Froome closes on record after tour de ‘fource’
PARIS: Chris Froome put on a nearperfect performance yesterday to claim his fourth Tour de France and move within one title of cycling’s greatest as Team Sky tightened its grip on the classic race.
The Briton suffered a few wobbles throughout the 3540km race but was always in control over the three weeks thanks to his highcalibre teammates who sheltered him when it mattered in the mountains, leaving the lanky rider to make the difference in the time trials that bookended the 104th edition.
Sky, which has the biggest budget of the peloton, has now snatched five of the past six titles and came within a whisker of placing two riders on the podium as Spaniard Mikel Landa missed out on the top three by one second.
Froome is now one title behind alltime greats Belgian Eddy Merckx, Spaniard Miguel Indurain and French duo Jacques Anquetil and Bernard Hinault.
He is the first to win three consecutive titles since Indurain, who prevailed from 1991 to 1995. The disgraced Lance Armstrong’s seven titles since then have been erased from the record book.
‘‘I’m speechless, it’s amazing,’’
Froome said after getting off his bike and hugging wife Michelle and son Kellan.
‘‘The Champs Elysees never disappoints. There is something magical when you have spent three weeks thinking about this moment. It’s just so rewarding every time.
‘‘Each win has been so unique, such a different battle and this will be remembered as the closest and most hardfought.’’
Colombian Rigoberto Uran finished second overall, 54sec behind, and Frenchman Romain Bardet, runnerup last year, was third, 2min 20sec off the pace
after both riders lost time to Froome in Sunday’s final time trial.
Yesterday’s largely processional stage from Montgeron to the Champs Elysees in Paris was won by Dutchman Dylan Groenewegen in a bunch sprint.
The 103km ride was the occasion for Froome to sip rose Champagne with his teammates as the real racing began only when the peloton, which went through the Grand Palais, reached the Champs Elysees and the sprinters wound it up.
Froome’s victory was the first one achieved with a gap of less than a minute and, while there was no repeat of last year when he had to run up Mont Ventoux without a bike, he did have mechanical scares that his rivals failed to exploit.
He also lacked his usual dominance in the climbs and was beaten in a brutal uphill finish in Peyragudes as the 26yearold Bardet won the stage to fuel hopes of a first home champion since 1985.
France had a great Tour with five stage wins, including a double by Warren Barguil, who won the polka dot jersey for the mountains classification, reviving memories of Richard Virenque.
Australian Michael Matthews’ versatility earned him the green jersey for the points classification. — Reuters