Spaniard Ruben Plaza took his first victory at the Tour de France at yesterday's 201km 16th stage from Bourg-de-Peage to Gap. Slovak Peter Sagan took second for the fifth time at this year's race as his two-year wait for a stage victory drags on
Spain's Ruben Plaza celebrates as he crosses the finish line yesterday
Gap, France: Spaniard Ruben Plaza took his first victory at the Tour de France at yesterday's 201km 16th stage from Bourg-de-Peage to Gap. Slovak Peter Sagan took second for the fifth time at this year's race as his two-year wait for a stage victory drags on.
Spain's Ruben Plaza celebrates as he crosses the finish line yesterday. Pic/AFP
Colombian Jarlinson Pantano was third as race leader Chris Froome finishes amongst his main rivals to maintain his 3min 10sec lead over Nairo Quintana.
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Thomas crashes
But Froome's teammate Geraint Thomas suffered a terrifying crash on the hair-raising descent to the finish.
Thomas was baulked by young Frenchman Warren Barguil, who lost control on a dangerous corner, and the Sky rider was knocked off the road, hitting his head on a post as he and his bike went over a sheer drop into vegetation.
The Welshman carried on, apparently "groggy" according to a French commentator following on a motorbike.
Reigning champion Vincenzo Nibali, down in eighth overall at the start of the day, attacked at the top of the final climb — the second category Col de Manse — 12km from the finish line, before the scary descent, and gained a few morale-boosting seconds. Thomas lost around a minute but held onto sixth place overall.
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