[ad_1]
Espelette – Geraint
Thomas paid tribute to the defending champion and his teammate Chris Froome
he struggled with the "crazy" reality that he is becoming the
first Welsh winner of the Tour de France
"It's amazing to be sitting here with this jersey, it's crazy"
Thomas said in disbelief after finishing third, at 14 seconds, behind
Dutch rival Tom Dumoulin in the penultimate time trial of the race
Saturday.
"A big thanks also to Froomey, because he had entrusted me and was really happy to see me succeed."
"We are great friends and I've probably had the best stage rider,
on horseback for me. It's so surreal. It will take time to sink. "
Thomas leads the team leader Sunweb Dumoulin at 1:51 in advance on
The last stage of Sunday, when the peloton rolls from Houilles to Paris in
festive spirit before the sprinters take over for a battle on the Champs
Elysees
Froome, who was only a second behind Dumoulin, remains third at 2:24 and is virtually badured of a spot on the podium on Sunday.
For the outgoing champion, whose preparation for the Tour was ruined by
an anti-doping investigation that only allowed him a few days before
"There was no bitterness," says Froome when asked if he wanted his campaign to unfold differently
"Not only was I a team mate, G (Geraint) "We spend a lot of time together, we train a lot together and I have seen how it has developed over the years.
"It has been an important part of my victories in the Tour de France over the years."
"To see him coming here now, in the form that he was, this year on the
Tour de France it was clear to me that he was going to be on the
podium, he was going to be on the highest step.
"It makes me really proud and I'm happy to be part of it.
on the podium with him tomorrow, on the Champs Elysees, I hope, is a
dream scenario for us. "
Thomas started the 105th edition of the race is expected to provide
support that Froome asked for a record fifth Tour de France
would have allowed him to join the great precedents like Jacques Anquetil,
Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain
But wasting time in the first nine stages meant that Froome was on the back foot.
And when Thomas affirmed his growing status with consecutive victories in
the Alps to take firm command, the 32-year-old Welshman's yellow jersey
the offer has taken shape.
Although Team Sky kept their silence when asked if Froome, a
six-time Grand Tour champion, would badume the duties of "domestic" and help
Thomas, it became clear in the last days in the Pyrenees which rider
was stronger.
Froome sometimes struggled in the final kilometers of climbs
on key milestones, when Thomas was forced to counter Dumoulin's threats
and Slovenian Primoz Roglic practically alone.
Even Dumoulin offered his sincere congratulations.
"He has never been in trouble by anyone in the mountains, nor on any scene, not by me," Dumoulin said. 19659003] "I have only respect for him, congratulations on my behalf."
Thomas admitted his impressive victory over Alpe d'Huez, on stage 12,
while wearing the yellow jersey he had taken thanks to his
The victory at the top of the mountain, at La Rosière, had proved essential
"To win the Alpe d'Huez in yellow jersey, it was crazy, I do not have to …" He did not expect it, "he said. me a big boost. "
Source link
