Froome retains Yellow Jersey after a tough day on the mountains (Stage 9)
Vigorous attacks from the start left many riders struggling to make it up the five gruelling climbs of the 9th Tour de France stage but Team Sky rider Chris Froome managed to keep hold of his Yellow Jersey finishing 20 seconds behind winner Daniel Martin.
It was one of the toughest stages of the tour yet with over four Category One climbs over the Pyrenees. Many riders dropped out early on in the race, including almost every Team Sky rider other than Yellow Jersey holder and last year's tour runner up, Chris Froome. Froome's hold on the leading jersey came in to question numerous times throughout the dramatic stage as the team mates that had helped him gain the lead could not keep up with the punishing pace that was taken over the five ruthless mountain climbs.
Yesterday's race was certainly not for the faint hearted with multiple crashes and falls. None were more dramatic than Sky's Peter Kennaugh's steep fall down a grassy bank after Garmin’s Ryder Hesjedal gave the Olympic champion a nudge in an attempted to prevent himself from falling to the same fate.
Now, with only the support of Sky's director, Nicolas Portal, in the vehicle beside him, Froome had to step up to the plate. The way he reacted to this unusual but tough situation tells us a lot about the ability of the Olympic Silver medallist. As his rivals began to gain on his lead, Froome stepped on the gas once more to attack with unrivalled force and having controlled the last 30km downhill section, the Sky rider managed to finish 20 seconds behind Irish winner Daniel Martin. Despite continuous isolation a 14th place finish meant Froome retained his Yellow Jersey going in to today's rest day.
Daniel Martin of Garmin-Sharp finished the stage in 4 hours, 43 minutes and 3 seconds and his win made him the first Irishman to win a Tour de France stage since his uncle, Stephen Roche, 21 years ago.
Froome's biggest rival, Alejandro Valverde of Spain, completed the stage in 11th place and finds himself 1 minute and 25 seconds behind the leader. This time gap will be used as motivation for Froome. With steep climbs in next Sunday's stage any mistake or weakness could be used to punish the Yellow Jersey holder by his increasingly enclosing opposition.
It was one of the toughest stages of the tour yet with over four Category One climbs over the Pyrenees. Many riders dropped out early on in the race, including almost every Team Sky rider other than Yellow Jersey holder and last year's tour runner up, Chris Froome. Froome's hold on the leading jersey came in to question numerous times throughout the dramatic stage as the team mates that had helped him gain the lead could not keep up with the punishing pace that was taken over the five ruthless mountain climbs.
Yesterday's race was certainly not for the faint hearted with multiple crashes and falls. None were more dramatic than Sky's Peter Kennaugh's steep fall down a grassy bank after Garmin’s Ryder Hesjedal gave the Olympic champion a nudge in an attempted to prevent himself from falling to the same fate.
Now, with only the support of Sky's director, Nicolas Portal, in the vehicle beside him, Froome had to step up to the plate. The way he reacted to this unusual but tough situation tells us a lot about the ability of the Olympic Silver medallist. As his rivals began to gain on his lead, Froome stepped on the gas once more to attack with unrivalled force and having controlled the last 30km downhill section, the Sky rider managed to finish 20 seconds behind Irish winner Daniel Martin. Despite continuous isolation a 14th place finish meant Froome retained his Yellow Jersey going in to today's rest day.
Daniel Martin of Garmin-Sharp finished the stage in 4 hours, 43 minutes and 3 seconds and his win made him the first Irishman to win a Tour de France stage since his uncle, Stephen Roche, 21 years ago.
Froome's biggest rival, Alejandro Valverde of Spain, completed the stage in 11th place and finds himself 1 minute and 25 seconds behind the leader. This time gap will be used as motivation for Froome. With steep climbs in next Sunday's stage any mistake or weakness could be used to punish the Yellow Jersey holder by his increasingly enclosing opposition.
Stage nine result:
1 Daniel Martin (Ire) Garmin-Sharp 4hrs 43mins 03secs,
2 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana SAME TIME
3 Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Omega Pharma-Quick Step +20"
4 Daniel Moreno (Spa) Katusha SAME TIME
5 Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa) Katusha
Selected others:
6 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing SAME TIME
11 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar
12 Andy Schleck (Lux) Radioshack Leopard
13. Alberto Contador (Spa) Saxo-Tinkoff
14. Chris Froome (GB) Team Sky
19. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar
Overall standings after stage nine:
1. Chris Froome (GB) Team Sky 36:59:18"
2. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar +1:25"
3. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Belkin +1:44"
4. Laurens ten Dam (Ned) Belkin +1:50"
5. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Saxo-Tinkoff +1:51"
6. Alberto Contador (Spa) Saxo-Tinkoff) SAME TIME
7. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar +2:02"
8. Daniel Martin (Ire) Garmin-Sharp +2:28"
9. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa) Katusha +2:31"
10. Rui Costa (Por) Movistar +2:45"
Above stats from bbc.co.uk/sport
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