Can anyone beat Chris Froome? Experts have their say on how it could be done
Team managers talk about how rival teams could knock Chris Froome off the top spot of the Tour de France

Chris Froome (Team Sky) has the experience with three Tour de France titles and the early lead in this 2017 editions, leaving experts scratching their heads on how a rival can beat him.
Cycling Weekly spoke with several managers and directors after the first rest day of the three-week race to understand how, and if, Froome could lose this race.
>>> ‘Crazy’ to suggest swerve towards Fabio Aru was on purpose, says Chris Froome
“They are one worker down and they look vulnerable, but not Froome," BMC Racing manager Jim Ochowicz said after returning from an early morning bike ride.
"The workers look a little vulnerable right now. They could run out of gas one day and leave Froome alone, then you have Fuglsang and Aru, both riding on the same team and riding predictably well. That helps.”
Froome leads by 18 seconds over Fabio Aru (Astana), 51 over Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale) and 55 over Rigoberto Urán (Cannondale-Drapac). Aru's team-mate Jakob Fuglsang sits fifth at 1-37 minutes.
"They have to make the race like they did two days ago, hard from the start, like Ag2r did for Bardet. Just a different style and you might be able to wear down the Sky guys."
BMC Racing's Richie Porte looked like Froome's strongest rival until he crashed and abandoned on stage nine.
Now the attention turns to Aru and Bardet with Froome’s top rival from the last years, Nairo Quintana (Movistar) seemingly suffering.
"You have to try to isolate Froome from far out and try to put him a place where he has to respond first-hand to the attacks," added Trek-Segafredo's general manager, Luca Guercilena.
"If not, with his team he can manage almost any attack. It's just that [it's hard] to isolate him and to attack him.
Watch: What will happen in week two of the Tour de France?
"What Ag2r did in stage nine was a smart move, riders ahead in the escape to support Bardet in the final and men behind. Astana, instead, has more possibilities to find a solution like they did in the Dauphiné with Fuglsang and Aru."
Guercilena's team races with two-time winner Alberto Contador, but the Spaniard appears far from his best and unable to challenge for the overall.
LottoNL-Jumbo had Robert Gesink for stage wins, but he abandoned along with others like Porte, Geraint Thomas and Rafal Majka after a stage nine crash. The Dutch team still relies on George Bennett in the overall.
"It's really a shame Richie Porte is out of the race because BMC is a strong block or team that could've done something," general manager Richard Plugge said.
"Aru is strong and with Fuglsang, he has a true helper that'll make the race interesting. But of course, AG2R is a stronger squad. If you saw how many people they had on Mont du Chat. It's the biggest block against Sky, but Aru is the biggest rival."
Thank you for reading 10 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.
-
-
The new Specialized handlebars that have won more than 12 races this season
The Roval bar and stem setup has already seen multiple wins beneath the likes of Demi Vollering and Fabio Jacobsen this season
By Joe Baker • Published
-
Tour de France: Unchained episode by episode guide
The Cycling Weekly guide to all eight episodes of the Netflix show, from Copenhagen to Paris
By Adam Becket • Published
-
From drawing to Giro d'Italia in 2 months: How SunGod reinvented Geraint Thomas' iconic sunglasses
The glasses, GTs, have been seen on the Welshman's face throughout his impressive Giro d'Italia run
By Adam Becket • Published
-
21 things you didn't know about Tom Pidcock
According to the man himself, he's never had a hangover. It's alright for some.
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Tao Geoghegan Hart abandons Giro d'Italia after fracturing hip on stage 11
Ineos Grenadiers rider was sitting in third before falling heavily with 69km to go on Wednesday
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Blow to Ineos's Giro d'Italia as Filippo Ganna forced out with Covid-19
Time-triallist and super-domestique Filippo Ganna has had to leave his home Grand Tour due to a Covid-19 positive
By Jack Elton-Walters • Published
-
Complete Giro d'Italia 2023 start list: Who is still in the Grand Tour three days in?
There has not been one abandonment so far in this year's Giro, here's the complete start list
By Adam Becket • Last updated
-
Back to Africa: Chris Froome on going back to his roots, his future and cycling's new generation
He’s come full circle, but is there time for another loop? We talk to the four-time Tour champ about his and African cycling’s future
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Tao Geoghegan Hart ready for Giro d'Italia after sealing Tour of the Alps victory in Italy
British rider says he will savour his second-ever overall win, before turning his attention towards the fast approaching Italian Grand Tour
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
‘Just stay calm and relaxed’: Tao Geoghegan Hart one day from second-ever overall victory
Barring major disaster, the Ineos Grenadiers rider will wrap up overall victory at the Tour of the Alps in Brunico on Friday
By Tom Thewlis • Published