FLAGGING FROOME FALLS BEHIND SKY TEAM-MATE
Chris Froome was facing a threat from his own team last night as the defending champion slipped behind Welshman Geraint Thomas on the first real climb.
Froome lost several seconds to him on the steep finishing climb of the mur de Bretagne and after six days of racing Thomas is now almost a minute ahead of Froome in the overall standings.
‘it’ll be interesting now to see if sky back Thomas or Froome,’ said rival richie Porte at the end of the sixth stage, which was won by ireland’s Dan martin.
‘everyone was on me so i thought i’d chill and let them do the work,’ Thomas said of the final climb. ‘Dan martin was super-strong so fair play. Unfortunately i couldn’t get a podium, as i’d have had enough seconds to get the jersey.’
Thomas, winner of the Criterium du Dauphine stage race in the French Alps, grabbed two bonus seconds during the stage and said that he felt that ‘everyone will be watching me now’.
he added: ‘i got away with it twice, i don’t think i could get away with it a third time. it was more just going for it because i saw the opportunity.’
The Welsh rider has long been a dutiful understudy to Froome and, despite co- leadership status, appears to be in the best form of his career. he has also shown a greater talent than Froome for racing on the dreaded cobblestones that will be at the heart of sunday’s pivotal stage from Arras Citadelle to roubaix.
martin attacked in the final kilometre to take his first Tour stage win since 2013. he said: ‘it’s a great feeling to actually get a win again as i’ve had so many second places in the Tour since the last win. it means this Tour is already a success and everything else will be a bonus.’
Today: Stage 7, Fougeres to Chartres 231 km (143m). TV: ITV4 from 11am.