Internship Alpe d'Huez: The Tour de France in the hands of the British

Closed team performance: Egan Bernal (front), Geraint Thomas (center) and Chris Froome join Alpe d'Huez. (Image: P. Dejong / AP)

It's almost a turning point for Team Sky when Sir David Brailsford talks about his share of success. The head of the British cycling team likes to present himself as a brain that works in every detail, leaves nothing to chance and revolutionizes cycling with its meticulousness. The 54-year-old would like to see the story of Sky's success at the Tour de France since 2012, above all associated with his name, which he generally leaves no doubt

Of all the more, that's why he has not seen it. did Brailsford on Thursday morning? in Bourg-Saint-Maurice said the tactics with which Sky wanted to design the alpine scene at the legendary destination Alpe d'Huez. The Sky boss said that there was no downward hierarchy between Geraint Thomas, the yellow jersey wearer, and Chris Froome, the reigning champion. "Geraint is 32, Chris is 33," said Brailsford. "They are no longer boys, they know what they do."

Geraint Thomas (Image: Stéphane Mahe / Reuters)

The team leader went a step further and downplayed the overall influence of the sports ladder on the racing scene. "Some think we're sitting on the radio and we're telling drivers every move, every pedal turn, "he said." This is not the case. "You do not get everything in chaotic racing situations in the car. the driver's instincts are in demand. "We must trust them to make the right decisions."

Bernal proves his talent

Left to their own devices, Thomas and Froome dominate their competitors en route to L & # 39; Alpe d'Huez For two-thirds of the final climb of 13.8 kilometers, they had only to follow the teammate to whom the future could belong: Egan Bernal, the Colombian 21, has varied the pace of the pack. He not only drove so fast that other favorites like the Irish Dan Martin and the Danish Jakob Fuglsang lost the line. Bernal is sure that all the attacks of the biggest rivals of the general victory have evaporated ineffective: his compatriot Nairo Quintana and the Italian Vincenzo Nibali could resolve after speeding shots only a few meters before the Sky Phalanx is not catching them again. Attack of the French Roman Bardet, who, open shirt, eyes wide open and face deformed by pain, made it clear that he did not want to accept British rule without fighting. But Froome started the counter-attack, and Bardet's hopes melted like snow in the spring. The Briton literally flew over his competitor – and was not even in the saddle.

What followed recalled Brailsford's words. Thomas and Froome, who have been part of the same team since 2008, first at Barloworld, later at Sky, have shared the work. When Bardet attacked again, Froome went with them, and when two kilometers from the arrival of the Dutch Tom Dumoulin forced the pace, countered Thomas. The two Britons react instinctively to racing situations without torpedoing themselves. As hoped by their boss.

Before the finish, Thomas took the most momentum on the outside curve and celebrated the second stage win in a row. He increased his overall lead 1:38 minutes ahead of Froome and 1:50 minutes ahead of Dumoulin.

Nibali unleashed bad luck with a police motorcycle about four kilometers from the finish and crashed. The fans had left him too little space. The Italian was saved only 13 seconds behind Thomas, but suffered a vertebral fracture in the fall and had to be hospitalized. Late in the evening of Thursday Nibali gave up the tour

How long is the harmony?

The race is not yet decided after the alpine stages. But anything but a Sky triumph seems more and more unlikely. The Colombian Rigoberto Uran, second overall last year, did not start on Thursday: he suffers the consequences of a fall. Bardet is already 3:07 late. In addition to that, three of his teammates had to give up. The French are threatened to fight windmills against the collective force of Sky in the Pyrenees.

Dumoulin seems most likely to maintain tension. We can trust the world champion against the clock to catch up in the penultimate day. He will not, however, be able to reach clear distances, Thomas and Froome being also exceptional players in the special discipline.

This leaves the question of how long lasting the harmony demonstrated outside between the two Team Sky stars. Brailsford gave the impression Thursday morning that he did not need to intervene to moderate. Thomas and Froome understand each other well. If the boss is wrong, his reputation as a brain gets another scratch. There would be a guaranteed show in the second half of the tour