chris froome 2017 tour de france

Chris Froome Wins 2017 Tour de France

This is the Briton's fourth title in the grand Tour

Briton Chris Froome secured his fourth Tour de France title at the end of the 21st and final stage won by Dylan Groenewegen in Paris on Sunday. Sky's Froome had previously won the 2013, 2015 and 2016 editions and sits fifth overall in the all-time list of Tour victors behind greats Eddy Merckx, Jacques Anquetil, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain.

See how team gear was customized for this year's Tour:

At the end of three weeks, 21 stages and more than 3,500km, Chris Froome rolled over the line on the Champs Elysees with a broad grin alongside his Sky team-mates, who wore a special kit for the occasion with their usual blue stripe replaced by a yellow one. It was Froome's closest Tour struggle yet as his final winning margin was less than a minute for the first time, Colombia's Rigoberto Uran finishing second at 54sec with Romain Bardet of France, the runner-up last year, third at 2min 20sec. (Our new super-soft yellow jersey tribute tee lets you keep the Tour alive!)

The 103km final stage began with a nod to history in Montgeron, where the very first stage of the inaugural Tour in 1903 also began, at a leisurely pace giving Froome, his team-mates and the winners of the other distinctive jerseys the chance to celebrate with glasses of champagne as they rode out of the town and towards the French capital. By the time they got there the tempo had risen to the opposite scale of the spectrum and it was a full pelt bunch that rode to the finish, where 24-year-old Groenewegen struck out for home from a long way out and held off the hard-charging Andre Greipel, winner on the Champs Elysees in the previous two years, with Edvald Boasson Hagen third. Dutchman Groenewegen of the Lotto NL Jumbo team secured the biggest victory of his young career, but the day undoubtedly belonged to Froome.

Alongside the yellow jersey winner, Australia's Michael Matthews won the sprinters' green points jersey, France's Warren Barguil triumphed in the polkadot king of the mountains competition and Simon Yates of Britain succeeded twin brother Adam as the best young rider in the white jersey.

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Froome's Sky finished as the best team having claimed the yellow helmets on the first stage in Dusseldorf three weeks ago and never relinquished their lead in the competition, which they won for the first time despite claiming the yellow jersey in five of the last six years.

The last remaining prize went to Barguil, a winner of two stages, who was named the most combative rider of the Tour.

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Chris Froome wins 2017 Tour de France, plus final standings

Chris Froome has never been more challenged at the Tour de France than in 2017, and that’s why this yellow jersey is his best ever.

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Chris Froome completed Sunday’s processional up and down the Champs-Élysées to win his fourth Tour de France title in five years. In the history of cycling, only four riders have won more — Miguel Indurain, Bernard Hinault, Eddy Merckx, and Jacques Anquetil. Froome is also one of five riders to ever win three consecutively, joining Louison Bobet, Indurain, Merckx, and Anquetil.

As dominant as Froome is — and he is assuredly deserving of his place as one of the best cyclists ever — his fourth yellow jersey didn’t come easily. For the first time in his career, he gave up the yellow jersey after taking it during the Tour. He wrangled the jersey from Sky teammate Geraint Thomas on Stage 5 , then appeared to crack on the steep ramp into Peyragudes on Stage 12 and gave it to Fabio Aru. In the process, he looked more vulnerable than we have ever seen him in July.

But of course, as has always been the case, Froome was at his best in the Tour’s third week. He took the yellow jersey back for good on Stage 14 when Aru got caught too deep in the peloton before the uphill finish in Rodez, then proceeded to hold pace on the major Alpine climbs of Stage 17 and 18 as Romain Bardet and Rigoberto Uran attacked.

Froome had at least two riders within 30 seconds of him from Stage 12 until Stage 20, and managed to become just the seventh rider to ever win the Tour without a single stage win ... but he won, nonetheless, and his latest win might be his most impressive. Froome, at 32, is at an age when riders should be in decline, and the field of general classification contenders is getting stronger by the year.

How long Froome’s reign will last is difficult to say. Uran, who took second, seemingly had a career renaissance. Bardet, third, will be dominant if he ever learns to ride a time trial properly. Nairo Quintana, who finished a disappointing 12th, probably won’t be foolish enough to try to race the Giro d’Italia before the Tour next year. Mikel Landa, Froome’s teammate, likely would have been on the podium if he hadn’t been working for his team leader.

