Froome relishes closest title yet after winning mind games and the Tour
Briton admits relief after securing fourth victory Sky rider keeps main rivals at bay in time trial
In 2015 it was the famous brawl on the bus; the moment Chris Froome psychologically sank Vincenzo Nibali, his chief rival that year, boarding the Astana team coach to “clear up a misunderstanding” with the Sicilian. Nibali’s challenge never really got going after that.
This year, arguably, it was the ‘wobble’ on Mont du Chat, when Froome rode his major rival at the time, Fabio Aru, almost off the road after the Italian attacked him when he had a mechanical. Both Froome and Aru claimed afterwards that their coming-together was accidental. The suspicion remains, however, that Froome was once again showing his rivals who was boss.
Whether real or imagined, that was exactly what Froome proved to be throughout this Tour: the boss. Or le patron. The 32 year-old may not have looked quite as physically strong as in years gone by. He admitted afterwards that he felt it was “the closest” of his four wins and added that he was feeling his age. He did not ride away from his rivals on any mountain top finishes, as he did at Mont Ventoux in 2013 or La Pierre Saint-Martin in 2015. Nor did he win this time with any bold attacks on descents or into crosswinds as was the case 12 months ago.
Froome did not run up Ventoux or, in fact, do anything particularly showy. Froome did not win a stage at all. His last chance came in yesterday’s Marseille time trial where, as expected, he proved far too strong for his GC rivals, putting 25sec into Rigoberto Uran [Cannondale-Drapac] and 1min 57sec into poor Romain Bardet [AG2R] who only just clung on to third place.
But he was strong enough. He did what was needed, getting noticeably stronger as the Tour wore on. The Vuelta a Espana is next up and, while Froome has not yet confirmed his attendance, it would be a surprise if he did not go for it. And if he does, it is difficult to see past him. Even the moment he ‘cracked’ on the Péyragudes on stage 12, surrendering the yellow jersey to Aru for a couple of days, was explained yesterday as the result of running out of fuel rather than running out of legs. “If I’m honest with myself now I think I’d say I didn’t get my fuelling right on that stage,” Froome said. “I went into the red and didn’t have enough in the tank.”
Maybe he was bluffing. really did not have the Father Time is catching up with him. But such is the aura projected by Team Sky, and by Froome in particular, it is hard to know. It felt in this Tour as if Froome’s rivals never really believed they could beat him; that they were riding for the podium.
Sky were supreme from the very first stage in Dusseldorf, when they placed four riders in the top eight and attracted snide comments about their dimpled skinsuits. Geraint Thomas wore yellow for four days, then Froome took over from his trusty sidekick on La Planche des Belles Filles.
Even the loss of Thomas on that wince-inducing, crash-strewn stage to Chambéry did nothing to derail him. Aru attacked him briefly when he had his hand up for a mechanical, only for Froome to come back and make it abundantly clear what he thought of the Italian’s actions. Froome’s rivals seemed almost nervous to attack him after that. Whenever there was the hint of a weakness he wasted no time in stomping on his rivals’ hopes. Mind you, there was not much his rivals could do with Michal Kwiatkowski, Mikel Nieve and Mikel Landa pulling on the front day after day. All three of them were immense. Possibly only Sergio Henao of Sky’s team had a sub-par Tour. Road captain Luke Rowe actually rode on despite a broken rib.
Such was Sky’s control, yet again – and this despite ASO coming up with a route designed to limit their advantage – that Froome was asked about budget caps in the post-race press conference.
“It’s been an amazing race for us this year,” he admitted. “If that’s all due to budget I can’t say. Personally I think that’s how professional sport works; success leads to reinvesting and further success. If you put a budgetary cap in place it doesn’t quite incentivise success the way it is now.” So Froome will ride into Paris today in the yellow jersey of the Tour de France leader. According to tradition, he will drink champagne and link arms with his Sky team-mates and his rivals will keep a respectful distance, allowing them their moment in the spotlight before the traditional gallop around the Champs Elysées.
Provided his team-mate Landa does not slip up the road while no one is watching – rumours that Landa is off at the end of the season and might therefore be prone to acts of treachery have so far proved wide of the mark – Froome will secure his fourth Tour title in five years, taking one step closer to Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain.
Who knows how long he can go on for? “Hopefully I’m still improving,” Froome said afterwards. “My descending, my positioning in the bunch, tactically…”
Nothing, not the furore surrounding Sky and Dave Brailsford, nor the occasional heckle got to him.
Not for the first time, Froome proved far tougher than his mild-mannered exterior.