Pedalling to glory

A puncture and heavy rain could not deflate or dampen the spirits of Chris Froome or Team Sky as they triumphantly rode along the Champs-Elysees to claim the General Classification win of the 102nd edition of the Tour de France.

This has been one of the most gruelling and tactically demanding races in living memory that has allowed David Brailsford, the principle of Team Sky, to demonstrate how to dominate the most physically demanding team race in the world.

It is, perhaps, this surprising degree of control that has brought a certain level of resentment that has manifested itself with a number of distasteful allegations.  Understandably, given the doping history of the sport and the presence of Lance ‘Voldermort’ Armstrong prior to the Alps, doubts surrounding exactly how Froome has surpassed his rivals have been prominent. Yet, such is the level of distrust that he has also been accused of hiding a motor within his bike, which demonstrates the ridiculous nature in which he has been harassed.

The national newspaper, L’Equipe, has to bear much of the responsibility for this with its relentless attacks on the reputation of Froome and his team. No-one would question the need to ensure that there are sufficient checks and balances on the teams and their riders regularly throughout not only the race but also while they conduct their rigorous training schedules.

Indeed Froome himself has highlighted what he perceives to be shortcomings in the current testing system and made suggestions as to how to make improvements. He has also offered to undergo regular independent testing while Team Sky took the unprecedented step of releasing a sample of Froome’s power data following allegations made on the internet, after their computers had been hacked, that were latched upon by L’Equipe. However, as the victorious team highlighted prior to the data release, nothing would be proved as it was still open to interpretation. Yet, to provide meaningful data (that they have offered to have analysed independently) would be to disclose trade secrets that would negate their advantage.

Given the manner in which they have continually lambasted Team Sky’s performance they must bear responsibility for the disgraceful manner in which Froome has been treated during the race with spectators booing, spitting and even throwing urine over the rider as he raced to victory. No-one deserves such treatment based on unfounded speculation.

Imagine Lionel Messi having to deal with this at the Champions League final or Lebron James at the NBA final. There would be uproar and yet the French media appear to encourage such behaviour. That is a greater disgrace and taints the sport still further. French television also got in on the act with France 2 calling on an ‘expert’ physiologist to interpret Froome’s performance, wildly inaccurately as it turned out, forcing Team Sky to release the information that they did.

It is not without irony that Team Sky have identified the far greater reception they received last year when Froome was forced to withdraw following a series of falls and broken bones.

Froome’s success is a result of attention to detail and planning, a process described by Brailsford famously as the accumulation of marginal gains. He also has a team dedicated to his success, as demonstrated by the performance of Geraint Thomas who rode alongside (or in front of) Froome every day until his valiant efforts finally took their toll on the penultimate stage up the Alps mountainside.

However, it was not the mountains that won Froome the Maillot Jaune (even if he did become the first rider since Eddy Merckx in 1970 to win the King of the Mountains polka dot jersey in tandem with the overall win), rather his performance during a turbulent first week in which the wearer of the yellow jersey appeared cursed.

North Sea crosswinds, cobblestones and finishes up sharp inclines provided variety aimed at mixing up the standings while stage winners were rewarded with time penalties, aimed at mixing up the leadership board.

Fabian Cancellara was the first to relinquish his hold on the leader’s jersey when he spectacularly crashed followed by Tony Martin who had to retire after breaking his collarbone, handing the lead to Froome.

The race between the ‘fantastic four’ had been blown apart as Team Sky established a lead over their main rivals and then controlled the head of the peleton.

The truly decisive move came on Bastille Day as Froome powered up La Pierre Saint-Martin to grow his lead to nearly three minutes. In subsequent stages the challenge from Contador (who will now review his preparation schedule as it appears increasingly difficult to win the Tour de France after winning in Italy) and others effectively went backwards. Evidence of their domination was apparent as Sky allowed Nairo Quintana to race ahead up one mountain.

This nearly came back to haunt them as Froome struggled towards the end of the 3,300km race after the organisers took the unusual step of asking the riders to finish atop Alpe D’Huez on the last genuine racing day (the final day in Paris effectively being a ceremonial procession for the General Classification riders).  Quintana ultimately finished 72 seconds adrift after 81 hours of racing! With Valverde finishing third, Movistar had the consolation of being named top team, although strategically they failed to press home the few advantages they had in the final days after Froome was isolated from his trusted lieutenants.

Heavy rain did force the organisers to curtail the final day of racing to prevent an accident on the cobbles of Paris allowing Team Sky to celebrate as the sprinters fought for the stage win.

As Froome becomes the first British rider to win Le Tour twice he has now started a debate as to who is the greatest British cyclist of all time. He certainly becomes the greatest endurance cyclist Britain has known although Mark Cavendish, who holds the record for the most stage wins by a sprinter to sit alongside his world championship rainbow, may dispute the title, not to mention Sir Chris Hoy who has achieved unparalleled success in the velodrome or Sir Bradley Wiggins who has won at both!

Froome will now start to receive the accolades his work, commitment and success deserve – outside of France at least.

* Amidst fierce competition with pressure levels raised due to fame and fortune being played out before a global audience, sportsmen and women can frequently be lambasted for outbursts. Sportsmanship and strong ethical behaviour appears to be diminishing fast.  There is no doubt that sport can bring warring factions together but, at the pinnacle, sport can sometimes appear to create more enemies than friends. Yet occasionally there is a sign that restores faith and demonstrates that such competition needs to be kept in perspective and the participants are human after all.

* Last weekend the Formula 1 community united in tribute to Jules Bianchi who tragically lost his fight for life. Fittingly, the fiercest rivals joined arms on the main straight in Hungary, surrounding a circle of helmets laid in tribute to a friend and fellow racer who crashed in Japan, striking a rescue vehicle being used to remove another stricken car. It was after an enquiry into this accident that the management introduced the virtual safety car. Perhaps one final act of tribute would be to name this after Bianchi.