Then there are the riders who didn’t make it to the podium. One of the great what-ifs will be what might have happened if Richie Porte hadn’t suffered that terrible crash on the hair-raising descent of Mont du Chat during a wild Stage 9 . Tom Dumoulin, who didn’t come to the Tour but bested Quintana at the Giro, is rounding into elite form, and will be among the favorites to win if he decides to ride the Tour next year.

And yet, how could anyone bet against Froome topping the podium again next year? The man proved in 2016 that he can win in practically every way possible . In 2015, he did it even when the world seemed to hate him . This year, he won when even the course was stacked against him . At this point, there’s nothing to do but to relent: Chris Froome is the best cyclist in the world and will be until such a time when he isn’t. Only the course of time can take him down now.

Final 2017 Tour de France general classification

1. Chris Froome, Team Sky

2. Rigoberto Uran, Cannondale - +00’54’’

3. Romain Bardet, AG2R La Mondiale - +02’20’’

4. Mikel Landa, Team Sky - +02’21’’

5. Fabio Aru, Astana - +03’05’’

6. Daniel Martin, Quick-Step - +04’42’’

7. Simon Yates - Orica-Scott - +06’14’’

8. Louis Meintjes, Team Emirates - +08’20’’

9. Alberto Contador, Trek-Segafredo - +08’49”

10. Warren Barguil, Team Sunweb - +09’25”

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Tour de France 2017 - Untouchable Chris Froome on brink of fourth Tour win as Bodnar takes ITT

Updated 23/07/2017 at 14:33 GMT

Britain’s Chris Froome all but clinched his fourth Tour de France title with a searing time trial performance in Marseille.

Chris Froome wears the yellow jersey at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille

Image credit: Getty Images

'Disgraceful!' Froome booed entering stadium at end of time trial

Wiggins: This could just be the start for G - he could win again next year

30/07/2018 at 09:40

"An amazing feeling!" Froome delight at time trial performance

Team Sky rider and yellow jersey Chris Froome of Britain in action with the Notre Dame de la Garde basilica in the background.

Image credit: Reuters

Crowd jeers Froome as he starts Marseille TT

Dan Martin reveals he broke his back on Stage 9, still finished sixth overall

28/07/2017 at 12:14

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The Two-Way

International, chris froome wins his fourth tour de france title in paris.

Bill Chappell

Britain's Chris Froome is expected to seal his third consecutive Tour de France win in Paris on Sunday. Christophe Ena/AP hide caption

Britain's Chris Froome is expected to seal his third consecutive Tour de France win in Paris on Sunday.

Chris Froome enjoyed a celebratory ride into Paris — complete with the traditional Champagne toast — in the Tour de France's 21st and final stage Sunday. The British rider won after avoiding crashes that took out some of cycling's big names, including his teammate Geraint Thomas.

It's the third straight Tour de France victory for Froome, and his fourth overall.

Froome's opponents saw Saturday's time trial in Marseilles as the last chance to take the yellow jersey from him, but they were unable to gain time on the reigning champion, who took third place. He finished with a 54-second lead over Colombia's Rigoberto Urán — who banged into a barricade during his time trial.

Un dernier départ réel pour la route ! / One last start to enjoy! #TDF2017 pic.twitter.com/7idE8NuiXN — Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 23, 2017

Ahead of Sunday's 64-mile ride into Paris, the final spot on the podium was something of an open question, as third-place Romain Bardet of France had only a one-second edge over Spain's Mikel Landa — a teammate of Froome's on Team Sky. But that margin didn't change on Sunday.

Putting Froome's win in historical perspective, NPR's Tom Goldman reports that he is now one title away from "an exclusive club of five-time winners that includes legendary riders Jacque Anquetil, Eddie Merckx, Bernard Hinaut and Miguel Indurain."

Tom adds, "American Lance Armstrong had his record seven tour victories stripped and stricken from the record books after he admitted doping."

Froome took up the challenge of winning this Tour without one of the best riders on his Sky team after Thomas was lost to a crash in the race's wild ninth stage. On the same day, Froome's rival (and former teammate) Richie Porte was also forced to withdraw due to a horrendous crash. At the time, Porte was in fifth place.

Froome lost the leader's yellow jersey in the Pyrenees midway through this year's Tour, but he reclaimed it on stage 14, using strong team tactics and a final sprint that took advantage of a splintered peloton.

