On a day when we were expecting all the action to happen on the descent of the Col de Manse, Rubén Plaza made a brilliant tactical decision and attacked on the ascent. His minute advantage as he crested the summit was more than enough to hold a rampaging Peter Sagan at bay to take the biggest victory of his career and ensured that his Lampre-Merida team get to crack open the bubbly tonight. The GC contenders flexed a few muscles with Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) gaining a few seconds with a trademark attack.
