CYCLING: The 22.5 kilometers time trial in the streets of Marseille in the penultimate stage of the Tour de France, was close. Maciej Bodnar (Bora) won the stage but Chris Froome will win this years Tour. After an incredible finish …
The British rider Chris Froome (Sky) will continue to wear the yellow jersey for the Tour de France after a very fast ride on the penultimate stage around the streets of Marsaille. The Columbian Rigoberto Uran will take second place in the General Classification in front of Romain Bardet who lost time in the time trial.
Bardet, credited with a very average lap, has maintained third place by a narrow margin. The Spaniard Mikel Landa, lieutenant Froome in the mountains, came closer to 1 second from the French rider. Before the last long stage of 103 kilometers between Montgeron and the Champs Elysees, Froome is ahead of Uran by 54 Seconds, Bardet by 2 min 20 sec in the unofficial standings. Froome, 32, was third (6 sec behind Bodnar) of this time trial stage against the clock, the start and finish were in a Vélodrome less filled than expected. At the entrance of the stadium, he practically joined Bardet who started two minutes before him.
VICTOIRE DE MACIEJ BODNAR ! Christopher Froome ne gagnera pas d’étape sur ce Tour de France. #TDF2017 pic.twitter.com/lULad4ZTb1
— Le Gruppetto (@LeGruppetto) July 22, 2017
Polish doubled!
The first two places have returned to Polish riders since Maciej Bodnar beat little Michal Kwiatkowski, the teammate of Froome invaluable in this Tour. Bodnar, taken up in the final straight of Pau (11th stage) after a long sprint, won for the first time in the Tour. Aged 32, the world champion teammate Peter Sagan is one of the best specialists in the “time trial”. Last year, he was ranked 6th for the year the Olympic Games in Rio and 4th at the World Doha.
The last flat stage is usually considered a parade to Paris before the final circuit on the Champs Elysees. This victory for Chris Froome would be his fourth success since 2013 and would approach the record of five wins held by four riders (Anquetil, Merckx, Hinault, Indurain).
CHRIS FROOME VA REMPORTER SON 4EME TOUR DE FRANCE ! Que c’était chaud pour Romain, mais ça passe ! #TDF2017 pic.twitter.com/HOATAqY0SH
— Le Gruppetto (@LeGruppetto) July 22, 2017
