Constant action but same result at Tour: Sky domination

LA ROSIERE, France — British rider Geraint Thomas won the first summit finish of the Tour de France and claimed the yellow jersey on Wednesday with Team Sky asserting its dominance.

Four-time champion Chris Froome moved up to second overall, 1 minute, 25 seconds behind Thomas, his teammate.

Thomas attacked on the last of four climbs over the short but grueling 11th stage, powered past longtime breakaway leader Mikel Nieve in the final kilometer, and finished 20 seconds ahead of Tom Dumoulin.

Froome crossed third, just behind Dumoulin, who moved up to third overall, 1:44 behind.

Froome is attempting to match the record of five Tour victories shared by Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain. Greg Van Avermaet, who had worn the yellow jersey since his BMC squad won the team time trial in Stage 3, lost contact midway through the stage and finished far behind.

While there were numerous attacks throughout the 108.5-kilometer (67-mile) stage, Sky calmly rode at its own pace and slowly caught most of the breakaway riders before Thomas kicked into action with 6 kilometers remaining.

“We were expecting attacks,” Thomas said. “When they go, it is never nice to see them all riding away but we had confidence in each other and we rode really well.”

Thomas, who is from Wales, required slightly less than 3 1/2 hours to complete the route from 1992 Winter Olympics host city Albertville to La Rosiere Espace San Bernardo ski station.

It was his second career stage win at the Tour, having claimed the individual time trial that opened last year’s race. He wore the yellow jersey for four days last year — before dropping to second behind Froome — then crashed out on a descent in Stage 9.

“To wear the yellow jersey is always a massive honor,” Thomas said. “To do it two years in a row is really nice.”

Thomas has been one of Froome’s most loyal lieutenants for years and Sky labeled him a co-leader with Froome for this year’s Tour. So it will be interesting to see how the team handles the duo now.