Marcel Kittel has been looking like a man who hasn't enjoyed the last week of this Tour very much. But he certainly feels better about sticking it out today after overcoming Alexander Kristoff in the last 50 meters to win his second Champs Élysées stage in a row. His Giant-Shimano team did a perfect job of setting up their supersprinter near the end it looked as if Katusha's Kristoff had timed his charge just right to take his third stage. He held the lead and looked to be maintaining his superior speed but behind Kittel wound up one last sprint at full power from his tired legs to take a solid if not as dominant win as last year. Sometimes though winning when you are not on top is even more impressive. Once again non-sprinter RamunasNavardauskas snuck in a surprise result taking third place
KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP/Getty Images
Despite a slight scare as French hero JC Peraud crashed early on the finishing circuits there where no changes in the top 10. Vincenzo Nibali once again put Italy on top of the cycling world by winning it's most prestigious race. He has now won the Vuelta, the Giro and the Tour de France, a feat only accomplished by Anquetil, Merckx, Hinault, Contador and his countryman Felice Gimondi before him. The Shark of Messina thereby enters the pantheon of the true greats.
TOP 10 Stage 21:
1. | GERKITTEL Marcel | 101 | TEAM GIANT-SHIMANO | 03h 20' 50'' | |
2. | NORKRISTOFF Alexander | 23 | TEAM KATUSHA | 03h 20' 50'' | + 00' 00'' |
3. | LTUNAVARDAUSKAS Ramunas | 97 | GARMIN - SHARP | 03h 20' 50'' | + 00' 00'' |
4. | GERGREIPEL André | 135 | LOTTO-BELISOL | 03h 20' 50'' | + 00' 00'' |
5. | AUSRENSHAW Mark | 77 | OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK STEP | 03h 20' 50'' | + 00' 00'' |
6. | AUTEISEL Bernhard | 2 | TEAM SKY | 03h 20' 50'' | + 00' 00'' |
7. | FRACOQUARD Bryan | 153 | TEAM EUROPCAR | 03h 20' 50'' | + 00' 00'' |
8. | ITAPETACCHI Alessandro | 76 | OMEGA PHARMA-QUICK STEP | 03h 20' 50'' | + 00' 00'' |
9. | SVKSAGAN Peter | 51 | CANNONDALE | 03h 20' 50'' | + 00' 00'' |
10. | FRAFEILLU Romain | 214 | BRETAGNE - SECHE ENVIRONNEMENT | 03h 20' 50'' | + 00' 00'' |
FINAL TOP 10 :
1. | ITANIBALI Vincenzo | 41 | ASTANA PRO TEAM | 89h 59' 06'' | |
2. | FRAPÉRAUD Jean-Christophe | 81 | AG2R LA MONDIALE | 90h 06' 43'' | + 07' 37'' |
3. | FRAPINOT Thibaut | 127 | FDJ.FR | 90h 07' 21'' | + 08' 15'' |
4. | ESPVALVERDE BELMONTE Alejandro | 11 | MOVISTAR TEAM | 90h 08' 46'' | + 09' 40'' |
5. | USAVAN GARDEREN Tejay | 141 | BMC RACING TEAM | 90h 10' 30'' | + 11' 24'' |
6. | FRABARDET Romain | 82 | AG2R LA MONDIALE | 90h 10' 32'' | + 11' 26'' |
7. | CZEKONIG Leopold | 201 | TEAM NETAPP-ENDURA | 90h 13' 38'' | + 14' 32'' |
8. | ESPZUBELDIA AGIRRE Haimar | 169 | TREK FACTORY RACING | 90h 17' 03'' | + 17' 57'' |
9. | NEDTEN DAM Laurens | 67 | BELKIN PRO CYCLING | 90h 17' 17'' | + 18' 11'' |
10. | NEDMOLLEMA Bauke | 61 | BELKIN PRO CYCLING | 90h 20' 21'' | + 21' 15'' |
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