Wanting to maintain a sense of suspense until the very end of the race, they crafted a well-balanced route with many opportunities for Froome’s main rivals: Colombian climbing ace Nairo Quintana, two-time Tour victor Alberto Contador of Spain – who arrived in very good shape – and the French duo of Thibaut Pinot and Romain Bardet. As the race zipped by, the defense of his title threatened to go up in smoke.
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With the road race just a day after the opening ceremony on August 5, Wiggins revealed the tight turnaround and change in timezones will make for challenging conditions for Froome, but he backed his compatriot to handle the pressure.
Team Sky general manager David Brailsford meanwhile told the BBC he expects Froome to continue competing at the top for “three or four more years”.
“Every stage has just been about Froomey and what’s best for him”, Thomas said.
Despite cycling as a British rider, 31-year-old Froome was born in Kenya, and has been an inspiration to many young African cyclists with ambitions of emulating their hero. “Vive le Tour, Vive la France”. The Tour slid into monotony. “To celebrate the Tour, the Sidi Shot was tinted in yellow to better match Chris Froome’s leader jersey”.
Froome finished the race with a margin of victory of four minutes and five seconds ahead of AG2R La Mondiale’s Romain Bardet, only the third Frenchman in 20 years to finish second as the race awaits its first home victor since Hinault in 1985.
Froome himself described it as “a climber s Tour” but the man widely lauded as the best climber in the world and expected to push him to his limits, frustrated with his timidity. ‘It’s a course that suits me well, ‘ said Froome.
“Not just Chris, but the whole team”.
It might have been Froome s Tour but Peter Sagan was also a shining light. “I hope that I can keep my form from the Tour, and if that’s the case, then I really hope to medal”.
Chris Froome holding a glass of champagne after the start of the final stage.
‘I’ll definitely take it one at a time and if I can win the Tour again that would be unreal. After facing constant accusations during last year’s race – including a spectator yelling ‘doper!’ and hurling a cup of urine at him – Froome released some of his training data at the end of last year.
Having won four stages past year, he had yet to taste victory this time until Sunday as Mark Cavendish, who quit the race to focus on the Olympics earlier this week, dominated the sprints, winning four stages. The time trial is of particular interest. “It’s been heart-warming to get that respect”, he said.
He added: “You’re going the through the motions of racing and that Tour in particular I got stronger in that third week and won that last time trial”.
Froome, who won London 2012 bronze behind Wiggins in the time-trial, said: ‘It was a huge, huge honour this year to receive my OBE.
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He said: “I’d love my son to look back in 10 years’ time and for him to be proud of his old man”.
