Froome frets as Tour sets sail from France’s windswept Atlantic coast
NOIRMOUTIER-EN-L’ÎLE, France: Champion Chris Froome will launch his assault on a record-equalling fifth title when the 2018 Tour de France embarks Saturday with roadside fans urged not to verbally abuse the Kenyanborn Briton.
Saturday’s Grand Depart for a much-awaited 21-day slog around France comes in two distinct and thrilling phases.
But its build-up has been overshadowed by the longrunning and borderline slanderous saga surrounding a leaked doping suspicion involving Froome.
It was eventually dismissed, clearing Froome to race, albeit with plenty of mud stuck to his white Team Sky jersey.
The 105th edition of cycling’s greatest race sets off from the picturesque Atlantic island of Noirmoutier, connected to the mainland by an enormous road bridge.
The peloton of 22 teams of eight riders will then race the 201km (125 miles) to Fontenay hugging the windswept coastline famous for attracting vast crowds of yachting enthusiasts for the Vendee Globe around-the-world race that also sets off there.
Froome, his fellow riders and the organisers are all reeling from the tempestuous run-up to the Tour, which culminated Thursday with the four-time winner being roundly booed at the official presentation.
The 33-year-old went as far as appealing for understanding and belief from the French public in the pages of newspaper Le Monde on Friday.
The hope is that once it starts, the focus will switch to interest in the race, and Saturday’s run along the coast will prove or disprove that idea.
The stage is expected to culminate in a sprint finish, with Briton Mark Cavendish targeting a 31st stage win, but winds are expected and a surprise may be in store.
“Sprinters will be advised to stay near the front if they don’t want to be caught cold,” said race designer Thierry Gouvenou.
The winner gets 10 bonus seconds and will have the honour of pulling on one of the greatest prizes in cycling, the overall leader’s yellow jersey, with Germany’s Marcel Kittel the bookies’ favourite.
The first nine days of racing take in the West and North of France with Monday’s 35.5km team time-trial setting the agenda.
There are three other clearly difficult stages in this section, with 10 hills on the road to Brittany town Quimper on Wednesday and two ascents of the feared Mur de Bretagne climb the day after.
July 15 is World Cup final day with the stage set to finish 30 minutes before the big kick-off in Moscow.
Froome is out to join five-time winners Bernard Hinault, Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx and Miguel Indurain and a win would also give him the first Giro-Tour double for 20 years.