of Mathias Frank's crash in the Roselend descent our group was split up climbed La Rosière as fast as possible. I hoped to be caught on the less steep part of the climb with 5km to go. I was able to follow Latour in the end."
"I thought of the white jersey on the final climb, because the gap was quite big. But I hope I will find my good legs again soon. Tomorrow I expect a battle between the favorites on Alpe d'Huez. I will see how the legs react on Madeleine, because the fatigue is getting bigger."
Stage 11 :
1. Geraint Thomas
2. Tom Dumoulin + 0:20
3. Chris Froome
19. Guillaume Martin + 3:08
56. Marco Minnaard + 17:25
70. Thomas Degand + 22:23
73. Yoann Offredo + 22:23
74. Andrea Pasqualon
102. Dion Smith + 26:07
127. Guillaume Van Keirsbulck + 27:25
132. Timothy Dupont
GC :
1. Geraint Thomas
2. Chris Froome + 1:25
3. Tom Dumoulin + 1:44
24. Guillaume Martin + 13:49
60. Marco Minnaard + 53:38
69. Andrea Pasqualon + 57:57
76. Thomas Degand + 1:00:30
98. Yoann Offredo + 1:10:40
112. Dion Smith + 1:17:49
143. Timothy Dupont + 1:32:21
150. Guillaume Van Keirsbulck + 1:36:32
U26 classification :
1. Pierre Latour
2. Guillaume Martin + 2:03
3. Egan Bernal + 7:35
