Froome still ‘the leader’

LA ROSIERE, France — Geraint Thomas insists he will help Sky teammate Chris Froome claim a record-tying fifth victory on the Tour de France despite underlining his own credentials by pulling on the fabled yellow jersey on Wednesday.

A day after seeing his chances of taking the race lead dented by Sky’s team tactics, Thomas underlined his Grand Tour credentials with a superb ride on the final climb of stage 11 that saw him overtake Spanish rival and friend Mikel Nieve (Mitchelton) inside the closing meters on his way to triumph at the line.

It was the Welshman’s second stage win on the Tour, after his victory in the opening time trial last year which saw him wear the leader’s yellow jersey for four days before crashing out on stage nine.

But while it left Thomas in a “dream” like state, it did little to settle the ongoing debate about whether Froome or Thomas is the leader for a Sky team that has won five of the last editions of the world’s biggest bike race.

Froome is fresh from winning the Giro d’Italia and, having won the 2017 Tour of Spain and France, is targeting a fourth consecutive Grand Tour triumph and the first Giro d’Italia-Tour de France double since the 1998 feat of the late Marco Pantani of Italy.

Thomas, a former track rider, is a proven stage race winner who has never earned a podium place on a three-week Grand Tour.

“Obviously Froomey is the leader. He’s won six Grand Tours and for me, it’s an unknown,” said Thomas.

“Froomey knows how to win a three-week race. Froomey’s still the leader.

“For me, whatever happens now, it’s been a successful Tour. It’s just an amazing feeling to win the stage and take the jersey.”

After seeing his yellow jersey dream go up in smoke Tuesday, when Sky refused to help overhaul Thomas’s 43-sec deficit to overnight leader Greg Van Avermaet, the Welshman made amends in style.

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