Chris Froome controlled a series of tentative attacks from his rivals as Joaquim Rodriguez won his second stage of this year's Tour de France on Thursday. Rodriguez, 36, was part of an original 22-man breakaway that gradually split up over the 195km trek from Lannemezan to Plateau de Beille in changing weather that ranged from 38 degree Celsius heat to 12 degrees with thunder, lightning and hail.
The Spaniard had already won the third stage finish on the Mur de Huy and also had a stage victory back in 2010, but he wants more. "It will be more difficult than today to get in the right breakaway on the stage to Mende (on Saturday) for example, but I'll try throughout the third week in the Alps to get a third victory," said the Katusha team leader.
Denmark's Jakob Fuglsang was second at 1min 12sec with Frenchman Romain Bardet third at 1min 49sec, the pair dropped by Rodriguez on the final 15.8km hors category climb to the finish. Froome came home in 10th at 6min 47sec amongst his principle rivals, including Nairo Quintana, two-time former winner Alberto Contador and reigning champion Vincenzo Nibali.
"It really was a team effort today, it was about strength in numbers," said Froome. "Throughout the day the team's been riding from the very beginning and to have someone like Geraint Thomas bring me all the way to the line was a dream scenario. "I've got to thank the team for the work they've done.
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