Cycling: Froome’s Tour de France hat-trick
As Chris Froome rode down the Champs-elysées on Sunday, donning the yellow jersey that he has made his own, “it was clear that this was more than just victory”, said Josh Burrows in The Times. With a staggering third Tour de France title in four years, the British cyclist confirmed that “this is the Froome era”. Only four cyclists in history are ahead of him; at 31, he could yet surpass the record of five titles. Winning by four minutes, Froome didn’t even need to launch the intense mountain attacks that defined his previous victories – had he done so, “the margin of victory might have been gargantuan”. He will now try to extend his winning streak at the Olympics, where he will compete in the road race and time-trials; in this form, few would bet against him.
For such a successful cyclist, Froome has been remarkably unpopular, said Tom Cary in The Daily Telegraph. Many cycling fans, mindful of the sport’s “troubled history” with doping, have viewed his rise with scepticism, if not rancour: during his previous two Tours, he was spat at, punched and even doused in urine. But he has begun to win over the public, impressing them with his dedication – most dramatically when he abandoned his bike, after breaking it in a collision, and ran frantically up Mont Ventoux to maintain his advantage. It’s about time Froome got his due, said Richard Moore in the Daily Mail. An outstanding sportsman, with great ingenuity and instincts, he is Britain’s first multiple Tour winner – and perhaps the finest cyclist this country has ever produced. But Froome’s success wouldn’t be possible without the support of Team Sky, said William Fotheringham in The Observer. That much was clear when he crashed in the Alps, and his teammate Geraint Thomas selflessly gave him his bike. Sky’s tactics are very simple: they set a pace so fast that “rivals cannot attack”, and they demand that their riders sacrifice their own ambitions and help Froome win. With an estimated budget of £29m, Sky are the richest team in cycling, and they have used their wealth to build an unrivalled squad. Four of Froome’s teammates finished in the top 30; some are good enough to lead their own team.
Before Sky came along in 2010, British road cycling was in the doldrums, said Cary. We had gone a century without a British cyclist even making the podium. But on Sunday, Adam Yates offered further proof that we are in a golden age by becoming the first British cyclist to win the white jersey, for the best rider under 26. Finishing fourth, the 23-year-old Orica-bikeexchange rider was “cool and assured” in everything he did. It was a “special” achievement – and it bodes very well indeed for the future.