Sunday, April 27, 2025

Le Tour de France 2017 – Stage 16: Le Puy-en-Velay – Romans-sur-Isère, 165km. Michael Matthews inches closer to Green

-

HomeRaceRace ReviewsLe Tour de France 2017 - Stage 16: Le Puy-en-Velay - Romans-sur-Isère,...

Mont-Saint-Michel

We’re in Le Puy-en-Velay, and thinking about his classic song, ‘Pink Houses’ in which John Mellencamp says;

‘And there’s winners, and there’s losers – but they ain’t no big deal.’

We’re not sure that Sunweb or QuickStep, the biggest winners and losers of the day would agree.

Sunweb first and stage winner, Michael Matthews had this to say:

Today our plan was open and we were prepared for different scenarios, as it was difficult to predict how the stage would unfold. 

“Once we heard that there were splits in the peloton we were all really motivated to push on and extend the gap. 

“From then on it was an eight-man team time trial to the finish and I was able to finish off the job in the last 500 metres. 

“I’m so grateful for these opportunities and to take the win after the guys worked incredibly hard today is really special.”

Le Puy-en-Velay
Michael Matthews takes the lunge. Photo©Pierre Froger/ASO

It wasn’t just a split; it was gaping gash, torn open by the Dutch squad’s blood lust when they smelled that current green jersey incumbent, Marcel Kittel (QuickStep) was wounded on the third category climb which reared from the start line – it was too much for the German’s big legs so early in the day.

Sunweb’s day was perfect; they isolated Kittel; took Matthews to the intermediate sprint win and then the stage win.

What had looked like a yawning gap between Matthews and Kittel in the battle for green is now just 29 points, guaranteeing us a battle for vert all the way to Paris.

Le Puy-en-Velay
Sunweb (and Dimension Data) were to the fore for much of the day. Photo©Pierre Froger/ASO

QuickStep were the big losers:

Philippe Gilbert was forced to abandon due to a viral gastroenteritis whilst Kittel could only be philosophical about the events of the day.

It is as it is. 

“I can’t change any of the things that happened today. 

“The stage suited Matthews better with that tough uphill start, where I lost contact. 

“But I won’t think of the points I lost today, although I’m not happy with this, I’ll just focus on the next stages and take it day by day.”

But the Belgian team’s woes didn’t end there, their GC man, Dan Martin had what in the building industry is described as a ’mare!

Martin was among the riders caught on the wrong side of the crosswinds and a Sky-powered echelon which blasted the lead group in the finale.

The Irishman had conceded 51 seconds by the finish line, a loss which moved him down to seventh in the overall standings.

He had this to say about his loss:

It was a really tough stage and we suffered out there. 

“It was difficult without Matteo Trentin and Philippe Gilbert, who were forced to say goodbye to the race earlier. 

“Their presence would have probably made the difference today. 

“Can’t say it’s the best situation for us, but the team is upbeat and optimistic about our chances now that the race is heading into the Alps for two days.”

There were other losers too; UAE’s Louis Mentjies (RSA) was another caught out in the crosswinds, he retains eighth spot but is now at six minutes.

And Norway’s Edvald Boasson-Hagen let another chance at victory slip through his hands; the Dimension Data rider had by far the fastest terminal velocity but started his sprint form way too far back with the line coming just that instant too soon.

As one wag said to me; “he needs to get sprinting lessons fron Cav!

Le Puy-en-Velay
Michael Matthews is still fighting for the Green Jersey – anything could happen with Kittel and he has to keep chipping away. Photo©Pierre Froger/ASO

Today is Mandela Day so the win would have been all the more special for the South African squad.

If there were winners and losers there was also a saviour in the shape of Belgian Road Race Champion Oliver Naesen who saved his AG2R team leader, Romain Bardet today.

The skinny French climber who has the build for the cols but not cobbles and cross winds was at sea when Sky dumped the nitro and the echelon formed.

Naesen saved him almost single handedly; at one point the Frenchman was on the wrong side of the echelon and the Belgian, who comes from Ostend, where they know a thing or two about the wind, told Barde to get himself on the Belgian’s wheel.

