Greig Leach

It looked like Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain Merida) was taking his cue from the great opera starts of Italy as he bowed to the crowd atop the Val Thorens. Nibali had suffered illness and less than ideal form throughout the first two third of the Tour, but he came right when it mattered. Nibali had promised his fans a stage win and earlier in the Tour it looked like that wasn't going to happen. To his credit, he stuck it out, staying in the Tour. Today was his last chance to deliver on his promise, and he found the legs to do it. It may well have helped that the stage was just one climb instead of the planned three. He seemed to fade as the previous stages grinded on. No matter, he has the stage win he came for.