Chris Froome has shown the first signs of high mountain climbing form of the year, taking 11th on Mercan Tour Classic Alpes-Maritimes, which finished on Col de Valberg, the third of three major climbs.
The Israel Premier Tech rider was in trouble shortly after the final climb began yesterday, though he continued to ride solidly and eventually finished 11th. While that was not a result for the history books, it is the best performance he has put out since his crash at Critérium du Dauphiné in 2019.
By the time he was dropped from the select group on the final climb yesterday, Froome had already raced over La Colmiane – 7.6km with an average gradient of 6.9 per cent – and the HC climb of Col de la Couillole, which was 15.9km at 7.3 per cent.
Advertisement
Froome was distanced just over 12km from the top of the final climb and while there was still about a dozen riders in the select group. That group had been pushed on by Thibaut Pinot for Groupama-FDJ leader on the day, David Gaudu.
Related News
Jakob Fuglsang (Israel-Premier Tech) split the remains of the group with 6.5km to go with a big attack. Once he went, he opened a clear gap and was chased by Gaudu, with Fuglsang’s team mate Michael Woods sitting in his wheel. Fuglsang won the race solo by 31 seconds from Woods, with Gaudu in 3rd a further three seconds back.
Froome was 11th, finishing 3:58 down on the winner. Sébastien Reichenbach (Groupama-FDJ), who finished just nine seconds ahead of Froome, did about 5.4 watts per kg on the final climb for about 35 minutes.
Matteo Jorgenson (Movistar) was with Froome in the front group though eventually distanced him on the final climb. Jorgenson, who is about 70kg, did about 5w/kg on the first big climb of the day for 44 minutes, 5.7 w/kg for another 44 minutes on the penultimate climb and 5.5w/kg on the final climb to the finish, which took him 36 minutes.
