[ad_1]
Defending champion Chris Froome nearly crashed the Tour de France after being overthrown by an overzealous police officer who mistook him for a fan on stage 17.
Froome, a Four-time champion, finished the stage in 8th place at 1min, 35secs behind Colombian winner Nairo Quintana and 48secs behind teammate and leader Geraint Thomas.
Chris Froome (left) and Mikel Landa drive in the last kilometer of the 17th stage. AFP
The Kenyan native had put on his rain vest and was returning on the Team Sky bus when a policeman on the side of the road mistakenly took him to the lighthouse. one of the thousands of cycling fans who traditionally ride the mountain stages
He tried to stop Froome and, in confusion, the Grand Tour champion six times collapsed
He avoided the injury and should start phase 18 on Thursday.
"It was a misunderstanding, Chris is fine," said a spokesman for Team Sky
Froome, who was aiming for a fourth consecutive victory at the Grand Tour after triumphing at the Vuelta a Espana last year. The boss of the year Giro d'Italia is now in a battle for a place on the podium.
Team boss Dave Brailsford said that they were now going to make sure that Froome joins Thomas on the Tour de France podium: outside of that necessarily, there is a big upcoming mountain day, and the time trial
"We are going to sit tonight, review everything, see how everyone feels then make our plan of attack."
Froome throws weight behind Thomas
Froome has practically finished his bid for a fifth record But Froome, 32, was hoping to join an elite club of five-time winner and become the first cyclist since Marco Pantani, in 1998, to win the victory. Giro d'Italia and Tour de France during the same calendar year
But the offer of Froome to join Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain on the list of five winners will have to to be waiting another year.
"It was a very intense day, but I have no regrets," Froome said at the finish after struggling to keep pace with Thomas when Primoz Roglic of Slovenia launched the program. one of the many attacks in the last kilometers.
Geraint) ran such an incredible race and he deserves to be in yellow – and "
Froome had also asked to win his fourth Grand Tour victory after adding the Tour of Spain 2017 and this year's Giro d'Italia to a collection that has often been stimulated by Thomas's help.
He added: "I have won the last three Grand Tours that I have done now, so it was definitely a tough build for me, but I will still try and fight for the podium and obviously trying to keep the "yellow."
Thomas, who has won two consecutive stages in the Alps to emphasize his yellow jersey qualities – and gives himself a decisive advantage of 1:39 Froome is now badured of Froome's support in the next steps.
"He looks very strong then I imagine that he will be able to finish it," Froome said. "We just have to try to heal him now, in the next few days."
"We have a two-minute lead," said Brailsford.
"The probability of winning this race over with Geraint now I think, but that does not mean that it's over.
" Right now, overall, we'll look to the next mountain stage, Let's try to keep the jersey and then everything will fall.
Brailsford, however, was quick to credit Froome for his support of Thomas throughout.
"If" G "continues to win the race, he will be a legend," added Brailsford.
"But if Froomey helps him, as he sacrificed today, he will be a titan, one of the greatest of all time, without even winning the race."
The 18th stage of Thursday is a mostly flat race from Trie-sur-Baise to Pau which should favor the few real sprinters still in the race. [19659002FridayThomasandFroomePerecontentsforwhomtheynegotiatewithsuccessa19thstagecomposedofcategorizedixascensionsthatstartsattheendoftheterminLaruns
When asked about the advice he could give to Thomas, Froome laughed: "I do not think he needs anything.I think he's in there." goes out very well. "
[ad_2]
Source link
