VILLARS-LES-DOMBES, France (AP) — As the Tour de France enters the Alps on Sunday, many would expect Chris Froome to be worried of pure climber Nairo Quintana.
The diminutive Colombian rider, who twice finished runner-up to Froome on the Tour, managed to gain time on the British champion in the closing stages last year, and will have plenty of opportunities in the mountains in the coming week.
But Froome landed what seemed to be a decisive blow at Quintana in the hilly time trial on Friday, moving 2 minutes, 59 seconds in front of the Colombian overall.