And a misjudgment from Majka allowed Pantano to slip in front in the closing metres to seal a first stage win on the Tour de France.
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Majka took the lead in the mountain classification on the second climb of the day, before Cannondale-Drapac’s Dylan van Baarle launched a surprise attack that forced Nibali and Majka to chase.
Cancellara’s last victory in the Tour de France came in 2012, and after a disappointing season since winning Strade Bianche in March, in which he missed out on adding any Monuments to his already glittering palmarès, the 35-year-old will be hoping for one last win in the stage to his home town before he retires.
“We were next to the barriers and it was him coming off the barriers more than anything”, Cavendish said.
The latter is led by Britain’s Chris Froome, who has 63 hours, 46 minutes and 40 seconds of race time.
Yet Mollema himself seems more interested in fighting for a podium finish and defending his position, rather than attacking Froome. “He kicked off a bit but I was way past him – I think he was just frustrated”. But in agreement with the state authorities, we believe that the race must go on and we shouldn’t give in to the pressure of the people who would like us to change our lifestyle.
Majka, who started an early breakaway soon after the start in Bourg-en-Bresse, moved away on his own in the final of six categorized climbs on the day’s agenda.
On the last categorised climb of the day, the Grand Colombier “laces”, the group was down to two with Majka dropping Pantano before the summit.
The pair did not collaborate well on the flat roads to the finish, with Majka reluctant to take his share of the work.
“He was there on Ventoux when I attacked with Richie (Porte); he did a very good time-trial; I’ve got to consider him my biggest rival”.
The group was caught at the foot of the grueling ascent of the Grand Colombier, with the peloton of main favorites 8:30 back. “Wouter Poels, he’s not just any rider, he won Liege-Bastogne-Liege (one of the top five classics in the world)”, he said.
Majka was part of an initial 30-man break that unsurprisingly splintered into several groups. “Tejay Van Garderen couldn’t hang, dropping off on the final climb to lose 1’28” at the finish and drop two sports on the classification.
Stage 16 on Monday is a lengthy 209km journey from Moirans-en-Montagne in Jura to the Swiss capital of Berne.
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Frenchman Alexis Vuillermoz out sprinted Reichenbach for third.
