Britain’s defending champion Chris Froome won the first stage of the Criterium du Dauphine, an individual time trial in Lyon, France, on Sunday.
Froome finished the 10.4km course in 13 minutes, 13 seconds, 8 seconds ahead of biggest rival Alberto Contador of Spain.
Early pacesetter Bob Jungels of Luxembourg finished third at 9 seconds back, ahead of Andrew Talansky of the US.
Photo: AFP
“I’m a bit surprised to be honest, I didn’t expect to win. It’s a result that confirms the work done in training and the fact that I’m in form,” Froome said.
Froome trailed Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali by 2 seconds at the intermediate checkpoint following the stage’s lone climb, the fourth category Montee de l’Observance, while holding a slender 1 second advantage over Spain’s Contador.
However, the Sky Pro Cycling rider set a blazing pace over the second half of the circuit to propel himself into the race leader’s maillot jaune and overhaul Nibali, who finished 13 seconds back.
“During the course I didn’t have any information regarding the times of my rivals, I preferred to just focus on myself and what I was doing,” Froome said. “I only knew that the final 4km were difficult going into the wind, so I saved my strength for that part.”
Froome admitted that he had not anticipated wearing yellow quite so soon.
“It’s a bit of an unexpected situation because I didn’t expect to find myself in this position, but it’s great to not have any time to make up,” he said. “I’m going to defend the yellow jersey, even if I didn’t think I’d have it right now. ”
SKY PRO CYCLING
AFP, LONDON
Sky Pro Cycling chief Dave Brailsford on Sunday insisted he has yet to decide on his Tour de France squad, despite claims from former champion Bradley Wiggins that he will not be selected.
Wiggins won the Tour in 2012, but does not expect to ride alongside defending champion Chris Froome in this year’s race.
Wiggins appeared to suggest on Friday last week that Froome was playing a part in selecting the squad, but Brailsford was quick to make it clear he alone will decide the fate of his riders.
“Despite the impression that might have been created, the team is not yet finalized,” Brailsford told the Sunday Times. “I will be the one making the decision on who is in that team. The riders can offer an opinion, but they don’t select the team and they never will.”
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