The two-time victor and defending champion led a select group of riders over the top of the Col de Peyresourde and immediately accelerated away, ultimately taking victory by 13 seconds from Ireland’s Dan Martin of Etixx-QuickStep, who led the chasing pack home.
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Thanks to the hard work of his teammates at the front of the peloton in the four major climbs of the day, Froome arrived in ideal condition at Peyresourde. It was cool. It’s just a really good feeling to win.
In a press conference after the race Froome provided further clarification of the incident and urged fans not to run so close to riders on the roads. “It gets really unsafe for the guys behind you”. “Today he won the race rather than the other losing it”.
It’s not the kind of praise Froome is used to getting, having often been criticized in the French media for his riding style, despite having won the Tour twice.
Froome’s Team Sky displayed its impressive collective strength throughout the four major ascents, preventing his main rivals from trying their luck in hot temperatures.
Martin led home a chasing pack which included GC hopefuls Quintana, Tejay Van Garderen (BMC), Fabio Aru (Astana) and Romain Bardet (AG2R La Mondiale).
Froome flashed a wide smile as he crossed the line, raising both arms in celebration then pumping his right fist emphatically.
The surprise win sees Froome hold the Yellow Jersey over fellow Briton Adam Yates, with a 16 second lead.
It was the fifth victory for a British rider in the first eight stages of this Tour.
The Colombian is sixth overall 23 seconds off the pace before Sunday’s biggest Pyrenean stage up to Andorra Arcalis, where Froome is widely expected to try and hammer the opposition with one of his trademark accelerations.
Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) had led the way over the summit as part of a small break alongside Rafal Majka (Tinkoff) and Tony Martin (Etixx-QuickStep), leading by more than two minutes, but that advantage was whittled down on the category two Hourquette d’Ancizan and they were caught on the category one Col de Val Louron-Azet. Movistar and Sky continued to push and Pinot couldn’t match the frenetic pace imposed by the peloton, falling even further out of contention.
Another man to suffer was Katusha’s Michael Markov, who became the first man to abandon this Tour as he succumbed to the injuries he has been carrying since the opening stage.
Britain’s Team Sky rider had humiliated his rivals with a stunning acceleration up to La Pierre Saint Martin a year ago, prompting a heated debate about his power data and the possible use of a hidden motor.
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Former Tour victor Alberto Contador’s struggles continued and the Spaniard lost 1:41 to Froome, dropping to 20th overall, 3:12 back.
