Michal Kwiatkowski stops for a rest after riding himself into the ground for Chris Froome on the last climb.
Michal Kwiatkowski has to stop on Col d’Izoard
Michał Kwiatkowski rode so hard for Chris Froome on the Col d’Izoard today he actually stopped when he pulled over.
The Pole was on the front of the climb – the final big mountain of the Tour de France – keeping the pace high so Froome’s rivals wouldn’t attack.
Team Sky still had a number of riders in the group. So Kwiatkowski’s job was to ride as hard as he could as far as he could and then pull over and let the others take it up.
Mikel Landa would do the lion’s share from the point Kwiatkowski pulled over with 4km remaining.
Dan Martin was pressing hard on the front at the time when the former world champion opted out.
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It’s not usual for riders to slow right down, often to a crawl, to gather themselves before riding to the finish at their own pace after their work is done.
But Michał Kwiatkowski was so wrecked and the climb so steep that he ground to a complete halt. He had to put his foot down and stop.
He would lose an astonishing 13:41 in just 4km and finishing 62nd on the stage.
Froome would go on to finish 4th on the stage, losing no time to 2nd placed overall Romain Bardet (AG2R-La Mondiale).
He even gained two seconds on Rigoberto Uran, the Cannondale-Drapac man in 3rd overall.
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