• Tour de France
• Chris Froome

Tour de France: Chris Froome all but secures his fourth title – video highlights

Chris Froome came third in the time trial stage, the penultimate stage of the 2017 Tour de France, but extended his overall lead to 54 seconds, all but guaranteeing his fourth title. The final stage is a largely processional affair, Tour etiquette dictating no challenges to the leader. Tour de France – in pictures

• Tour de France 2017
• Tour de France

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Chris Froome Won the 2017 Tour de France

It’s official! The Brit won his fourth Tour de France today with Rigoberto Urán finishing second and Romain Bardet third. The prestigious sprint was won by Dylan Groenewegen. André Greipel made up a lot of ground in the final metres but he was out of position and the Dutch pro managed to hold him off.

Stage 21 Results

1 Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo 2 André Greipel (Ger) Lotto Soudal 3 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Dimension Data 4 Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits 5 Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha-Alpecin 6 Borut Bozic (Slo) Bahrain-Merida 7 Davide Cimolai (Ita) FDJ 8 Pierre Luc Perichon (Fra) Team Fortuneo – Oscaro 9 Rüdiger Selig (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe 10 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Movistar Team

Chris Froome fête son 4e titre en famille ! / It's time to celebrate with the family for @chrisfroome #TDF2017 pic.twitter.com/glzBO8kzZJ — Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 23, 2017

General classification

1 Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky 86:20:55 2 Rigoberto Uran (Col) Cannondale-Drapac 0:00:54 3 Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:02:20 4 Mikel Landa (Spa) Team Sky 0:02:21 5 Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:03:05 6 Daniel Martin (Irl) Quick-Step Floors 0:04:42 7 Simon Yates (GBr) Orica-Scott 0:06:14 8 Louis Meintjes (RSA) UAE Team Emirates 0:08:20 9 Alberto Contador (Spa) Trek-Segafredo 0:08:49 10 Warren Barguil (Fra) Team Sunweb 0:09:25

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Tour de France 2017: Chris Froome set for historic fourth yellow jersey after dominant time trial

Team Sky rider finishes third in final time trial to secure Tour de France overall win by 54 seconds over Rigoberto Uran - Maciej Bodnar (Bora-Hansgrohe) wins stage

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A dominant time trial performance helped Froome secure his fourth victory

Chris Froome (Team Sky) is set to take victory in the 2017 Tour de France after a dominant time trial performance on the streets of Marseille

The Brit came into the stage with a 23-second lead over Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale) and a 29-second lead over Rigoberto Uran (Cannondale-Drapac), but will win the Tour by almost a minute as he came third on the penultimate stage won by Maciej Bodnar (Bora-Hansgrohe).

On paper the best time triallist of the three Tour de France GC contenders, Froome showed why he was the favourite with a fast start to his final test, setting the second best time at the first time check, just two seconds behind team-mate Michal Kwiatkowski who would eventually as runner-up on the stage.

Uran and Bardet both lost time on the flat first half of the course, but while the Colombian held his shape for the rest of the stage to finish seventh on the day, Bardet fell to pieces.

>>> Five talking points from stage 20 of the Tour de France

By the second time check at the top of the only hill on the course, Bardet had lost 1-17 to the leaders, fighting with his bike on the steep gradients while Froome looked as smooth as ever, pedalling with a high cadence in his aero bars.

The Team Sky rider had set off two minutes behind Bardet, but by the final kilometre he had the Frenchman in his sights, giving him something to chase as Bardet fought to hold on to his podium spot.

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Bardet fought all the way to the line, only managing to hold onto third place overall by one second from Mikel Landa.

Just a few seconds later and it was the turn of the yellow jersey to cross the line. Froome, fighting to the very end, putting in a time that wasn't good enough to win the stage, but was more than enough to secure his fourth Tour de France victory with only Sunday's procession around Paris to come.

How it happened

The penultimate stage of the 2017 Tour de France got underway in sweltering heat in Marseille, the riders rolling down a start ramp in the centre of the Stade Velodrome football stadium.

Luke Rowe (Team Sky) was the first man to start, putting in a performance good enough to secure his position as the lanterne rouge, but the best early starter was Taylor Phinney (Cannondale-Drapac) with a time of 29-21.

