Froome sees glimpses of the threat Aru

Photo: Christophe Ena Associated Press
Fabio Aru has preceded the Irish Dan Martin to 16 seconds.

Chris Froome, now based in the commands of the Tour de France 2017, has discovered a serious opponent in the person of the champion of Italy’s Fabio Aru, winner of Wednesday the 5th stage to La Planche des Belles Filles.

“The only small mistake of the day, it is to have left it a little too much space to Fabio Aru,” conceded the British after having completed the stage in third position, 20 seconds of the climber sardinian.

From the first arrival at the summit, the winner coming out of the Tower, however, has reconnected with his habits taking the yellow jersey, an outfit that he has taken the habit from the first of his three Tour victories in 2013.

At the top of the “wall” final very steep (20 %), Aru, who has attacked precisely at 2232 metres of the line, preceded the Irish Dan Martin to 16 seconds.

Froome crossed the line at the same time that the Australian Richie Porte, whose BMC team has taken control of the race until the approach of the final climb. With 4 seconds ahead of the runner-up of the past year, the French Romain Bardet, are credited to a mention for this entry in the field.

“When I accelerated in the last 2 kilometres, Porte, Bardet and Martin were the only ones able to follow me. This gives an indication for the battles to come, ” said Froome.

If the variances remained limited in the final ascent steep (8.5 percent), but limited to less than 6 miles, they issued, in fact, the photograph forces in the presence… in the beginning of the Turn.

Quintana loser

The loser of the day ? It has the name of Nairo Quintana, the Colombian who took the 9th place at 34 seconds of Aru. A disbursement is greater than that of the Spanish Alberto Contador (26 seconds), distanced a few moments before the “Condor” but the author of a best end of the race.

“I didn’t feel very well, but the important thing was to save the result of the Tour,” responded Contador. “The essential is preserved,” said the double winner of the event (2007, 2009), of which the performance of the day strengthens those who see it as key man is likely to win or lose the Tour, failing to triumph in itself.

Quintana, himself, acknowledged having experienced ” a difficult day, with a fast pace from the start and the heat.” “I wasn’t in a good day,” he conceded.

Geraint Thomas, who wore the yellow jersey at the start of Vittel, has been distanced to 1700 metres from the line. The Welsh, which is well defended, fell suddenly to the second place in the general classification, 12 seconds behind his team-mate.

In this step hot — over 30 degrees — the breakaway, launched from the start, stood at the foot of the final climb with an advantage reduced to less than a minute for the last two survivors, the Belgian Philippe Gilbert and Jan Bakelants.

A rise convincing

On the slopes of The Planche des Belles Filles, Aru has shown the most convincing. “I didn’t know the climb, he explained. I looked on the Internet the video of Froome in 2012 and Nibali in 2014. It is by seeing that I decided to attack at least 3 kilometres. “

Until now, the top of the ski station of the Haute-Saône consisted of the names of riders who have won the Tour, a few days later (Nibali in 2014) in the following years (Froome). Won’t it Aru ?

The Sardinian, who wears the colours of the team of kazakhstan Astana since its early beginnings (2012), the dispute for the second time in the Tour (13th last year). It had to modify its program in 2017 initially focused on the Giro d’italia.

An injury was compelled to abandon the 100th edition of the pink race that ran from his island. He returned to the Tour de France that he discusses at the age of 27 in the form of a peak on the momentum of its success in the Italian championship.

“It is extraordinary ! I won the Vuelta (2015), I won in the Giro, I was missing the Tour, “said Aru, who has promised to fight :” Chris is very strong but I’ve never been afraid of the attack. Here also, there will be war until the end. “

Thursday, the Tour goes down in the plain during the 6th stage, long of 216 kilometres between Vesoul and Troyes. A sprint finish is expected on arrival, two days after the incidents that have marked the end of Vittel and the exclusion of the reigning world champion Peter Sagan.