T'our de France leader Chris Froome was again indebted to Sky teammate Michal Kwiatkowski on Tuesday after maintaining his grip on the yellow jersey.
The 2014 world champion guided Froome through the tricky crosswinds over the final 20km of Tuesday's 165km 16th stage to ensure the Briton did not lose any time to his overall rivals.
And it was not the first time Kwiatkowski, 27, has made a telling contribution to Froome's title defence.
He has shouldered much of the pace-setting burden in the mountains, while on Sunday his close attention and quick-thinking saved the Tour for Froome when the champion had to stop on the side of the road with the race on due to a broken wheel.
Kwiatkowski jumped off his bike and changed Froome's wheel for one of his own, allowing the three-time champion to limit his time losses, and 20km later catch the rest of his rivals.
"It's not the first time I've said this but Kwiato has done an amazing job for me in this Tour de France," said Froome, 32.
"In the mountains, as we saw today positioning in the flats as well, to be in just the right place at the right time."
Froome actually gained time on a few top 10 rivals – Dan Martin, Louis Meintjes and Alberto Contador – as crosswinds caused havoc in the peloton, creating splits all over the road.
"He (Kwiatkowski) was instrumental in pushing that split today, and his mechanic skills certainly leave nothing to be desired either," quipped Froome about the Pole's wheel changing abilities.
"If you're looking for an all round rider then that's Kwiatkowski."
"It was quite a crazy stage, I think, with the selection coming not long after that climb with 20km to go," he said.
"It meant a lot of GC guys (overall contenders) were quite far up in the bunch ready for that split, so maybe it's not the biggest differences between the GC riders we would have expected on that stage.
"A few guys in the top 10 did get caught out – Dan Martin, Louis Meintjes as well, Alberto Contador – unfortunately for them, especially Dan Martin.
"He didn't have many teammates around him, it was a bit of a tough stage for Dan.
"The rest of the GC guys all seemed there and willing to roll through and keep position at the front.
"For myself and (teammate) Mikel Landa (who is fifth overall) we're just glad to be on the right side of that split and looking forward to two days in the Alps now."
The 2014 world champion guided Froome through the tricky crosswinds over the final 20km of Tuesday's 165km 16th stage to ensure the Briton did not lose any time to his overall rivals.
And it was not the first time Kwiatkowski, 27, has made a telling contribution to Froome's title defence.
He has shouldered much of the pace-setting burden in the mountains, while on Sunday his close attention and quick-thinking saved the Tour for Froome when the champion had to stop on the side of the road with the race on due to a broken wheel.
Kwiatkowski jumped off his bike and changed Froome's wheel for one of his own, allowing the three-time champion to limit his time losses, and 20km later catch the rest of his rivals.
"It's not the first time I've said this but Kwiato has done an amazing job for me in this Tour de France," said Froome, 32.
"In the mountains, as we saw today positioning in the flats as well, to be in just the right place at the right time."
Froome actually gained time on a few top 10 rivals – Dan Martin, Louis Meintjes and Alberto Contador – as crosswinds caused havoc in the peloton, creating splits all over the road.
"He (Kwiatkowski) was instrumental in pushing that split today, and his mechanic skills certainly leave nothing to be desired either," quipped Froome about the Pole's wheel changing abilities.
"If you're looking for an all round rider then that's Kwiatkowski."
"It was quite a crazy stage, I think, with the selection coming not long after that climb with 20km to go," he said.
"It meant a lot of GC guys (overall contenders) were quite far up in the bunch ready for that split, so maybe it's not the biggest differences between the GC riders we would have expected on that stage.
"A few guys in the top 10 did get caught out – Dan Martin, Louis Meintjes as well, Alberto Contador – unfortunately for them, especially Dan Martin.
"He didn't have many teammates around him, it was a bit of a tough stage for Dan.
"The rest of the GC guys all seemed there and willing to roll through and keep position at the front.
"For myself and (teammate) Mikel Landa (who is fifth overall) we're just glad to be on the right side of that split and looking forward to two days in the Alps now."
i think Landa at this late in the race is 100% committed to Froome and Team Sky. As for Dan Martin, I agree but only to a point. I have seen Froome separated from his group a number of times over the years. Things happen out there and you have to adjust. Tomorrow most likely we shall see situations where a top GC contender is on his own and they must grab a wheel of another strong contender. Martin was aware of the wind and every team knew exactly where the danger existed. He just got caught way too far away from the lead. You are correct regarding Team Sky as they are scary good. Which stage do you fear most ? 17 is tougher BUT i don't like the steep mountain top finish in stage 18. I might just need a drink early tomorrow morning as the race starts really early out here in Pacific time zone ! GL
E PUY-EN-VELAY, France (Reuters) - Chris Froome's lieutenant at Team Sky, Mikel Landa, has shown great strength on the Tour de France - but he should throw loyalty out of the window and go for the title himself, according to three-time champion Greg LeMond.
The American won the Tour in 1986, 1989 and 1990, but missed out on the chance of a first victory in 1985 when he stayed loyal to his La Vie Claire team leader Bernard Hinault despite looking ready to challenge the Frenchman.
