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(procycling.no): Geraint Thomas took a big step forward to win the Tour de France after the 17th stage, during which Welsh increased his leadership while his defender and teammate Chris Froome lost precious time. After Nairo Quintana (Movistar) won the 65-kilometer mountain camp in the Pyrenees, ahead of Dan Martin (UAE), Thomas moved from his closest rivals to the top of the Col du Port. The man in yellow accelerated and put five seconds in the bag of Primoz Roglic (LottoNL-Jumbo) and Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb), both of whom tried to distance the strong leader.
Team Sky once again watched an unmatched fort when assistants like Jonathan Castroviejo, Wout Poels and Egan Bernal protected their captains on the 16-kilometer last pass of Portet
. A few kilometers from the goal, the four-time champion of the Tour de France Froome has been outdistanced. A fool of Dumoulin did that the other man had to see the other favorite cycles of. Defending champion of the Giro d'Italia, Froome, lost 48 seconds against Thomas, consolidating his position as captain of the Skys team of the Tour de France this year
– This was a start difficult race. Quintana attacked, Roglic went after and Froome followed. We had Dumoulin driving a little ahead and the speed was high. After that, he calmed down. I felt pretty good, I had to react as soon as Roglic or Dumoulin moved. So I had a good day, Thomas says after the scene
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– Froome wanted to try something and left early with Roglic, and I I just assumed that he was feeling good. But he did not feel so good at the top. I think he's still number three – he's up there
Solid leadership
Thomas now leads with 1:59 reassuring to Dumoulin, while Froome is 32 seconds down from third in third. Roglic is fourth, 2:47 behind, while Quintana climbs from eighth to fifth place and is now at 3:30.
The next three days, the peloton will face a flat leg in Pau and a hilly leg in Laruns before stunning. , 31 kilometers long in Espelette the day before Paris. Thomas is therefore in pole position to win his first Tour de France, and can be reassured by the fact that the yellow jersey has not changed ownership since a third week since 2011.
– I do not not allow me to think so much about it. To be honest, I take things from day to day. Tomorrow is a charming day, so we just have to rest and be ready for it, says Thomas.
– It is clear that Dumoulin and Roglic were strong and active today. He was the closest to me and Froome, but I do not consider him a rival, we are teammates. He is a warrior and he will definitely go all the way. For my part, it was nice to continue and the team is doing well now.
Having a plan to accomplish something in the final race, Froome ended up falling into a place in the resume. The rider who is currently the reigning champion in all the Grand Tours now seems happy to fight for a place on the podium in Paris.
– It was really a difficult and intense day. I regret nothing. Geraint had a fantastic ride, he deserves to ride in yellow, and now we cross our fingers to hold him in Paris, "says Froome.
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