MONT VENTOUX, France,- Chris Froome moved closer to a maiden Tour de France title with an awe-inspiring victory on top of the intimidating Mont Ventoux, pulling away from his rivals in brutal fashion seven kilometres from the finish yesterday.
The British rider stayed rooted to his saddle as he left Alberto Contador for dead with an attack which, if not easy on the eye due to his jutting elbows and nodding head, proved ruthlessly efficient.
He crossed the line 29 seconds ahead of Colombian Nairo Quintana, who had launched an attack 13km from the finish.
Team Sky’s Froome, who showed he is unbeatable on a single climb, now leads Dutchman Bauke Mollema by 4:14 in the overall standings.
This is roughly the same as Alberto Contador’s winning margin over Andy Schleck when the Spaniard won the Tour in 2009 after three weeks of racing.
Contador, the 2007 and 2009 champion, crossed the line in sixth place after the 242.5-km 15th stage, 1:40 behind Froome to leave him third overall, 4:25 off the pace.
Mollema was eighth on the day, six seconds behind Contador, who was clearly stunned.
“He is very superior to everyone in the mountains,” Contador told reporters.”
“He showed it in the Pyrenees and once again here. I did what I could, climbing at my rhythm but he was too strong.
“I came here to win but Froome is very strong and every time he takes time from me.”
His sports director Philippe Mauduit said: “We will talk and see what tactics we can set up for the rest of the race.”
Froome had lost 1:09 to Contador on Friday’s flat stage after being trapped by the Spaniard’s Team Saxo-Tinkoff, but he came back with a bang.
