Brajkovic still tops Bahrain

Manama : Bahrain’s Merida Pro Cycling Team rider, Janez Brajkovic of Slovenia was classified in 63rd place yesterday as he completed the 11th stage of the 104th Tour de France in four hours 34 minutes and 27 seconds from Eymat to the city of Pau over 203.5km of a relatively flat course.

The stage winner was the German Marcel Kittel (4:34;27) of the Quick-Step Floors team and his fifth stage victory overall in the tour which saw 179 of the original 198 riders in action.

This stage saw 135 riders (along with the stage winner) all classified with the same time and from the Bahrain team this included, Sonny Colbrelli (43rd, Italy), Yukiya Arashiro (61st, Japan), Brajkovic, Ondrej Cink (107th, Czech Republic), Borut Bozic (117th, Slovenia), Tsgabu Grmay (125th, Ethiopia) and Grega Bole (133rd, Slovenia).

Bahrain’s Javier Moreno (158th, Spain, +1:26) was outside the leading sprint pack, while Colbrelli and Arashiro have been penalised 20 seconds for riding violations. 

The tour resumes today with the 12th stage taking the remaining (179) riders from the city of Pau to Peyragudes in the Pyrenees Mountains on a tough 214.5km course.