Footon Servetto brings SMP to the podium again in the Tour De France

Aitor Pérez Arrieta fights with Alessandro Ballan to the end

The Basque rider takes 3rd place in Bagnères-de-Luchon after great recovery during ascent to Balès, only losing to solo victor Voeckler (BTL) and faster Ballan (BMC).

Aitor Pérez Arrieta took the second stage podium finish for FOOTON-SERVETTO-FUJI in the 97th Tour de France, as he came in 3rd position at the end of the sixteenth stage in the Grande Boucle.

The second rider over the Pirenaic mountains with 188 kilometers and four categorized climbs between Pamiers and Bagnères-de-Luchon, the rider from Zegama was only bested by Voeckler (BTL) and Ballan (BMC) in a very fast race where  no breakaway established after two hours of furious charges.

Eventually the Basque rider could filter himself for Golds’ security, alonside Vandborg (LIQ), Roberts (MRM), Reda (QST), Vansummeren (GRM) and the two riders that made most of the final selection into the slopes of the selective Port de Balès (HC).

With eight kilometers from the summit, Arrieta could stand the first big attack from five riders, but the immediate response by Voeckler took him out of rhythm and forced him to chase Ballan and Vansummeren, the latter one dropped in the final section.

The descent to the finish would be a mere parade for Frenchman Voeckler, while Arrieta, who found himself strong in the finale and anticipated his final rush, eventually surrendered by a few centimeters to 2nd place finisher Ballan, just in front of a hard fight for the GC, that made Contador (AST) take the lead after a disgraced mechanical from Andy Schleck (SAX).

The negative news for the riders in Gold came from another Basque: Iban Mayoz had a bad crash in the descent of the Col d'Ares (2ª) after being hit by another rider, and is having major bruises in his right hand side that will required some radiological tests to be taken this evening, although Mayoz showed his great character by reaching the finish. Tuesday will take the riders on a third Pirenaic stage, the seventeenth of the French race and the last one before the second rest day: a 199km trek from Bagnères-de-Luchon to Pau, featuring the climbs of Peyresourde (Cat. 1), Aspin (Cat. 1), Tourmalet (HC) and Aubisque (HC), the last one located more than 60 kilometers from the end.
 
QUOTES:
Aitor Pérez Arrieta: "I’m very happy with this pódium. I felt rather good all day long, but I think I missed a rider in that break, even two if you count on Ballan’s final rush, but still I showed I’m able to fight for a victory in such a Tour de France. You may say I lacked quite a bit to notch the win, but at least I gave my best and that’s why I’m happy. I could stand that first selection in Balès, but Voeckler was really strong. I didn’t see him so fit in previous stages, but when you see this kind of rider giving his best, you can understand those are real winners. It was difficult to bridge that gap in Ballan when I dropped, but I managed to recovery and do the end of the climb at my pace, I think I was good there. After all, I think Voeckled had a better point than all of us into the break, but I’m proud of what I did. You have to contest every single place and that’s why I spritner so hard against Ballan; this podium will not make it into the history books, but it’s a big personal achievement. The goal frmo now is reaching Paris, but now I’m only thinking on tomorrow’s stages, because we have to tackle the Peyresourde right from the start and it’s going to be really tough.”

CLASSIFICATIONS:
Tour de France (GT), Stage 16, Pamiers - Bagnères-de-Luchon, 187.5km.
1. Thomas Voeckler (BBox Bouygues Télécom) 4.44.51
2. Alessandro Ballan (BMC Racing Team) 1.20
3. Aitor Pérez Arrieta (FOOTON-SERVETTO-FUJI) s.t.