Thomas close to Tour title as Froome cracks in stage finale
SAINT-LARY-SOULAN — Britain’s Geraint Thomas extended his Tour de France lead as Chris Froome’s hopes of a record-equalling fifth title were hanging by a thread after the defending champion was dropped in the finale of Wednesday’s 17th stage.
Colombian Nairo Quintana attacked at the foot of the final climb up to the Col du Portet to snatch a prestigious victory 28 seconds ahead of Ireland’s Dan Martin, but all eyes were on yellow jersey holder Thomas and four-time champion Froome. Froome, attempting a first Giro d’Italia-Tour double in 20 years, cracked two km from the finish when Dutchman Tom Dumoulin attacked, and slipped from second to third overall.
Thomas, who took third place 47 seconds off the pace, now leads Dumoulin by 1:59 and Froome by 2:31 and is widely expected to hand Team Sky their sixth Tour title in seven years.
Froome’s hopes are hanging by a thread after he crossed the line 1:35 off the pace as he does not seem to have the legs to overturn the deficit and might not be allowed to by his team after Thomas emerged as the clear leader in
the British squad. Froome’s last hope appears to rest on whether Thomas cracks in the last mountain stage on Friday, which seems unlikely after the Welshman proved stronger in all three summit finishes.
Organisers had set up a grid start at the foot of the first climb but, while it often brings excitement in Formula One, it was a forgettable moment here, with the peloton being well-organised after a few hundred metres. Team Sky controlled the pace as several riders attacked in the Montee de Peyragudes, a 14.9-km ascent at an average gradient of 6.7 percent.
Among them was France’s Julian Alaphilippe, who strengthened his lead in the mountain classification. Romain Bardet’s AG2R-La Mondiale team upped the pace in the second climb, the Col du Val Louron Azet (7.4km at 8.3 percent), to shake up the peloton and hoped to drop several Team Sky domestiquesbut they failed.
Those tactics even backfired in the last ascent, a 16-km effort at an average gradient of 8.7 percent, as the Frenchman cracked and had no team mate left to help him.