Costa Rican youngster from Movistar Team contests stage victory in Pinerolo after more than two weeks of suffering following his ankle sprain in Tour's opening ride. Pardilla best team finisher in Brixia opener Sixteen long days after a crash and a sprained ankle that were about to take him out of the race in the first stage of the Tour de France, Andrey Amador completed the most difficult stage of his recovery in the world's most demanding event. The Costa Rican rider from Movistar Team contested and made the break of the 17th stage in the Grande Boucle -the first mountain trek in the Alps, with 179 kilometers and four categorized climbs from Gap, in France, to Pinerolo, in the Italian Piedmont-, a ride where Norwegian Edvald Boasson Hagen (SKY) took his second victory in this year's race as the brave Center American rider, even able to get on front of the race during the climb to Pramartino (Cat. 2), eventually surrendered due to his injuries and finished into a valuable 11th place.

Andrey Amador: “I didn’t expect after the days i had gone through. This has been a prize for me, even though i’d have liked to be in better condition to contest the stage, but I gave my best. We knew it was a day when the break was going to make it, and in that moment we were warned once again from the car that we had to be attentive. I jumped after five riders ahead of me and some more joined to make a 14-rider group, and it was clear from the beginning that we were going to reach the finish. From the start I knew I’d stand little chance, because there were so many talented riders and me being, not 100%, but barely a 70%, was making it way harder. The ankle is bearing the pain, at least it didn’t go worse. Now there’s a complicated 2-day run, crucial for me so as to see if I can make it to Paris. If I see I’m not into condition, I will keep myself calm because I’m convinced I gave my best there. Before coming to the Tour, I was feeling better than ever and was willing to make the break in stage like this, in the mid mountains suiting me so well, but this is what we have and we have to content ourselves with the fighting spirit we have shown throughout the Tour.“

Pardilla and Konovalovas fine at Brixia Tour opener
While their teammates complete the final week of the Tour de France, a second Movistar Team unit started their participation in the 11th Brixia Tour in Italy today, the 5-day event ending on Sunday. Sergio Pardilla and Ignatas Konovalovas were the best riders from the squad directed by José Luis Jaimerena in a demanding stage 1, whose opening loop around Ponte di Legno broke the bunch into pieces right from the first lap, leaving 40 riders ahead. Italians Frapporti and Baliani profited from an error on the time gaps given by the organisers to reach the finish with a 2-minute advantage over the favourites’ group, including Pardilla and Konovalovas. During the opening part, Fran Pérez suffered a crash that left pain in his left knee, even though the Spaniard could complete the stage. A double sector will be awaiting tomorrow in Brescia, with the ascent to the Cat. 1 Colle San Zeno in the morning ride and a 10k individual time trial in the evening.