Greig Leach

Tony Martin (Etixx-Quickstep) has expected to grab the Maillot Jaune at the end of every stage of the Tour thus far. He has stayed in second place by a few seconds, today starting the day trailing Chris Froome (Team Sky) by only one second. The former three time World Time Trial Champion found himself in a very select group containing Froome and all of the other GC contenders with just over three kilometers to the finish. Martin knew that he had little hope of out sprinting the likes of Peter Sagan (Tinkoff Saxo) or Greg Van Avermaet and Tejay van Garderen (both BMC) so his only choice was to rely on his superior time trialing abilities. There are very few who could do what had to be done, but Tony Martin had the strength and the desire to ride everyone else off of his wheel. So with 3.3 kilometer left to go the current German National Time Trial Champion took off to claim a solo victory at the finishing line in Cambai. With the win he also claimed the next Maillot Jaune of the 102nd Tour de France. He had such a gap on the rest of the leading group that he took over the lead without the time bonus. However, when the bonus was added to his finishing time he now has the biggest lead on the general classification thus far. Chris Froome and Team Sky can consul themselves with the thought that they really didn't want to try and hold the lead for the next seventeen stages.