Phinney's time stood firm for more than an hour before Maciej Bodnar (Bora-Hansgrohe) crossed the line more than a minute quicker in a time of 28-15, which was also good enough to hold off Jack Bauer (Quick-Step Floors) and Jasha Sütterlin (Movistar) both of whom came within three-quarters of a minute of the Pole's time.

The next man who could challenge Bodnar was world champion Tony Martin (Katusha-Alpecin), but the German was not able to beat Bodnar's time, falling short by just 14 seconds.

Stefan Küng (BMC Racing), another of the pre-race favourites, also finished slower than Bodnar, while Spanish and European time trial champion Jonathan Castroviejo's challenge was ended after just 50 metres when he crashed on the way out of the stadium.

>>> How it happened: Chris Froome blows opposition away in race-defining time trial

The next threat seemed to come from one of Bodnar's fellow Poles: Team Sky's star domestique Michal Kwiatkowski looking to grab a slice of personal glory after three works of tireless self-sacrifice.

Kwiatkowski was six seconds fastest at the first time check, and one second faster at the top of the climb after 15.6km. With a technical descent followed by a five-kilometre flat run to the finish, Kwiatkowski was going to come close, but eventually crossed the line in second place, just one solitary second behind Bodnar.

Primoz Roglic (LottoNL-Jumbo) looked like the last non-GC contender who could challenge Bodnar's time, but the stage 17 winner looked off form as he went through the first 10km 25 seconds slower than Kwiatkowski, then suffered a mechanical on the approach to the climb to put him well-and-truly out of contention.

Warren Barguil (Team Sunweb) was the first of the top 10 off the start ramp, receiving a rapturous reception from the home crowd having being given the award for the most combative rider in this year's race. However the real interest was on those looking for victory further up the standings.

>>> Dave Brailsford: 'This is Chris Froome's best Tour de France win'

When Rigoberto Uran rolled down the start ramp at 17:00 local time, Bardet two minutes later, and Froome another two minutes further on, the fight for the yellow jersey was on.

Froome set off to boos and jeers from a hostile Stade Velodrome crowd, but looked smooth as he swept through the opening corners before settling into his rhythm on the wide roads along the coast.

Going into the stage, many had tipped Uran to be Froome's biggest threat for yellow, but at the first time check after 10km the Colombian could only go 14th fastest, 26 seconds slower than Kwiatkowski.

However Bardet went even slower, 19 seconds behind his Cannondale-Drapac rival, meaning that as things stood he had already lost second place to Uran.

The last rider through was Froome, the yellow jersey on an absolute flyer as he went through the time check just two seconds down on his Polish team-mate.

>>> 'Nobody else new it, but Rigoberto Uran came here to win the Tour de France'

From there things were looking good for the Brit, but Uran was attacking the climb, clawing back a few seconds on the steep ascent and digging deep before the descent and flat run to the finish.

Not looking quite as strong was Bardet, who was labouring up the climb, riding out of the saddle while Froome remained locked in the aero bars.

The Frenchman was cooked, exploding on the climb to cross the time check well over a minute behind the fastest time of Kwiatkowski, potentially putting his place on the podium under threat, while Froome, continuing to look superb, was still only two seconds down.

The next moment of drama came when Rigoberto Uran took the left hand turn into the stadium, coming into contact with the barriers, but managing to stay upright. His foot briefly came unclipped, and he was quickly back underway to cross the line in an impressive eighth place on the day, and second overall.

>>> Steve Cummings admist frustrations at not winning a Tour de France stage

The only two riders left on course were Froome and Bardet, the former having the latter in his sight for the final few kilometres. Bardet was fighting to keep his podium place, and just did enough to hold on by one second ahead of Mikel Landa.

While Bardet had to suffer all the way to the line, Froome had less to worry about in terms of his GC hopes, but still fought to the very end in search of his first stage win of the race.

In the end his effort was not enough to better Bodnar, finishing in third place behind Kwiatkowski, but the performance secured his fourth Tour de France title, 54 seconds ahead of Rigoberto Uran.

Tour de France 2017, stage 20: Marseille to Marseille, 22.5km (ITT.)

