Quintana’s team mate Alejandro Valverde suggested Quintana, like Froome, was at peak form and warned the Briton not to underestimate the Colombian.
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“That’s where”, Froome said, “the race will be won or lost”.
The Dutchman has now won stages in three consecutive Grand Tours following victories in last year’s Vuelta a Espana and May’s Giro d’Italia.
Why Did Sky Want to Defend the Yellow So Early?
Team Sky boss Dave Brailsford said the main reason behind Britain’s dominance dates to almost 20 years ago, when the National Lottery started to invest millions of pounds into British sport federations.
Slightly more than 100 kilometers (60 miles) from the end of Stage 9 from the Spanish town of Vielha to the ski resort of Arcalis in Andorra, the 33-year-old Spaniard stopped at the side of the road, hopped off his bike and got into the passenger seat of his team auto.
Yates has said he does not believe he can challenge in the general classification due to his time-trialling, but is happy to still be in the mix after the first week of the Tour.
With Thibault Pinot out of contention, the French hopes of producing a first home Tour victor in 31 years hang on Romain Bardet’s shoulders. Team Sky had controlled the pace but when they had all been dropped and only Henao and Froome were left, Henao jumped.
Porte’s BMC team-mate Tejay van Garderen is two places ahead of Porte in 11th spot, 1-01 down on Froome. Henao, who is clearly Froome’s strongest teammate in the mountains this year, had done same the day before. On Stage 8 all went according to plan, although Froome’s attack came when it was least expected.
But Froome’s opportunistic move at the top of the Col de Peyresourde to take the stage win at Luchon and the yellow jersey showed that he is capable of far more than merely burning the opposition off his wheel when the road gets steep.
“The most important [thing] is to gain time when you can”.
More likely Quintana is saving himself for the final week, and four exceptionally hard days in the Alps. For the moment, though, he’s in yellow and it’s up to the other teams to take it from him. They also seem intent on sending a message that they’re not quite as predictable and one-dimensional as everyone thinks they are. Monday marks the first rest day of the Tour this year. Stage 12 concludes with the legendarily tough Mont Ventoux climb, the site of another devastating Chris Froome attack and stage win back in 2013.
Without question, one of the favorites in the 2016 Tour de France from the very start was Chris Froome of Great Britain. Froome crushed Mount Ventoux on the way to winning his first Tour in 2013.
“There’s still a long way to go in this Tour – you must attack when it’s your real time. He could not brake and did a somersault and fell on his face”, Orica sports director Laurenzo Lapage said.
For Team Sky’s rivals, the task is simple: attack early and often.
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Approaching the finish line Sunday, Dumoulin turned around to make eye contact with his team director in a vehicle behind him and then, on the verge of tears, stuck his tongue out and raised his arms in celebration.
