Given that all Chris Froome’s stage wins in the Tour de France prior to this year had come either in uphill finishes or time trials, there were grounds for claiming that the double Tour de France victor was a cyclist with a relatively limited register based on sheer power on mountain tops and against the watch.
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Matthews was part of an early breakaway during the 24-kilometer climb to the Port d’Envalira, the highest climb of the Tour at 2,408 meters.
The Colombian, fourth overall and 23 seconds down, is seen as the man most likely to deny Froome a third Tour win – particularly after Tinkoff’s Alberto Contador abandoned on Sunday – although the expected attack never came in Andorra.
Froome said that from his perspective he was just happy there was that none of that “silly nonsense” from past year. “It’s up to the other teams now to have a go out there and try to gain back time”, added the 31-year-old.
“Tomorrow we’re hoping for a similar day to today, another day we can tick off and get through without too much happening”.
But over three Pyrenean mountain stages, Quintana failed to attack Froome, leaving the Briton and his team perplexed.
“The more checks they do, the better everyone sleeps at night”, Froome said. “We actually had an email from the UCI saying thank you for being the most cooperative team out of everybody when it comes to bike checks and mechanical checking.” he said.
Thursday’s Stage 12: A 111-mile leg from Montpellier to Mont Ventoux (6,263-foot peak) in the Provence region.
2015 was a standout year for the 30-year-old as he secured victory in the Tour of the Algarve and a first classic win.
“We ve seen Chris attack, we ve seen a couple of other skirmishes if you like, but as of yet it s been a relatively compact race”, he said. But Movistar manager Eusebio Unzue said his team are merely biding their time. You just need the right tech to find it.
Brailsford insisted Froome’s equipment had come in for more scrutiny than anyone else’s on the Tour.
“Ventoux is the next big thing we’ve got our sights on now”.
“If someone is stupid enough come here with a motor in their bike for sure they will get caught. The Ventoux, however, is much more hard, it’s much more impressive for all the riders, even the favourites”, the FDJ rider said.
“Quintana seems to be in great shape so it’s going to be an interesting two weeks of racing”.
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Martin’s best finish in the race was in 2013, when he finished in 33rd place, when he finished over an hour and 13 minutes behind the then victor Froome. There was more drama for the British riders as young Adam Yates crashed when the “flamme rouge”, the large inflatable arch that signals just 1km to go (see video below). Monday marks the first rest day of the Tour this year. “[He should] keep on persevering with the whole adventure because I think that will stand him very good stead for future years”. Martin, who is 29 and was born in Birmingham, has ridden the Tour three times, finishing in the 30s overall, while his best Grand Tour placing to date is seventh in the 2014 Vuelta a España.
