With current world number one Alberto Contador lying in bed with his leg in plaster, Tinkoff-Saxo’s primary target for this year’s Tour de France is over.
And whereas Team Sky’s misfortune – with Chris Froome crashing out – happened early enough for them to support Richie Porte’s GC bid instead, Tinkoff-Saxo do not have the same luxury.
Instead, however, their switch to plan B has been almost seamless – both Nico Roche and Michael Rogers showing their attacking intent on stage 11.
Roche raced to the combativity award by attempting a solo bid for success, while Rogers – who took victory on a rapid descent at the Giro d’Italia – bid to repeat the process as he joined Michal Kwiatkowski, Peter Sagan and Tony Gallopin in the final five kilometres.
Neither worked out on this occasion, but with the two having already shown great attacking intent at the Giro d’Italia expect them – and team-mate Rafal Majka – to put in plenty more digs between now and the end of the Tour.
