Ruben Plaza denies Peter Sagan yet again on dramatic day in Gap

Plaza, the 35-year-old veteran from Lampre-Merida, attacked from a large breakaway on the deciding Cat.2 climb, crested the summit with a over a minute to play with, and then held on for a maiden Tour stage win after a narrow, technical 12km descent to the finish.

Sagan, the green jersey of Tinkoff-Saxo, almost left the road on numerous occasions during a heart-in-mouth descent while trying to reel in Plaza. The 25-year-old cut a forlorn figure as he eventually crossed the line 30 seconds in arrears to take his fifth second-place in this year's Tour.

Race leader Chris Froome (Team Sky) protected his yellow jersey but suffered a scare on the final descent when team-mate Geraint Thomas was nudged off the road on a tight bend by off-balance Frenchman Warren Barguil of Giant-Alpecin.

The Welshman hit his head on a telegraph pole en route to plummeting down a small gully - but miraculously managed to get back on his bike and complete the 201km stage from Bourg-de-Peage.

Defending champion Vincenzo Nibali of Astana managed to steal some time back after breaking clear of the main race favourites near the summit of the Col de Manse – the second of two Cat.2 climbs in the second half of the stage.

Nibali crossed the finish line in Gap 17min 44sec behind stage winner Plaza – some 26 seconds ahead of the yellow jersey group, which was brought home by Spain’s Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo).

Thomas was paced to the finish by Sky team-mate Wout Poels to concede 38 seconds after what could have been far more serious than it thankfully was.

“I’m alright – a bit shaken up, but I’m fine. I’ve had a lot worse,” Thomas told Eurosport after his scare. “It’s frustrating because you work so hard on the climb and then that happens.”

Thomas dropped to 5:32 behind team-mate Froome in the overall standings but retained his impressive sixth place. It was stalemate otherwise ahead of Tuesday’s rest day, with Froome holding a lead of 3:10 over Colombia’s Nairo Quintana (Movistar) and 3:32 over American Tejay Van Garderen (BMC).

But the day belonged to Plaza, who secured his first win in two seasons a decade after his previous largest victory – in the 2005 Vuelta a Espana.

“It was a very good day,” said Lampre-Merida directeur sportif Philippe Mauduit. “I’m so happy for Ruben because he’s showed so much determination to the team and always makes a big effort.”

The indefatigable Slovakian sensation made it three breaks in as many days after attacking shortly after the start of another hot stage in the Alpine foothills. Sagan was part of a 12-man break which was joined by another 11 riders shortly after the Tinkoff-Saxo star all but killed off his rivals for the green jersey competition by mopping up the points at the intermediate sprint at Die.

After the break passed the first of two climbs, the Cat.2 Col de Cabre, the gap grew to over twenty minutes before Australia’s Adam Hansen (Lotto-Soudal) and Austria’s Marco Haller (Katusha) rode clear of their fellow escapees ahead of the Col de Manse.

With 30km remaining, the leading duo hit the final climb with just under a minute to play with. Sagan led the chase alongside Christophe Riblon (Ag2R-La Mondiale), Daniel Teklehaimanot (MTN-Qhubeka), Simon Geschke (Giant-Alpecin) and Plaza.

Plaza made his move 6km from the summit and was able to open up a gap of more than a minute after Sagan was forced to lead the chase. His group swelled to nine riders as the pace slowed before the summit before Sagan finally ditched his rivals on the descent.

Only Jarlinson Pantano (IAM Cycling) could keep up with Sagan – but the Colombian perhaps wisely gave him wide berth after the Slovakian pushed his chances on a succession of tight hairpin bends, almost suffering a similar fate to that of Joseba Beloki in 2003.

The gap had come down to 30 seconds as the road flattened out – but that was enough to allow Plaza to celebrate in style, zipping up his jersey and sucking his thumb before punching the air in celebration.

With the race for the stage over, focus switched to the race for yellow as the group of main favourites did battle on the deciding climb. Nibali made his move 3km from the summit and held a lead of 13 seconds going over the top.

Then the flashpoint occurred. Barguil, who had unsuccessfully attacked prior to Nibali on the climb, lost control on one of the bends, unclipped his right foot and slammed into Thomas.

The contact corrected the Frenchman’s wobble but sent Thomas sprawling, the Welshman flying through a gap in spectators before hitting his head on a telegraph pole and falling down a gully.

It was some five minutes before news came through that not only was Thomas all right, he was back on his bike and driving to the line. Cycling fans the world over could exhale a huge sigh of relief.

Nothing should be taken away from Plaza for his cunning, timely attack and ability to hold on despite the pressure. But Sagan yet again deserves special mention. He has consistently animated this race and has provided fans with a true spectacle day in, day out.

On Monday he all but secured his fourth successive green jersey while posting his fifth second-place this year – and the 16th of his Tour career. It’s an unenviable run only in as much as a fiercely competitive rider like Sagan thrives on winning.

Well, it’s that man Sagan again. It seems like it’s his destiny to complete another Tour without a stage win – despite so frequently seeming a shoo-in for success. There’s an element of self-sabotage in his daily near-misses – and he will certainly regret not closing down Plaza when he attacked on the Col de Manse.

But one man can only do so much – and Sagan has practically provided this Tour with all its twists and turns single-handedly. He thumped his chest in anger and resignation when crossing the line - but while he’ll feel like a loser, he’s a far bigger winner than most of his colleagues.

Tuesday’s rest day is followed by an epic 161km stage 17 from Digne-les-Bains to Pra Loup that recreates the moment in the 1975 Tour de France where Eddy Merckx broke clear on the Col d’Allos before being reeled in and passed by Bernard Thevanet in the final climb to the ski resort, whereby ending the Belgian legend’s reign at the top.

Froome may lead the race but it’s someone else who continues to make the headlines...