2011 Tour de France, Stage 12 to Stage 21#Stage 16

(46,1 km / h)

Mikhail Ignatiev (KAT)

The 16th stage of the Tour de France 2011 on July 19, led after the second rest day on 162.5 km from Saint -Paul -Trois -Chateaux to Gap. On this mid-mountain stage there was a sprint and a mountain stage of the second category. As to the last stage before the rest day still went 170 of the 198 registered riders at the start.

Race course

Immediately after the start, there were many breakaways, but none of the riders managed to stay ahead. The field sub-band all trials, as too many teams had interest with outliers to send forward. In the first hour of racing 51.4 kilometers were traveled in this way. Particularly frequent among others Sylvain Chavanel, David Millar, Rémy Di Gregorio, Juan Antonio Flecha and Arnold Jeannesson showed the front. In the course succeeded to some extent more and larger groups at the same time, to stay a bit longer in front, but was also granted them no great distance.

Only after about 91 kilometers, could slow a group of ten form and settle, which consisted of Thor Hushovd, Alan Pérez, Ryder Hesjedal, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Dries Devenyns, Andrij Hrywko, Jérémy Roy, Tony Martin, Mikhail Ignatiev and Marco Marcato. Behind it formed a chase group with Bauke Mollema, Samuel Dumoulin and Fabrice Jeandesboz. The first group quickly reached a lead of over six minutes. Devenyns decided before Roy the sprint for themselves. The last two remaining points positions behind the two groups made ​​two drivers of ag2r La Mondiale from among themselves. The chase group fell apart again some time later.

The Russian Ignatieff sat down on the descent before the climb the only mountain stage, the Col de la Manse, from the top group somewhat, Hushovd closed the gap but again. On the mountain of the Russian attacked again, this time followed by Devenyns and Perez Lezaun while Hrywko fell back. Later Hesjedal drove up to the Russians and overtook him. Meanwhile, Alberto Contador attacked out of the box, more attacks other driver followed what the group reduced. Again attacked Contador, the first Thomas Voeckler, then Cadel Evans and Samuel Sánchez later followed. All others, including Andy and Fränk Schleck could not follow. This group led by Jelle Vanendert.

Meanwhile, working at the top Boasson Hagen, Hushovd and Hesjedal, who won the mountain classification, together. In the descent to Boasson Hagen took off, which then alternated with Hushovd attacked his Canadian companion. The stage victory was Hushovd achieve in the pouring rain in front of his compatriot. As fourth in the German Tony Martin came to the finish. The eleventh place behind the group reached Evans three seconds before Contador and Sanchez. In the next group Fränk Schleck and Voeckler came 18 seconds behind Contador to the finish. Ivan Basso came up with another group to the finish and lost 51 seconds to Contador. The loser of the day, however, was Andy Schleck, who fell further behind in the downhill and forfeited over a minute in the overall standings on Contador.

Mountains classification

• Col de Manse, Category 2 ( 151 km, 1268 m, 9.5 km at 5.2 %)

Scoring

• Intermediate sprint in Veynes ( km 117.5, 852 m)

• Target in Gap ( km 162.5; 744 m)