Saturday, July 17, 2021

A change in fortune

 I was looking at the General Classification list for the Tour de France. The first British rider on the list is Geraint Thomas at 2 hours, 7 minutes and 40 seconds behind the race leader. Meanwhile, Chris Froome is in 134th place - 4 hours, 7 minutes and 30 seconds behind the lead. 

Damn it, G (as they call him) won the race in 2018. That was following wins by Bradley Wiggins in 2012 and Chris Froome in 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017. It was a period when the British team Team Sky looked unbeatable. So far, Ineos Grenadiers who followed Team Sky have won nothing this year. 

Thankfully, we have the success of Mark Cavendish to celebrate. The come back kid has won four stages this year to equal Eddie Merckx record of 34 stage wins. A win in Paris would be the icing on the cake of a great tour for the Manxman. He is also 35 points clear of his nearest rival in the green jersey competition Our fingers are crossed for him.

1 comment:

vv said...

In mitigation, Thomas crashed early in the Tour and dislocated his shoulder. The medics popped in back in and he got on his bike and continued. He rode fro four or five stages in agony but did not abandon. He did not want to let his team down and I think he is a courageous bloke. Dave Brailsford is still in charge and generally Ineos had confused tactics and did not take any risks to win stages- too conservative. Froomw almost killed hinself a couple of years ago in a terrifying crash descending a mountain. That he is riding again is nothing short of a miracle. The Tour de France is brutal.