Michael Matthews
Romain Bardet and his AG2R team have ridden very strongly in this Tour. Photo©Pierre Froger/ASO

After the finish Bardet shouted over to Naesen; “you had saved my life today !

The Alps for the next two days with tomorrow cramming a 2e cat. a 1e cat. and two HC cols into 183 kilometres but with a 30 kilometre drop of the final summit, the mighty Galibier to the finish in Serre Chevalier.

Bardet and his AG2R banditos have pledged to attack – can’t wait!

Ciao, ciao.

Ed Hood
Ed Hood
Ed was involved in cycling for over 50 years. In that time he was a successful time triallist, a team manager and a sponsor of several teams and clubs. He was also a respected and successful coach and during the winter months often worked in the cabins at the Six Days for some of the world's top riders. Ed was a highly respected journalist, his tales of chasing the Giro, Tour, Vuelta, Classics and World Championships - and his much-loved winter Six Days - are legendary, never the same twice, they gave our site an edge other cycling media could never duplicate or challenge. Sadly Ed passed away in January 2025, two years after suffering a devastating stroke.

Related Articles

Le Tour de France 2012 – Stage 4: Abbeville – Rouen, 214 km.

Maybe it’s our fault? Yesterday we said that ‘barring Acts of God,’ Cav would win. We got it half right; there was an almighty ‘Act of God’ with South African champion Robbie Hunter bouncing around the road like a rubber doll and a whole clutch of riders biting the dust. As the director cut to close up and what was happening at the crash site, there was Cav sitting on the tar, stunned. He’s a tough wee soul – ''stoic is the word, I think. Abbeville.

Scottish Cycling Super 6 – Round 6, Wanlockhead 2009

Nationals apart, Gary Hand (Endura) has dominated the Scottish domestic scene in 2009; he continued that superiority with another win in the Super Six Series in the Tour of the Lowther today, on tough roads around Britain's highest village-Wanlockhead.

Le Tour de France 2016 – Stage 8; Pau – Bagnères-de-Luchon. Froome Surprises Everyone!

As with last year when he was jousting with the pave specialists in the first week, Chris Froome again confounded his critics, descending like a man possessed, leaving the demon descenders glued to the macadam, taking all the risks - but more importantly taking the stage and maillot jaune. A terrific ride, no question, no caveats. But the dreams end for GVA, Bert and Pinot; no jaune for Yates but he consolidates blanc - whilst our friend Michael Mørkøv climbs into the team car.

Revolution Racing – Season Finale the “Stepping Stone” for Sir Chris Hoy

The National Cycling Centre in Manchester was completely sold out as Olympic hero Sir Chris Hoy ramped up his preparation for the UCI Track World Cup at the new London Olympic velodrome with an appearance at the Revolution Racing Finale.

At Random

Het Nieuwsblad 2016 goes to GVA

Saturday dawns crisp, cold and sunny for the Omloop Gent Gent. We have a copy of Het Nieusblaad which has all the information we need about the route so its time to head for the start. It's moved this year to the S.M.A.K complex, site of the Gent Six Day. As the car park fills with the now de rigueur coaches, ushered in by whistle blowing attendants we grab a quick pic of world champ Peter Sagan's Specialized before being asked to move on by an unfriendly team staffer...

Season Opening; Trofeu Cidade de Luís and Volta ao Algarve

Although my season started over a month ago in Argentina, the Portuguese season opened on Sunday the 12th February with the "2nd Trofeu Cidade de Luís", followed by the Volta ao Algarve.

Dean Downing – Still Living His Dream

This is the first in a series of articles in which we explore racing in Belgium, and chat to a few guys that "have done it the hard way", outside of "The Plan", and on their own. To kick us off, we caught up with Rapha Condor star Dean Downing between Tour Series criteriums.

Training in Spain and early season Celtic Racing

Since the last blog training has been great and on the 14th Lindsay Gordon headed for Spain with every intention of doing a good solid weeks training in the mountains around Benidorm.