Dream year continues for Rogers

michaelrogers

The Australian, who also took two stages at the Giro d'Italia earlier this year, timed his attack perfectly to win by nine seconds on the 237.5-kilometre route from Carcassonne to Bagneres-de-Luchon.

As the peloton entered the Pyrenees mountains for the first time this year, it was the Tinkoff-Saxo rider who emerged victorious on the longest stage of the Tour.

Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) had looked strong going into the final climb of the day up Port des Bales, but on the descent it was Rogers who opened up a lead, and the 34-year-old was ecstatic with the result.

"You dream of winning a stage in the Tour de France, this is my 10th tour, it's amazing," said Rogers. "I can't describe the joy I felt in the last 500 metres when I knew I was going to win.

"I knew once we got to the bottom of the last climb that the race began for me. I knew Voeckler would be hard to beat and I tried a few times to drop him, but I couldn't on the top of the climb.

"I knew I had to outwit them on the final. He had a team-mate behind and had that bargaining chip, but I said I wouldn't have it and said, 'Don't play that with me because you're not going to beat me today, no way'."

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