16 Jun 2018
Elissonde lights up Occitanie queen stage
Related riders
Kenny Elissonde
Kenny Elissonde lit up the queen stage of La Route d’Occitanie with a succession of attacks on the day’s final climb.
The Frenchman gave it everything in his attempts to distance Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) and Daniel Navarro (Cofidis) but, despite looking like he had succeeded on more than one occasion, the pair were able to regain contact with Elissonde.
In the end it was Valverde who took the stage win and race lead, sprinting away on the uphill finish, with Elissonde crossing the line in third.
Racing in fog and rain high up in the Pyrenees Elissonde even attempted to attack the pair on two short descents midway up the final first category Les Monts d’Olmes climb to the line.
But in the end the duo kept riding their way back to Elissonde in the closing stages of a gruelling 198.4-kilometre stage three.
But in the end the duo kept riding their way back to Elissonde in the closing stages of a gruelling 198.4-kilometre stage three.
Speaking after the stage, Elissonde explained his aggressive tactics.
He said: “I knew if I arrived with Valverde he would beat me, so I tried something on the climb. I even tried in the downhill - I knew Navarro was not a great descender and Valverde wouldn’t want to take too many risks.”
He said: “I knew if I arrived with Valverde he would beat me, so I tried something on the climb. I even tried in the downhill - I knew Navarro was not a great descender and Valverde wouldn’t want to take too many risks.”
Kenny Elissonde
I gave everything, I don’t have any regrets.
Despite being dragged back by the Spanish pair Elissonde - who played a crucial role in Chris Froome's Giro d'Italia win last month - remained upbeat.
“It’s great, I’ve been given the confidence of the team,” he continued. “They told me, ‘Now it’s your time, you’ve worked hard for the team. We know it’s a race you like, in France, we’re thankful for what you’ve done’.
“I gave everything, I don’t have any regrets.”
He now sits third overall in his homeland, 12 seconds shy of Valverde, with one day to go.
“Tomorrow is quite a tough day,” he opined. “Movistar has a strong team, but if there is an opportunity, we’ll have to take it.”
Stage three results
1. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) 5:28:51
2. Daniel Navarro (Cofidis) +2"
3. Kenny Elissonde (Team Sky) +7"
4. Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana) +1'03"
5. Sebastien Reichenbach (Groupama - FDJ) +1'05"
General classification
1. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) 13:48:23
2. Daniel Navarro (Cofidis) +6"
3. Kenny Elissonde (Team Sky) +12"
4. Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana) +1'12"
5. Sebastien Reichenbach (Groupama - FDJ) +1'14"
Stage three results
1. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) 5:28:51
2. Daniel Navarro (Cofidis) +2"
3. Kenny Elissonde (Team Sky) +7"
4. Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana) +1'03"
5. Sebastien Reichenbach (Groupama - FDJ) +1'05"
General classification
1. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) 13:48:23
2. Daniel Navarro (Cofidis) +6"
3. Kenny Elissonde (Team Sky) +12"
4. Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana) +1'12"
5. Sebastien Reichenbach (Groupama - FDJ) +1'14"
