NIBALI WINS; FROOME KEEPS LEAD
Briton enjoying his position as the overall leader despite doping suspicions
paris — Reigning champion Vincenzo Nibali won the 19th stage of the Tour de France on Friday as Nairo Quintana clawed back time on race leader Chris Froome.
Italian Nibali went some way to rescuing what has been a difficult Tour defence by claiming a stunning solo victory on the 138km stage from Saint Jean de Maurienne to La Toussuire.
Quintana took second on the stage at 44sec but finished 30sec ahead of third-placed Froome to perhaps reignite the yellow jersey battle.
Colombian Quintana is now 2min 38sec back from the Briton ahead of Saturday’s 20th stage finish on Alpe d’Huez.
But it was the return of the ‘Shark of Messina’ that most animated an enthralling day in the Alps.
“It has been a very difficult year, the start of the Tour was difficult for me, I had some bad luck and wasn’t in the best shape,” said 30-year-old Nibali.
“I only found my form at the end. This is a great victory, I’m delighted.
“The fans pushed me and motivated me, there were a lot of Italians supporting me. This is a great win for me, for my family and for Italy.”
Nibali attacked out of a group of leaders on the hors category Col du Croix de Fer with almost 60km remaining.
He reeled in lone escapee Pierre Rolland on the next climb and then dropped the Frenchman on the final ascent of La Toussire.
Having suffered badly in the Pyrenees and dropped out of overall contention, Nibali has fought his way back up to fourth following his fifth Tour stage win — he took four stages 12 months ago on the way to the yellow jersey.
Behind him, Quintana made his move with 5.5km left on the final climb and steadily eked out a gap on Froome, who was the only rider able to react.
The 30sec gained still leaves Quintana with a huge task on Saturday’s final Alpine stage but significantly it was the first time he managed to take time off Froome during the Tour.
More importantly, perhaps, Froome’s Sky teammates cracked early on, showing signs of weakness in the Briton’s hitherto impregnable armoury. Alejandro Valverde remains third over all at 5min 25sec but Nibali is now only 1min 19sec off a podium finish.
Meanwhile, Froome says he is happy to put up with all the doping suspicions he’s faced at the Tour de France because wearing the yellow jersey makes it worthwhile.
The 30-year-old Briton has faced constant speculation about the validity of his success during this Tour following a strong showing on the first mountain stage in the Pyrenees 10 days ago.
During the Tour he’s been accused of doping and riding a motorised bicycle but despite the unpleasantness of it, Froome says he’d rather be in this position than the one he was in last year.
Twelve months ago, he crashed out of the fifth stage with a broken hand and wrist in the defence of his Tour crown.
He had to sit at home and watch on as Vincenzo Nibali rode to a commanding Tour victory.
And a year before Froome’s 2013 success, compatriot Bradley Wiggins had said he hated the intrusive media attention of being the Tour leader and then winner.
“I definitely do not hate being in this position, I’ve worked too hard to hate being here, it’s a dream scenario,” said Froome, who was born in Kenya and grew up in South Africa. “You just have to look back to last year when I was sitting at home and watching the race on the television with a broken hand and wrist.
“There’s absolutely no way I’d change anything right now — this is a dream for me.”
Even so, the Sky team leader had to face down more questions over his performances after Thursday’s 18th Tour stage.
He was asked about his connections with a doctor based in his home town of Monaco, and about motorised bicycles as his own ride was examined after Thursday’s stage.
“Most of the suspicions are all in social media and online but they surely don’t come from nowhere,” said Froome about motorised bicycles.
“The technology exists. Yes, my bike was one of those checked (on Thursday) — I’m happy they’re doing the checks, they’re probably needed given all the rumours out there.”
As for the doctor Stephane Bermon, no doping allegations have been levelled against him. He lives in the same town as Froome. “He is the doctor at the Monaco Institute of Sport, I have been in there a couple of times for pulmonary function tests with Dr Bermon,” said Froome.
“Those results have all been documented and everything.”
Two days beforehand, Froome admitted that doping suspicions would follow him his whole career.
On Tuesday’s rest day, Sky had released some of Froome’s training and race data to quell accusations that his performances were doping-induced.
But the reaction in some media was simply to question the reliability of that data.
“There are a lot of people out there who have already made up their minds and no matter what information we release or make public that’s not going to change their opinions,” sighed Froome.