Chris Froome remains upbeat despite losing Criterium du Dauphine race lead
Chris Froome praises Alberto Contador's efforts on the penultimate Dauphine stage's final climb


One day after Sky's Chris Froome crashed, Alberto Contador rode away from his rival and into the race lead in the Critérium du Dauphiné. Team Tinkoff-Saxo's Spaniard shot free with around 1.5 kilometre to race up the Col de la Gueulaz and kept Froome at bay by 20 seconds, given him an eight-second lead with one day to race.
"I'm pretty knackered after yesterday," Froome said. "Obviously, I'm disappointed to lose the yellow jersey."
Froome looked down at his body in bandages. He crashed in yesterday's final 10 kilometres and today, began with his hip, back and stitched elbow wrapped up.
"Obviously, I took a knock in the crash yesterday. I lost some energy because of that, but I'm remaining upbeat."
Sky made sure that Froome could be upbeat. It had Vasil Kiryienka, David Lopez, Geraint Thomas, Richie Porte and Mikel Nieve for Froome at the base of the final climb. When his rivals had no team-mates, Froome still had Porte and Nieve. The crash yesterday or simply Contador's strength were too much for Froome, however.
"It was interesting to see coming up the last climb, there were six of us, looking around seeing all the other leaders on their own, or some of them with only one team-mate, " Froome said.
"We are in a good position as a team, it's normal to expect that I'm a little bit off after yesterday but having said that, Alberto did a fantastic race, respect to him. He took the race on when it was hardest, he has the leader's jersey now to show for it."
Froome won the Dauphiné stage race en route to last year's Tour de France victory. To have a chance to repeat, he will have to overtake Contador when the race finishes at the Courchevel ski station tomorrow. The 5.9-kilometre climb will decide the winner of what is a tied match: Froome got the best of Contador on the Col du Béal and Contador on the Col de la Gueulaz.
"I'm trying not to look at it in a negative light, it's been a good week for us, two stage wins, riding on the front all week as a team, we got some really good things out of this week even if we don't end up with the leaders jersey," Froome said.
"I've got eight seconds to make up, but the big thing for me to see how the legs are tomorrow and how the body's feeling. It's never over until it's over."
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
-
Same teams, new faces: Murphy, Langley crowned US national road racing champions
Full team effort from Human Powered Health rewarded with national title for Kyle Murphy; Emma Langley (EF Education-Tibco SVB) drops breakaway companion for her Stars & Stripes jersey
By Clara Beard • Published
-
'Can you imagine winning a 35th Tour de France stage in the British champion's jersey?' asks Mark Cavendish, admitting Tour ride is 'unlikely'
The Manx Missile said 'I'm good enough to do the Tour'
By Michelle Arthurs-Brennan • Published
-
David Gaudu steals Critérium du Dauphiné stage three win from prematurely celebrating Wout Van Aert
The Groupama-FDJ rider's superior throw launched himself past the Belgian, who started his celebrations too early
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
After injuries that meant he had to learn to walk again, Froome says fans need to manage expectations
The Israel-Premier Tech rider is cycling pain-free for the first time since his 2019 crash at the Critérium du Dauphiné, something he says people should remember
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Alexis Vuillermoz fights back to win stage two of the Critérium du Dauphiné
The TotalEnergies rider was part of a five-rider breakaway, and sprinted past Olivier Le Gac to take the stage victory in the closing stages
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
How to watch the Critérium du Dauphiné 2022: Live stream the major French stage race
Everything you need to know about catching all of the live action of the 2022 edition of the Critérium du Dauphiné on TV
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Chris Froome eager to lose weight after 'baptism of fire' at Coppi e Bartali
The Briton admitted he was 2kg overweight after the Italian race, while confirming he will race the Tour of the Alps
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Chris Froome confirmed to race Tour of the Alps
Organisers announced the Briton's involvement for just his second race of 2022
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
'My preparations have definitely been delayed': Chris Froome taking it 'pretty steady' with knee injury
Four-time Tour de France winner says there is a 'good buzz' around Israel-Premier Tech as he heads into second year with team
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Chris Froome's 2022 preparations interrupted by knee injury
The Briton is taking some time off after suffering with pain in his right knee
By Ryan Dabbs • Published