Chris Froome’s famous race at Mont Ventoux went down in history

There are images, sequences, that go down in the history of Tour de Franceand the British starringor Chris Froome in 2016 will remain forever not only in the history of ‘Big Loop’, but of cycling and sport in general. And it’s that you don’t see a champion like the British every day, who after suffering an incident, was taken by surprise and decided to start running along the lunar slope of sleeping giant of Provence.

+ SEE THE PRINT EDITION OF THAT HISTORICAL DAY

And it is that nothing like it has ever been seen in the history of cycling and less Tour de France. It passed in suffering, how else could it be in the legendary Mont Ventoux, the 12th round of the 2016 Tour of July 14. The sides of the road are full of public and the fates of the race are sizzling. With the classic escape of the day, where the jogger Thomas De Gendt will end up achieving a great success.

In the back, the great platoon, the ones called to the glory of Parisplayed their cards, with Chris Froome defending a 28 ”margin at the top of the standings compared to his British compatriot Adam’s Yachts, because he took off the yellow jersey at the end of the eighth period in Bagneres de Luchon.

After seeing how Alejandro Valverde and Nairo Quintana forced speed on a select group of favorites, Froome went on the attack, glued to his wheel Richie Porte and Bauke Mollema. The road was narrow, it was difficult for motorcycles and vehicles to ascend before the enthusiasm of the fans, until the last kilometer an official motorcycle suddenly braked due to the narrowing of the asphalt. Porte flew away due to sudden braking, fortunately and with no consequences, but he was able to keep going. Not the same thing happened to the Briton, whose bike broke down.

Once you start running

The leader of the Ineo did not know what to do. He would take his bike and set it aside, to pieces. Not knowing what to do, and while trying to talk to his team on the radio, he decided to start running for a walk to everyone’s surprise. He traveled a few meters, until he rode a bicycle from the neutral car, but he barely traveled a few meters. Not running well, he was not comfortable. He was outnumbered by rivals.

Colombian televisions said that “God is Colombian”thinking about the options of Quintana. High strung, Froome He set aside the spare bike and waited for his team’s vehicle to finally arrive, before that not because he couldn’t move in the crowd. He entered the finish line shaking as if unable to believe what had happened to him. The 25th, 5’05 ”from the winner of the day Thomas De Gendt.

Froome could be punished

A few hours later, it began to be said that Froome could be punished for an action, the running, which he did not consider regulation – but race management considered it an exception. A remarkable drop in the history of the Tour de France, of cycling. Lucky to run.