The Briton Geraint Thomas wins the last Alpine stage of this year’s Tour de France and increased his lead in the overall standings. A black day for the German participants, catch.
Cyclist Geraint Thomas has in the 105. Tour de France the Prestige of victory in L’alpe d’huez celebrated. A day after his stage win in La Rosiere, the British overall leader, won by Team Sky, the 175,5 km long 12. Part of the famous Ski Station in the Alps.”I’m speechless. I don’t know what to say, really. I would have never thought in life that I have today the opportunity,” Thomas said in Eurosport: “for Me, we can arrive now in Paris. But this race is so hard – you never know how the body reacts.”
The 32-Year-old drew attention in the final Sprint, the Challenger Tom Dumoulin from the Netherlands and Romain Bardet from France to the courts. His team-mate Chris Froome, the defending champion and rating number one in Team Sky, was Fourth, and rolled with a telling facial expression. In the overall standings, Thomas is after the last Alpine stage 1:39 minutes ahead of Froome, Dumoulin (+1:50) is a third party. “I’m going for Froome,” said Thomas: “He is my husband. He is a legend, and we must not forget. He is perhaps the Best of times.”
Black day for Greipel and co.
Great performance on the mountain, but with no luck at the finish: Steven Kruijswijk
The big loser was the outlier Steven Kruijswijk. The Dutchman was able to feel half of the 13.8 kilometers long final rise on the party mile in L’alpe d’huez as the winner of the day. But then passed him a good three kilometers from the finish the four-time tour winner Froome and the Dutchman Tom Dumoulin. The Italian Vincenzo Nibali lay on the Asphalt – he had collided with a spectator, but could ride immediately. Also Froome was pushed by a spectator – consequences -.
At this time, a dei German Marcel Sieberg, Rick Zabelund Top Sprinter Andre Greipel already on the way to the Hotel. “The energy Tank at André was completely empty. It is quite clear that these three Alps stages were too extreme. Today and yesterday, many drivers got out, Yes. The organizer must think of something,” said Lotto-Soudal spokesman Arne Houtekier.
Also, the two-time stage winner Dylan Groenewegen from the Netherlands and Fernando Gaviria from Colombia. So before the next expected mass of the Top arrival on Friday in Valence, hardly any sprinters in the field represented.
tk (sid, dpa)