Thomas proves beyond doubt that the crowning glory

For Geraint Thomas, it is the ascent of the Soulor Pass, 30 km from the finish of the last dramatic stage of yesterday.

With a short descent to come before another steep climb to the top of the mountain. the out-of-category Aubisque Col, and Primoz Roglic and Tom Dumoulin, his closest rivals in the overall standings, firing off attacks, Thomas heard on the radio that Chris Froome, his luxury servant for the day, was in trouble . He was exposed.

"It was time spent screaming as they say in the UK," Thomas then told a French journalist in the mixed zone, inviting a puzzled look. "I knew that the main thing was to follow Tom, I was rather confident, I was not super stressed."

Thomas was coldness personified, as he always was. The 32-year-old did not even need Fergie Time

He got hooked on Dumoulin's wheel as the road went up, knowing that Dumoulin, with less than 40 seconds of time, was able to get on the road. Advance on Roglic on GC, should react In the end, Froome finally returned to his group thanks to the extraordinary efforts of Egan Bernal, the 21-year-old Colombian from Team Sky, who was still shooting Froome at 180km in a 200 km. step, trying to help him keep his place on the podium.

Bernal and Froome grabbed the yellow jersey group during the descent of the Soulor and they all climbed the Aubisque together, everyone at the limit

. dangerous 20km to the finish; a quick and easy descent through the mist and clouds. While Roglic was throwing himself into the mountain with abandon – and perhaps using a motorcycle if Dumoulin's complaints were to be believed -, Thomas took no chances, sticking to Dumoulin as glue

. Down, as the riders entered Laruns for the final sprint, it was the Welshman who was the strongest, sprinting to second place, 19 seconds behind Roglic, to claim an extra six seconds and extend his overall advantage to Dumoulin. to 2min 5secs ahead on the final today.

Dan Martin's fourth place in the Thomas group propelled the Irishman to eighth overall.

Thomas now has yellow to take it. More than 31 km, two minutes should be more than enough to keep his lead. Dumoulin is a beast in TT mode; the reigning world champion. But Thomas is not left out against the clock himself and seems to have the best legs.

"I never thought I was going to let go but it was hard for sure," he said. "I just made him do everything (Dumoulin), it's the first time I've seen him get tired a little," Thomas Thomas adds (19659004) "I think the time trial Saturday is a bit like an Olympic final, now it boils down to tomorrow, but I can get confidence in the way I ride, which will be tomorrow. "

" I just need to drive 30km as loud as possible. "Everything seemed so simple. (© Daily Telegraph, London)

Tour of France
Live Eurosport / ITV 4 10.45

Irish Independent