Great But Mixed Feelings - Stybar

Last updated : 10 July 2015 By Covsupport News Service

Etixx Quick Step's Zdenek Stybar was left with mixed feelings after stage six of the Tour De France.

The Czech rider took the win by breaking away late on the sixth stage of the 102nd edition but behind him, his team mate Tony Martin was hurt in a crash which forced him out of the race.

Speaking to ASO after the race, Styber said: "I have mixed feelings after winning this stage because Tony Martin crashed. When I caught up with him at the award ceremony, he only congratulated me and told me to enjoy the moment but he didn't say how much he was injured.

It's an amazing feeling to win a stage at the Tour de France, probably on the same level as my first victory at the cyclo-cross world championship in Tabor. I've had a hard time changing from cyclo-cross to road cycling.

"I got some results with winning the Strade bianche and the Eneco Tour overall. Last year I've had some bad luck too with two crashes at the Eneco Tour and in cyclo-cross, so I'm extremely happy to have had the green light from my team to try and win today as I don't get this kind of opportunity often in a year.

"The last ten kilometres were kind of crazy. I received great info from the team car but to make it real wasn't easy. Together as a team, we did well in the last downhill. I was thinking of taking Mark Cavendish to the front but he was in difficulty. I was in the wheels of Kristoff, Sagan and Van Avermaet, but they were in trouble too. So I just tried all or nothing. I went for it and the outcome was really great."

MTN Qhubeka's Danny Teklehaimnot who took over the lead in the King Of The Mountains jersey and became the first ever African to take the lead in the KOM competition in a grand tour, said: "I'm really happy about what happened today. I can't believe it. That was my childhood dream to get the polka dot jersey at the Tour de France.

"I was excited about having just for one day. I followed exactly the team's plan we were had this morning. I made it in a group of three riders. After I scored two points, I was nervous that I wouldn't take one more, otherwise I would be left with nothing.

Europcar's Perrig Quemeneur who was again in the break on stage six said: "When I'm at the front, there are few chances for the breakaway to succeed.

"It's my job to attack, it pleases me, it makes the team happy. We have to show what we can do because our sponsor stops at the end of the year. To break away three times in five days is a good sign. It means the legs are ok. I'll do it again, hoping that one day it'll work out. In the Pyrenees,

"I'll be working for Pierre Rolland and Thomas Voeckler. The radio communication didn't work well when Thomas went in between us and the bunch today. I didn't understand if it was worth waiting for him. But when I found him off the back towards the end, he told me it wouldn't have been worth it."

Chris Froome has said that his disagreement with Vincenzo Nibali was cleared up. Froome tweeted about a disagreement. "There was some confusion as to who caused the crash, wanted to clear that up with (definitely wasn’t me!)"

John Bains's photo.

 

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