Thor Hushovd won his second stage of the 2011 Tour de France, and tenth victory overall, after outsprinting compatriot and breakaway companion Edvald Boasson Hagen in Gap – with Cadel Evans finishing 11th to gain one minute, nine seconds on Andy Schleck.
- Edvald Boasson Hagen and Thor Hushovd on the descent of the Col de Manse
After making the day’s decisive breakaway, Team Sky’s Boasson-Hagen found himself outnumbered by Garmin-Cervelo pair Hushovd and Ryder Hesejdal in the finale and was unable to match world champion Hushovd’s sprint.
With the general classification delicately poised heading towards the Alps, defending champion Alberto Contador attacked on the category two Col de Manse climb on the run-in to Gap, with only Evans and stage 12 winner Samuel Sanchez able to follow, leaving Schleck in difficulty.
Evans, a former mountain biker, pulled away from his rivals on the descent, finishing the stage three seconds ahead of the duo, while Voeckler crossed the line 21 seconds behind Evans to retain the yellow jersey by one minute, 45 seconds.
“It’s unreal,” said Hushovd, who wore the yellow jersey from stage two nine. “It started well with the team time trial and seven days in the yellow jersey, then I won the stage alone and now I’ve won the stage today against my countryman and with my team-mate Hesjedal behind me.
“I was thinking that it was a bit like a national championships, which is incredible. We’re the only two Norwegians in the race and we’re fighting it out for the win.”
- Thor Hushovd outfoxes compatriot Edvald Boasson Hagen
The 162.5km stage climbed gradually uphill from the start until the foot of the Col de Manse, which climbs from 811m to 1,268m, with the peloton setting a frantic pace from the off.
Hesjedal bridged across to Katusha’s Mikhail Ignatiev, who had jumped from the front of the fractured lead group early on the ascent, leaving Hushovd and Boasson Hagen to lead the chase.
Back in the peloton, Contador launched the first of three attacks, eventually shaking the yellow jersey group, including both Andy and Frank Schleck, with only Evans and Sanchez in tow.
The lead trio of Hesjedal, Hushovd and Boasson Hagen descended as one before the Garmin-Cervelo duo outfoxed Boasson Hagen, with Hushovd jumping early to take the win.
Stage 16
1. Thor Hushovd (NOR/Garmin-Cervelo) 3h 31m 38s
2 Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR/Team Sky) same time
3 Ryder Hesjedal (CAN/Garmin-Cervelo) +2″
4 Tony Martin (GER/HTC-Highroad) +38″
5 Mikhail Ignatyev (RUS/Katusha Team) +52″
6 Alan Perez Lezaun (SPA/Euskaltel-Euskadi) +1’25”
7 Jeremy Roy (FRA/FDJ) same time
8 Marco Marcato (ITA/Vacansoleil-DCM) +1’55”
9 Dries Devenyns (BEL/Quick-Step) same time
10 Andriy Grivko (UKR/Astana) +1’58”
General classification
1. Thomas Voeckler (FRA/Europcar) 65h 24m 34s
2. Cadel Evans (AUS/BMC Racing) +1’45”
3. Frank Schleck (LUX/Leopard-Trek) +1’49”
4. Andy Schleck (LUX/Leopard-Trek) +3’03”
5. Samuel Sanchez (SPA/Euskaltel-Euskadi) +3’26”
6. Alberto Contador (SPA/Saxo Bank) +3’42”
7. Ivan Basso (ITA/Liquigas-Cannondale) +3’49”
8. Damiano Cunego (ITA/Lampre-ISD) +4’01”
9. Tom Danielson (USA/Garmin-Cervelo) +6’04”
10. Rigoberto Uran (COL/Team Sky) +7’55”
