Mollema is 1:47 behind in second, with Adam Yates of Britain third, 2:45 behind.
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The peloton had the chance to catch their breath during the rest day in Berne, but after 16 stages, none of the riders will be well-rested.
“I didn’t see it”, Cavendish said of the incident with Kittel. “Other people are exhausted”, said the defending champion, who is looking to become the first rider to retain his title since Miguel Indurain in 1995.
Froome holds a healthy advantage over his main rivals, but is taking nothing for granted. “In my eyes Tony deserves the award much more than me because I was just clinging on behind him”, joked Alaphilippe after the race. “At the moment, everyone is nailed”.
“From the first two weeks I feel I’ve really taken every opportunity possible”.
Two-time runner-up Nairo Quintana was third, 54 seconds behind, and Mollema moved up to fourth, 56 seconds back.
“Other teams have said they are going to attack in the Alps and I expect they will”.
“I always did a lot of sports – football, tennis, running”.
He went on: “I said my personal ambition was to be at my best in the third week, I started my season later than before and had a quieter run-in, which has helped, and I feel more ready for it than in previous editions”. “To say the Tour is won and I don’t have any rivals, that’s rubbish”. At the beginning of this race I said my personal ambition is to be at my best in the last week and I think I’m on track for that.
Froome himself has described his team as the “strongest Sky have ever brought to the Tour”.
“We were in disagreement with how the rules were applied but we need to turn the page and focus on what’s next”, Trek general manager Luca Guercilena said.
As a result, the top climbers and contenders for the yellow jersey will likely be patient and attempt to make the difference toward the top. In the past we’ve never had five guys who can stay there in the end on their day.
Cavendish’s departure from the Tour de France has been speculated about since early in the race, given that the omnium event in the Olympics is his major goal for the year.
Although Norwegian Alexander Kristoff of Katusha finished in the same time as Peter Sagan during Stage 16 of the Tour de’ France race, he said that him not throwing the bike and not paying attention gave him a slight hint of disappointment over his performance.
But today should kick-off four days of attacks from the GC contenders; Adam Yates (Orica BikeExchange) spoke about his desire to attack Froome in the final days, and Nairo Quintana (Movistar) who is almost three minutes down on the Briton also admitted he and his team is looking to attack Froome in the remaining stages.
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“We’re not going to attack if we’re not sure we can improve our situation”.
