Froome is up to second
® CHRIS FROOME moved ominously into second place overall in the Tour de France yesterday.
He finished ninth, a place behind fellow Team Sky rider and race leader Geraint Thomas, after the 132-mile third stage from Verviers to Longwy in France, which took in a lap of the Belgian Grand Prix racetrack at Spa.
World champion Peter Sagan won the stage ahead of Aussie Michael Matthews and Ireland’s Dan Martin.
But Thomas’s eighth place means he now leads by 12 seconds from defending and three-times champion Froome, with Matthews third.
Sky had been happy to let fierce Aussie rival Richie Porte do all the work up front, knowing others would chase him down.
“We were not too stressed about it,” Thomas said.
“We knew Sagan and some other guys would want to ride for the stage and would cover it.”
Porte is favourite for stage five to La Planche des Belles Filles, the first big climb, tomorrow.
But Froome, who took his first Tour stage win there in 2012, said: “He’ll have to make up 35 seconds on me and 45 on Geraint – and that will take some doing.” To silly spurs fan. You said but for Roman CFC would be mid-table or go down. CFC pre Roman came above spurs 97 to 03. Since then CFC came above Spurs 11 times out of 13. All spurs have won since 03 is 1 lge cup wont list what CFC won txt will be to big. Kings rd blue fake blob ha ha. Welcome to Stan’s, Marc Roberts. 2nd excellent signing! As Harry would say, ”Fantastic!” John Terry can get as many ‘Coaching’ badges as he wants, but he’ll NEVER be a MAN manager, just ask Fabio Capello. CFC1 how many years did you go between outright titles, a lot more than 14 as we all know, your probably one of the gobby one’s that watches Chelsea on the box and never goes. I’ve followed arsenal since 69, season ticket holder for 25, travel down from geordieland every game.