Greig Leach

Reuben Plaza (Lampre Merida) knew he had little chance of winning the stage if he came to the line with Peter Sagan (Tinkoff Saxo) anywhere near him, so his only choice was to attack on the final ascent up the Col de Manse. The Spanish rider on the Italian team proved to be no slacker when it came to a high speed descent that went all of the way to the finishing line. Plaza proved himself up to the descent and able to hold off the very skilled Slovakian in the Maillot Vert all the way to the line in Gap. Today marked the first stage victory in the Tour for Lampre Merida and the first ever Tour stage for Plaza. Chapeau!