A gunman smashed a truck into a crowd of revellers celebrating Bastille Day on July 14, 2016 in the French Riviera city of Nice, killing at least 84 people in what President Francois Hollande called a “terrorist” attack.
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Friday’s 13th stage went ahead amid heightened security following the terror attack in Nice on Thursday night.
Time trial specialist Dumoulin won with a time of 50 minutes and 15 seconds over the rolling 37.5km stage, with Froome one minute and three seconds off that pace.
The 23-year-old Briton slipped from 47 seconds adrift of the yellow jersey to 2min 45sec down after losing 1min 58sec to race leader Chris Froome on stage 13’s individual time trial.
However, the race jury chose to award Froome the same time for the stage as Bauke Mollema, who had joined him and Richie Porte in a three-man breakaway from the main peloton.
In a mark of respect for the victims of the Nice attack, the usual podium presentation and celebration was replaced by Froome, Dumoulin, best young rider Yates, Green Jersey holder Peter Sagan and King of the Mountains frontrunner Thomas de Gendt standing on stage for a minute’s silence.
There was also a moment of silence at the start, several hours’ drive from Nice, and Tour director Christian Prudhomme wore a black armband around his blue shirt. To everyone who is injured, in flesh and in their being. “We asked ourselves [if the stage should be cancelled] but we think, after agreeing with authorities, that the race must continue”.
Although Quintana has given up nearly three minutes to Froome to this point, the 26-year-old – second to Froome in 2013 and 2015 – is still seen as the main danger man ahead of the final week of racing.
Tom Dumoulin won but couldn’t even force himself to break into a smile, while Chris Froome, who extended his overall lead, was visibly emotional and refused to answer “sporting” questions.
Movistar’s Nairo Quintana, seen as Froome’s main rival, also lost out, slipping to two minutes and 59 seconds off yellow after finishing 20th.
Despite being involved in a crash during a dramatic 12th stage on Thursday, Froome proved he was the strongest time-trialer amongst the overall favorites. “You couldn’t really hear anything on the radio so I was just riding off feel”, Porte told reporters after pedaling back to the BMC bus.
But the Dutch rider put his rivalry with Froome aside, and had a strong ride on the windy and narrow roads in the picturesque Gorges de l’Ardeche.
Yates had expected to lose time on this stage and duly gave up nearly two minutes to Froome, at least better than the four minutes he predicted. “To win with more than a minute on (Chris) Froome and everyone else is something I didn’t expect, and it gives me a lot of confidence”.
“I gave it my everything; my thoughts were a little bit elsewhere today”, Froome said. I’ll try of course (to attack) as I always have done.
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“I agree that you come to the race, you have a good time, but you don’t need to be running beside the riders, you don’t need to hitting riders, pushing riders”, said Porte, who was being examined for possible injuries.
