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Lampre-Merida’s Yukiya Arashiro snags Most Combative jersey

  • Ron 

Lampre-Merida’s Yukiya Arashiro rode a 165km breakaway in Stage 6 to earn the red “most combative” jersey in the 2016 Tour de France.

Arashiro is Lampre’s first rider to join a breakaway in this year’s race. He attacked with determination after 3 km in the race and he was joined by Barta. The duo, after having built up a good advantage on the bunch, preferred to slow the pace in order to check if some other cyclists had the will to counter-attack and join the breakaway, however no-one went clear from the peloton, so LAMPRE-MERIDA’s Asian cyclist and Barta continue their action without other supports.

After the duo had reached a maximum advantage of 5’30”, the sprinters’ teams began to led the chase which was completed at 22 km to go.

“I’m pleased that I received the award as most combative rider, it’s a prize for the determination I had to promote the breakaway,” Arashiro commented. “We were only two athletes in the front of the race, it would have been better to have more riders in the breakaway, that’s why we decided to see if someone would have joined us, but no one came from behind.

“I was aware that it was almost impossible to reach the arrival, however I focused my attention on the road and on my performance. I’m happy to have the opportunity to share this happy moment with my team mates, the sponsors and all the fans who support me in France, in Europe and in Asia.

“This season started in a bad way for me, in February I broke my leg, however I did not give up and I focus my energies on the recovery and on the training and I succeesed in coming back at the races in May, at the Tour of Japan, where I won the Izu stage.

“Today I add another beautiful moment: I had already won this prize four years ago, however it’s always something good to live these kind of moments”.

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