Geraint Thomas is one step closer to his first Tour de France title. Teammate Chris Froome‘s chances of a record-tying fifth crown cracked as did the Team Sky rider with one mile left in Wednesday mountain stage.
Thomas, a British Olympic track cycling champion, extended his overall race lead in what many called the toughest stage of the three-week Grand Tour that ends Sunday.
The defining moment came with one mile to a summit finish in the Pyrenees.
Third-place Tom Dumoulin attacked the main group of contenders. Thomas answered and stayed on the Dutchman’s wheel, eventually finishing several seconds ahead of Dumoulin, but second-place Froome could not keep up with either.