FROOME BRACED FOR BIG BATTLE
Tour de France leader Chris Froome is braced for more bruising stages this week as the peloton go to ‘war’ in fierce winds on the mountain roads.
one of Froome’s key helpers, Sky team- mate Geraint Thomas, crashed out of the race and broke his collarbone on the descent of the Col de la Biche during Sunday’s Stage Nine.
And after yesterday’s uneventful Stage 10 from Perigueux to Bergerac that ended in yet another sprint win for Marcel Kittel, Froome expects the race to hot up again.
‘Any talk of crosswinds gets the whole peloton quite nervous,’ said the British rider. ‘Everyone starts fighting for positions at the front. We’re going to have to get ready to go to war again.
‘I’m taking it day by day but now I’m thinking more about the Pyrenees and the mountain finish at Peyragudes. It’s a very hard stage with a really hard finish.’
The Tour began its circuitous journey from the Dordogne towards the Pyrenees yesterday, with Kittel so far clear of his rival sprinters that he was able to freewheel across the finish line smiling.
Germany’s Kittel has now established a stranglehold on the points classification competition for the green jersey. ‘It makes a difference to go into a sprint so relaxed,’ said Kittel. ‘Now I can wait for the right moment. I have that luxury. We have a winning spirit and that’s very special. I look forward to going for more wins.’
After completing the 50th day of his career in the Tour yellow jersey, Froome said of yesterday’s 178-kilometre stage through the Dordogne: ‘It’s never easy but it was quieter.’