Valence, France – Tejay van Garderen of the BMC Racing Team remained in third place overall at the Tour de France as the top of the overall standings did not change following Sunday’s bunch sprint finish.
André Greipel (Lotto Soudal) won his third stage of this year’s race while van Garderen finished 25th and in the same time. Chris Froome (Team Sky) leads van Garderen by 3:32 with one week of the race to go.
After the last riders from the day’s breakaway were overhauled with 40 kilometers to go in the 183-km race, the BMC Racing Team massed near the front inside the final 20 km.
“We knew that there were some narrow passages and a lot of roundabouts coming into the final kilometers,” van Garderen said. “So we wanted to make sure we were in the front and not in trouble. Today was another really brutal day. It might not have looked like it. But it was full gas from the start and very aggressive. I am still feeling good and confident for the Alps. I think the Alps are definitely more suited to my characteristics as a rider.”
BMC Racing Team Sport Director Yvon Ledanois said he had cautioned the team about the possibility of a dangerous day due to a possibility of a fast pace and another day of warm temperatures.
“We never have an easy day at the Tour de France,” Ledanois said. “It was a hard, fast day for a lot of riders. There was one group with 20 riders that was 15 or 20 minutes behind. But for us, it was perfect. The guys did a very good job until the last two kilometers, keeping Tejay in the top position and making sure we did not take a risk in the final.”
