Thomas triumphs in yellow
L’ALPE D’HUEZ, France—Geraint Thomas became the first yellow jersey wearer since disgraced Lance Armstrong to triumph on the legendary Alpe d’Huez after a thrilling finale to a punishing Tour de France 12th stage on Thursday.
But the Welshman and teammate Chris Froome were met by a chorus of boos and jeers at the finish as Team Sky’s domination of the race continued.
Thomas took the lead of the race on Wednesday with an impressive victory atop La Rosiere on what was the second day in the Alps.
In a thrilling finale to the 175.5 km race from Bourg Saint Maurice, the former track rider beat Dutchman Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb) by two seconds in a sprint to the line, with French climbing specialist Romain Bardet (AG2R) in third, to become the first Briton to triumph atop the legendary climb.
“Not even in my wildest dreams did I believe I would win at Alpe d’Huez, in the yellow jersey,” said Thomas, who now leads four-time champion Froome by 1min 39sec in the overall standings. Dumoulin, the 2017 Giro d’Italia champion, is third at 1:50.
“It’s just mental. I just can’t believe I won the stage. It was just a case of following (teammate) Egan (Bernal),” added Thomas.
With Italian Vincenzo Nibali in hospital with a suspected fracture in his back, and Colombian Nairo Quintana now 4:13 off the pace, Sky are in pole position.
Yet hopes of soaking up their success were dashed when fans booed their riders as they crossed the finish line.
Earlier, Froome narrowly avoided disaster when he was struck by a fan at the roadside. It was unclear whether the fan’s intention was to give a wellmeaning slap, but there were also reports Froome was spat at.
Team Sky’s brutal domination of the Tour and the pre-race controversy of Froome’s ‘adverse analytical finding’ for double the permitted amount of asthma drug salbutamol at last year’s Tour of Spain, is not sitting well with some fans.
But Thomas added: “People have their opinions, and that’s fine.
“As long as they don’t affect the race that’s the main thing.”
Sky’s rivals were intent on redressing the balance on the third and final day in the Alps.
And for a long while, it looked like Thomas’s lead was in danger when Dutchman Steven Kruijswijk launched an audacious attack after he had squeezed into an early breakaway.
Kruijswijk’s bid was ultimately futile, and he said: “It’s painful. This was one of the stages that was high on my list.
“I didn’t plan to go in the breakaway, but once I did, I just had to go for it.
“It’s a big disappointment for me, but I’ll keep on fighting.”
The Lotto Jumbo rider, the highestplaced of the breakaway riders in sixth overall at 2:40 behind Thomas, became the virtual race leader on the long descent of the Col de la Madeleine.
But the Sky train ripped into his lead over the remainder.