Contador crashed and needed Sagan and Rogers to help him get back on the roll.
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History: It’s the first time the Lacets de Montvernier have appeared in the Tour and only the second time a stage will finish in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, with Frenchman Sandy Casar victorious the last time round in 2010.
“It was a very big group to be in”.
“I’ll try against tomorrow (Thursday) and every day until Saturday”.
“I’d imagine it’s going to be a never ending”, Froome added. “It was handsome”, said a tearful Geschke.
Speaking to The Associated Press during Stage 17 of the Tour, the three-time victor of the race said: “I believe it’s been used in racing. Incredible”.
The doctor had been hoping that Van Garderen was “over the worst part” of an illness that the rider had been battling for several days. He was dropped but then rejoined the peloton on the descent of the Col de Toutes Aures.
The 25-year-old, who now lives in Derby, was hunted down by the might of One Pro Cycling and Pedal Heaven Racing Team, who had riders first and second in the overall Series. This was nearly certainly the most risky descent in the entire Tour – it’s where the eventual 1975 victor Bernard Thévenet nearly came a cropper – and while the favourites negotiated it safely, Thibaut Pinot did not. With 28 km to go today, Simon Geschke took the lead. “I was on the limit over the top of the climb”.
Things came to a head for the overall contenders on the Col d’Allos, the penultimate climb.
Spaniard Alejandro Valverde is up to third at 4:09, although he was distanced by Froome and Quintana in the final 500-metres and lost seven seconds.
The first day in the Alps threw five categorized climbs at the field over 161-km, including Cat.
“Just ran out of road”, said Talansky, who took second in the stage, 32 seconds behind.
As for Talansky, it’s the booby prize of a banana for him at the moment, but we suspect the Cannondale-Garmin leader is not finished yet.
Froome, a Kenya-born Briton, said his team wants to address doubts about Sky’s performances with the release of his rider data. Contador was 1:30 behind. So unless someone else takes up the chase in the peloton the breakaway look to be the favourite to ride away with the stage victory. With one kilometer left, the GC group was together, while Contador was two minutes behind.
Victory in the evening’s final race went to New Zealander Tom Scully (Madison Genesis) who attacked with around 18 laps remaining and managed to make his bid for freedom stick.
“I’d imagine it’s going to be never-ending”, he is quoted as saying by BBC Sport.
Brailsford added that it would be a shame if Froome felt he had to rein himself in at any point over the coming days for fear of attracting innuendo.
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The Tour’s medical services said Van Garderen, fifth overall in the 2012 and 2014 editions, was suffering from headaches.