"He's been the one who's been used a lot to others' benefits so he's got to start racing for himself," LeMond, who is on the Tour as an analyst for Eurosport, said in his daily chat with Reuters.
"I learned that lesson. I would never repeat that if I could."
Landa is currently sixth overall, 1:17 behind Froome, but despite his work as a domestique, the Spaniard has made a big impression in the mountain stages, beating his leader in the finish in Peyragudes last week.
"Landa is much stronger than Chris, much stronger," said LeMond. "It's like he's floating."
On Sunday, after Froome was left behind by the other favorites following a mechanical problem, Landa dropped out of the group in front and helped tow the Briton back, seemingly effortlessly.
Landa is sometimes regarded as a loose canon. In the 2015 Giro d'Italia, he had to be ordered by his team to wait for his then Astana leader Fabio Aru after going ahead solo in the colle delle Finestre.
Froome himself experienced similar frustration when he seemed stronger than his leader Bradley Wiggins at the 2011 Vuelta and in the mountains of the 2012 Tour de France, being similarly ordered by his team directors to slow the pace and wait for the yellow jersey.
With two demanding mountain stages to come in the Alps on Wednesday and Thursday, Landa must surely fancy his chances.
"If I were Landa I would not wait, I would go for the overall victory. There are no gifts in cycling. Have a mano a mano, Froome against Landa," said LeMond.
Landa's contract expires at the end of the year and he looks set to join Spanish team Movistar.
"If Landa is leaving there are no gifts, they won't appreciate his sacrifice. But he'll live with that loss for the rest of his life," LeMond said.
The American won the Tour in 1986, 1989 and 1990, but missed out on the chance of a first victory in 1985 when he stayed loyal to his La Vie Claire team leader Bernard Hinault despite looking ready to challenge the Frenchman.
"He's been the one who's been used a lot to others' benefits so he's got to start racing for himself," LeMond, who is on the Tour as an analyst for Eurosport, said in his daily chat with Reuters.
"I learned that lesson. I would never repeat that if I could."
Landa is currently sixth overall, 1:17 behind Froome, but despite his work as a domestique, the Spaniard has made a big impression in the mountain stages, beating his leader in the finish in Peyragudes last week.
"Landa is much stronger than Chris, much stronger," said LeMond. "It's like he's floating."
On Sunday, after Froome was left behind by the other favorites following a mechanical problem, Landa dropped out of the group in front and helped tow the Briton back, seemingly effortlessly.
Landa is sometimes regarded as a loose canon. In the 2015 Giro d'Italia, he had to be ordered by his team to wait for his then Astana leader Fabio Aru after going ahead solo in the colle delle Finestre.
Froome himself experienced similar frustration when he seemed stronger than his leader Bradley Wiggins at the 2011 Vuelta and in the mountains of the 2012 Tour de France, being similarly ordered by his team directors to slow the pace and wait for the yellow jersey.
With two demanding mountain stages to come in the Alps on Wednesday and Thursday, Landa must surely fancy his chances.
"If I were Landa I would not wait, I would go for the overall victory. There are no gifts in cycling. Have a mano a mano, Froome against Landa," said LeMond.
Landa's contract expires at the end of the year and he looks set to join Spanish team Movistar.
"If Landa is leaving there are no gifts, they won't appreciate his sacrifice. But he'll live with that loss for the rest of his life," LeMond said.
totally agree. You don't get to wear the yellow jersey 54 times without being able to excel when needed. BTW, that's 4th in the history of this event. We saw his solo efforts on stages 9,15. Fantastic!! No help on the final ascent on stage 9!! held off 3 attacks by GC leaders THEN attacked himself !! got in front during that treacherous descent. Was brilliant!!
with 3 riders within striking distance, both stages scare me. 18 is set for Aru. 17 is for Froome/Bardet. Uran? who knows. This guy hangs around. Look at Uran during that brutal stage 9!? Are you kidding me , he won the stage with a locked rear derailer! riding the same gear for the last 15 km I believe. AND he can TT!!Aru? can he go through 17,18 with his top 2 teammates out and be wearing the yellow jersey? He's that good? .........Bardet has the team health to win this if Sky falters. He was 2nd last year.
eastern time zone. Just outside Toronto.
unlike last year, Froome has shown some weakness. Pyrennes was a tough day, 'un-froome' like. But he has said feels better, stronger. What will Sky do tomorrow? Alternate Landa and Kwiatkowski to set the pace as quick as possible in the mountains to prevent attacks? Dunno, tomorrow is goign to be brutal...............tremendous theater!!!!!
eastern time zone. Just outside Toronto.
unlike last year, Froome has shown some weakness. Pyrennes was a tough day, 'un-froome' like. But he has said feels better, stronger. What will Sky do tomorrow? Alternate Landa and Kwiatkowski to set the pace as quick as possible in the mountains to prevent attacks? Dunno, tomorrow is goign to be brutal...............tremendous theater!!!!!
Contador is part of a 3 man group leading the Yellow Jersey group by just over 3 minutes. Team Sky and Froome have no problem should Contador win this stage as he's well down the list and they don't need any of the leading contenders to get any of the bonus points for winning the stage.
