▁serious ▁injury , ▁and ▁was ▁able ▁to ▁complete ▁the ▁stage ▁and ▁lost ▁just ▁ 3 8 ▁seconds ▁to ▁the ▁leading ▁group . ▁He ▁subsequently ▁moved ▁up ▁to ▁fourth ▁overall ▁after ▁stage ▁ 1 7 ▁to ▁Pra - L oup , ▁when ▁Te j ay ▁van ▁Gard eren ▁pulled ▁out ▁of ▁the ▁race ▁due ▁to ▁ill ness ▁and ▁Cont ador ▁lost ▁time ▁due ▁to ▁a ▁crash . ▁However ▁he ▁strugg led ▁on ▁stage ▁ 1 9 ' s ▁clim b ▁up ▁La ▁T ous su ire , ▁finishing ▁ 2 2 ▁minutes ▁behind ▁stage ▁winner ▁V inc en zo ▁N ib ali ▁and ▁sl iding ▁down ▁to ▁ 1 5 th ▁place ▁in ▁the ▁general ▁classification , ▁ 2 7 ▁minutes ▁and ▁ 2 4 ▁seconds ▁off ▁Fro ome . ▁ ▁In ▁August ▁he ▁was ▁named ▁in ▁the ▁start ▁list ▁for ▁the ▁V uel ta ▁a ▁España . ▁▁ 2 0 1 6 : ▁Paris – N ice ▁victory ▁In ▁February ▁ 2 0 1 6 , ▁Thomas ▁retained ▁his ▁Vol ta ▁ao ▁Al gar ve ▁title , ▁after ▁placing ▁fifth ▁on ▁the ▁decis ive ▁fifth ▁stage ▁behind ▁Alberto ▁Cont ador . ▁ ▁In ▁March ▁ 2 0 1 6 , ▁Thomas ▁led ▁Team ▁Sky ▁at ▁Paris – N ice . ▁On ▁stage ▁ 6 , ▁Thomas ▁finished ▁second ▁to ▁Il n ur ▁Zak arin ▁() ▁on ▁a ▁mountain ▁top ▁finish ▁at ▁Mad one ▁d ' U t elle ▁to ▁take ▁the ▁race ▁lead ▁by ▁ 1 5 ▁seconds ▁over ▁Cont ador . ▁Thomas