Chris Froome silences doubters on the Tour de France cobbles
By coming through unscathed, Chris Froome proved he's capable of riding over the Tour de France cobbles, having crashed out last year
![Chris Froome on stage four of the 2015 Tour de France (Sunada)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7B7vHokasbEiTS4X6kzh4o-415-80.jpg)
Chris Froome on stage four of the 2015 Tour de France (Sunada)
Questions were asked when he crashed out last year before the Tour de France reached the cobbles, but this year Sky's Chris Froome showed that he has the ability to handle himself on some of the roughest roads.
He marked moves from rivals like 2014 Tour winner Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) and even launched an attack himself after the last sector heading towards the finish in Cambrai.
He not just defended his lead among the grand tour stars, he did it in style on Tuesday. He went one better by losing seconds and the yellow jersey to a non-threat, German Tony Martin (Etixx-Quick Step).
After a mostly dry and dusty day along northern France's pavé, Froome holds 13 seconds on Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing), 36 on Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo), 1-38 on Vincenzo Nibali and 1-56 on Nairo Quintana (Movistar).
"It wasn't about showing how strong I am on the cobbles, it was all about staying out of trouble," Froome said after the stage.
"Of course, I have to thank my team-mates for the way they supported – riding on the cobbles can be a bit hairy."
Froome noted that the wind blew mostly from the west into the riders' faces today, which made it difficult for someone to stretch out the pack and break it. He added, "I never really felt I was under a lot of pressure."
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
A lot has been made of Froome's bike handling skills. He crashed three times last year and had to abandon in cobbled stage five. However, he keeps reminding those who ask that he never even had a chance to ride on the sectors last year because he abandoned first. Other incidents in the past, like riding into an official during a time trial, do not help his reputation.
This time, with the help of Geraint Thomas and Nicolas Roche in the final kilometres, he went a long way to erase critics' doubts.
More importantly for him, and the rest of the top contenders, he came away from the stage unscathed. Froome nearly crashed twice due to the narrow and technical roads leading to and out of the cobble sectors, and those were just the times that followers saw on TV.
"The GC contenders," he said, "will sleep a lot better tonight."
"It was great to have the cobbled sections but it was great to get through without any of the big riders losing out," team principal Sir David Brailsford added.
"The risks are massive and when they do have bike crashes the consequences can be very very serious. They never know when a crash will happen, it might not be their fault, and everyday they go out and put their bodies on the line.
"I know it's a cliché but they deserve a massive amount of respect. It is pretty scary what they do.
"On the other hand, sector after sector, I was getting more confident and by the end Chris really grew into it and looked like he got his legs."
His path towards another overall victory looks that much better after his legs and skills, and team-mates like Thomas, carried him through the Tour’s pavé stage.
On the horizon, the cyclists face several flat stages with small climbs mixed in. On Saturday, they finish up the Mûr de Bretagne and on Sunday line up for a team time trial in Brittany.
Afterwards, they transfer by plane south for France's high-mountain passes, starting in the Pyrenees, and the next big test of the Tour de France.
Thank you for reading 20 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.
-
Tadej Pogačar broke 288 Strava KOMs during Tour de France victory
Slovenian won his third Tour title in Nice last weekend, and picked up a host of new trophies on Strava
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'I'm definitely pushing over 2,500 watts' - Meet the most powerful cyclists in the GB Olympics squad
Move over track sprinters, there are stronger legs in town
By Tom Davidson Published
-
It's time to stop expecting so much of Ineos Grenadiers at the Tour de France
The British team are always under pressure to match their past best, but it’s not going to happen anytime soon
By Adam Becket Published
-
Tom Pidcock says Ineos Grenadiers will be 'better' at the Tour de France without Steve Cummings
Netflix series depicted tension between the DS and rider, dynamic sources told Cycling Weekly carries a degree of accuracy
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tom Pidcock 'dreaming' of taking yellow jersey on opening weekend of Tour de France
British rider hopes to play starring role in Italian Grand Départ
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'I think I'll get the opportunity to go for a stage' - Geraint Thomas relishing support role at Tour de France
Former yellow jersey winner says this year's race "could be my last"
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Carlos Rodríguez to lead Ineos Grenadiers at Tour de France, supported by Geraint Thomas and Tom Pidcock
British squad will aim to "race aggressively and disrupt" at the French Grand Tour
By Adam Becket Published
-
Chris Froome misses out on Tour de France selection
39-year-old absent from Israel-Premier Tech's eight-rider roster
By Tom Davidson 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
-
Tom Pidcock adds extra mountain bike race to schedule, one week before Tour de France
Pidcock confirms he will race World Cup event in Crans Montana, Switzerland ahead of Olympic title defence
By Tom Thewlis Published