The manner in which Chris Froome dismantled the field on today's 10th stage of the Tour de France would suggest that it's going to take an almighty collapse from him not to win, even at this early stage. The Team Sky man leads the General Classification by almost three minutes.
By Brian Canty
Chris Froome stamped his class all over the Tour de France today by annihilating the field on the first mountain stage of this year’s race.
The Team Sky man crossed the line atop the summit of La-Pierre-Saint-Martin in the Pyrenees some 59 seconds clear of his teammate Richie Porte with Colombian Nairo Quintana (Movistar) third a further five seconds back.
Froome, the 2013 Tour winner, now holds a commanding lead of 2:52 over his closest challenger, Tejay Van Garderen (BMC Racing Team), with the aforementioned Quintana at 3:09.
Advertisement
Alberto Contador was one of the big losers of the day, though there were many more who had their hopes of a podium finish quashed, with the Spaniard later admitting he simply had a bad day.
The 167-kilometre stage was rolling all the way to the start of that vicious final 15-kilometre climb which had an average gradient of 7.4 per cent.
It was Quintana’s Movistar team who dictated the pace early on and the ferocity of their tempo saw several contenders like defending champion Vincenzo Nibali (Astana), Rigoberto Urán (Etixx-QuickStep), Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha), Thibaut Pinot (FDJ), and Jean-Christophe Péraud (Ag2r La Mondiale) all being dropped early.
Ireland's Dan Martin was another of the earlier-than-expected casualties.
It appeared he may have been waiting on Cannondale-Garmin team mate Andrew Talansky, who started the stage in 19th place overall and best of the squad.
However, Martin later said he had “no words” to describe his ride, save to say he felt “completely empty” as soon as the final HC climb began.
“(It was the) dreaded rest day effect perhaps but we regroup and we’ll be back in the game tomorrow,” he added.
Dan Martin leads team mate Andrew Talansky up the climb to La Pierre Saint Martin on a stage when the Tour de France split to pieces (Photo: Sirotti)
The front group was already considerably thinned by the time Team Sky hit the front as the gradients began to kick up on the steepest middle section of the climb.
Related News
Yet it was Quintana’s teammate Alejandro Valverde who was first to fire, with a double dig that appeared to put Froome in difficulty.
But the pre-race favourite did not flinch, unlike Contador, van Garderen, Pierre Rolland (Europcar), Adam Yates (Orica-GreenEdge), and other members of an elite group who began to buckle.
Soon finding himself alone with Quintana and Porte, Froome wasted no time making his move.
He blazed up the mountainside to take a stranglehold on the yellow jersey and leave the rest of the field in an apparent battle for second place.
Froome’s teammate Nicolas Roche did some huge turns to whittle down the front group and eventually came over the line 13 minutes back while cousin Martin fared slightly better, losing over 11 minutes.
It was another gruelling day for Sam Bennett of Bora-Argon 18 who came home in the final group on the road some 23 minutes down.
Tomorrow is another monster stage in the Pyrenees with the riders travelling 188 kilometres from Pau to Cauterets over six categorised climbs, including the Col d’Aspin and the Col du Tourmalet.
Stage 10, Tarbes - La Pierre Saint Martin (167km)
1. Chris Froome (GBr) Team Sky
2. Richie Porte (Aus) Team Sky at 59 secs
3. Nairo Quintana (Spa) Movistar at 1:04
4. Robert Gesink (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo at 1:33
5. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar at 2:01
6. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky @s/t
7. Adam Yates (GBr) Orica-GreenEdge at 2:04
8. Pierre Rolland (Fra) Europcar at s/t;
9. Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto-Soudal at 2:22
10. Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing at 2:30
57. Dan Martin (Garmin Cannondale) @11:34
75. Nicolas Roche (Team Sky) @ 13:51
165. Sam Bennett (Bora Argon 18) @23:21
General Classification
1. Chris Froome (GBr) Team Sky
2. Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing at 2-52
3. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar at 3-09
4. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar at 4-01
5. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky at 4-03
6. Alberto Contador (Spa) Tinkoff-Saxo at 4-04
7. Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto-Soudal at 4-33
8. Robert Gesink (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo at 4-35
9. Warren Barguil (Fra) Giant-Alpecin at 6-12
10. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana at 6-57
30 Dan Martin (Garmin Cannondale) @ 21:05
59 Nicolas Roche (Team Sky) @ 39:26
178 Sam Bennett (Bora Argon 18) @1:24:16
Topics
