Sky ride out mishaps in Tour as Froome & Co get protection

CHRIS FROOME was reminded just how quickly the Tour de France title could slip from his grip as his Sky teammate Geraint Thomas suffered a freak crash in yesterday’s 16th stage.

The day’s laurels went to Spaniard Ruben Plaza Molina, although the action was way behind as Froome’s key lieutenant Thomas was sent flying off the road.

In a tricky final descent Thomas bumped into Frenchman Warren Barguil and went head first into a telegraph pole, disappearing over the road into the vegetation.

“I was just taken out,” said Thomas.

The Welshman, who is sixth overall, was quickly back on his bike and reached the finish incurring only minor losses.

“I apologise; I wanted to brake just before the bend but (American) Tejay van Garderen pushed me with his shoulder and my finger slipped from the brake lever, I’m sorry,” said Barguil.

Froome, who also lost teammate Peter Kennaugh as the British champion abandoned the race, said: “He’s OK, he’s a tough guy... he’s going to be up there in the Alps.”

Team Sky are planning to release part of yellow jersey wearer Froome’s data as they seek to end doping suspicions surrounding the Tour de France leader.

Froome attracted negative headlines when he destroyed his rivals in the first mountain stage of the Tour last Tuesday and the Brit had urine thrown at him by an abusive spectator on Saturday as the atmosphere on the roadside turned sour.

Seeking to protect Froome from the prospect of a similar incident, two police officers were guarding the Team Sky bus ahead of yesterday’s 16th stage.

“We faced the same questions last time around,” Team Sky manager Dave Brailsford told a couple of reporters yesterday, referring to Froome’s equally dominant performance up Mont Ventoux in 2013 that set him on course for victory.

“We had agreed to give our power data to UK anti-doping and the CADF (Cycling Anti-Doping Foundation). The CADF didn’t want it, UK anti-doping had it, but I don’t think they did anything with it... but we were willing to give it to an independent body and we could do the same again.

“And I think we’ll have a look at it tonight and for the rest day (today) we will just release an average cadence, average power.”

Froome leads Colombian Nairo Quintana by three minutes and 10 seconds with American Van Garderen a further 22 seconds off the pace in third place. – Reuters