Britain’s Chris Froome, Roman Kreuziger of the Czech Republic, Denmark’s Jakob Fuglsang, and Australia’s Simon Gerrans, from left to right, climb during the eighth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 184 kilometers (114.3 miles) with start in Pau and finish in Bagneres-de-Luchon, France, Saturday, July 9, 2016.
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Yates had said he was coming to the Tour seeking only stage wins, insisting a general classification bid was beyond him. “One minute we were pouring water over our heads and ice packs down our backs and the next minute there was ice falling from the sky”.
After nine of 21 stages in cycling’s most prestigious race, Briton Froome leads Colombian Movistar rider Quintana, who is fourth overall, by 23 seconds.
Dutch rider Tom Dumoulin took his first ever Tour stage win in an incredible stage.
His biggest rival, Nairo Quintana (Movistar), is within 23 seconds and a total of eight riders are within a minute.
As expected, the “Queen Stage” of the three in the Pyrenees impacted overall places.
As the Tour reached its first rest day in Andorra yesterday, British riders were leading three of the four main classifications, with Chris Froome in the leader’s jersey, up-and-coming Lancashire rider Adam Yates lying second overall and leading the Best Young Rider classification and sprint star Mark Cavendish wearing the green jersey of the points competition.
Contador, who had crashed twice in the two opening stages and had a fever in the morning, called it quits 104km from the finish line after trying his luck one last time with a vintage early move.
“It was long and super-hot and then it got super-cold at the finish”, Van Garderen said. “We can’t pin it on a single day, I have to go day by day and see a possibility of attack”. Richie was obviously a lot better than me, but we just look forward.
I showed that already in the Vuelta previous year and I’m so, so happy. “Tactically it puts the shoe on the other foot – it’s up to other teams now to go out to try to gain back time they’ve lost already”.
When Froome was asked about a suggestion that the reason he hasn’t been able to attack successfully uphill in this Tour was because he doesn’t have a motor in his bike, Sky team principal Dave Brailsford responded for the rider.
But at one point on the final climb to the finish, Porte attacked the group of favourites before hesitating and looking back at Froome. At that age, unless you go all the way and find out what it’s like you’re not going to step up and win so I think he should keep racing for three weeks, manage himself and see how he goes. It was a tough day out there.
First off – just when you thought Chris Froome couldn’t look any geekier riding a bike, there he was sitting on the top tube pedaling to a stage victory and the yellow jersey.
Froome will by no means leave the Pyrenees feeling a third Tour win is a fait accompli.
The Tour’s next mountain-top finish comes in Stage 12 on Thursday at the legendary Mont Ventoux, on Bastille Day.
BMC had a great start to the Tour, but do they have a plan for later?
As Martin told The Irish Times before the Tour, moving to Andorra a year ago has been a big part of that improvement. I figure that is what it is turning out to be. The level is higher.
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The Team Sky ace was the victim of snide drug claims by fans and pundits when he bagged his second Yellow Jersey past year.
