FROOME SET TO MAKE BIG SACRIFICE

CHRIS FROOME has admitted he is prepared to forfeit a record fifth Yellow Jersey to help Geraint Thomas win the Tour de France.

Welshman Thomas currently leads the defending champion by 1min 39sec, as the race swings into the Pyrenees today for the decisive final week.

Team Sky and Thomas had insisted Froome remains their leader but, on the final rest day before the chequered flag in Paris, that attitude shifted.

Asked directly if he was prepared to sacrifice his dream of a fifth Yellow Jersey to help Thomas win his first Grand Tour crown, Froome (above left, with Thomas) responded: “Yes.”

Later, he added: “As long as there is a Team Sky rider on the top step of the podium in Paris, I’m happy.”

Froome dismissed the notion he had identified key moments this week where he could attack and narrow the gap on Thomas, saying: “We’re in an amazing position – one and two in the general classification.

“It’s not up to us to be attacking – it’s up to the other peloton riders to dislodge us from the position we’re in.”