1. Maciej Bodnar (Pol) Bora-Hansgrohe, in 28-15

2. Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Team Sky, at 1 sec

3. Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky, at 6 secs

4. Tony Martin (Ger) Katusha-Alpecin, at 14 secs

5. Daryl Impey (RSA) Orica-Scott, at 20 secs

6. Alberto Contador (Esp) Trek-Segafredo, at 21 secs

7. Nikias Arndt (Ger) Team Sunweb, at 28 secs

8. Rigoberto Uran (Col) Cannondale-Drapac, at 31 secs

9. Stefan Küng (Sui) BMC Racing, at 34 secs

10. Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Direct Energie, at 37 secs

General classification after stage 20

1. Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky, in 83-55-16

2. Rigoberto Uran (Col) Cannondale-Drapac, at 54 secs

3. Romain Bardet (Fra) Ag2r La Mondiale, at 2-20

4. Mikel Landa (Esp) Team Sky, at 2-21

5. Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana, at 3-05

6. Daniel Martin (Irl) Quick-Step Floors, at 4-42

7. Simon Yates (GBr) Orica-Scott, at 6-14

8. Louis Meintjes (RSA) UAE Team Emirates, at 8-20

9. Alberto Contador (Esp) Trek-Segafredo, at 8-49

10. Warren Barguil (Fra) Team Sunweb, at 9-25

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Henry Robertshaw began his time at Cycling Weekly working with the tech team, writing reviews, buying guides and appearing in videos advising on how to dress for the seasons. He later moved over to the news team, where his work focused on the professional peloton as well as legislation and provision for cycling. He's since moved his career in a new direction, with a role at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

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Tour de France 2017: Chris Froome retains yellow jersey but race continues to hang in the balance

Froome’s problems arose because of a mechanical issue with his back wheel at the foot of the most difficult ascent of the stage, the first category ascent of col de peyra taillade, article bookmarked.

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Chris Froome has reached the final week of the 2017 Tour de France still in the lead but, once again, his grip on the race teetered on the edge of real trouble.

Froome’s problems arose because of a mechanical issue with his back wheel at the foot of the most difficult ascent of the stage, the first category ascent of Col de Peyra Taillade.

By the time the Team Sky rider had changed wheels he was nearly a minute back, and - provisionally at least - out of the race lead.

Crucially archrivals AG2R La Mondiale had already staged a mass attack approaching the Peyra Taillade. So rather than the other contenders having to wait for the Briton - as unwritten race etiquette requires if a Tour leader has a mechanical problem or crash when there is a lull in the action - at this point the racing was ‘on’ and his rivals could therefore legitimately continue to push out the time gaps.

AG2R La Mondiale and their top challenger Romain Bardet did exactly that, with four of his team-mates increasing the pace on the grinding, narrow ascent, whilst Froome could only rely on three, Colombian Sergio Henao, together with Basques Mikel Nieve and Mikel Landa.

In what effectively became a battle between the two strongest climbing teams on the 2017 Tour - Sky and AG2R - Nieve eventually dropped back exhausted. On the steepest part of the climb Froome had to call back Landa from the group of a dozen favourites to ensure he regained contact.

But by then AG2R’s brown and blue cohorts were flagging too in the immense heat, and Froome - ignoring some boos from what appeared to be a few fans on the climb - could, at last, latch onto the back end of the group. The Briton was still strong enough after such a draining pursuit to close down an attack by Bardet, but he admitted at the finish it had been a narrow escape.

It was a stressful moment. I wasn’t sure if I’d get back on again,” Froome said afterwards.

“AG2R rode their race and rode fast. Just before the climb I had a problem with my back wheel, it was damaged. [Team-mate Michal] Kwiatkowski gave me his wheel because the team car was stuck behind.”

The stage itself, a hilly trek through the Massif Centrale, was won by Holland’s Bauke Mollema, going solo 30 kilometres from the finish.

After Monday's second rest day and a likely straightforward stage on Tuesday with a bunch sprint finish, Wednesday sees the Tour head into the Alps for the final mountain showdown of this year’s race.

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Team Helps Froome Maintain Lead Before Decisive Stages of Tour de France

By The Associated Press

• July 18, 2017

ROMANS-SUR-ISÈRE, France — Ahead of two grueling Alpine stages that will probably decide the outcome of the 104th Tour de France, Chris Froome and his teammates sent a clear message to their rivals on Tuesday with another impressive display of collective strength.

Amid heavy crosswinds that played havoc in the finale of the 102.5-mile Stage 16 from Le Puy-en-Velay to Romans-sur-Isère, Froome’s fellow Team Sky riders tried to unsettle their opponents by setting a frenetic tempo that split the pack like a jigsaw puzzle.

After relentless work from Vasil Kiryienka and Michal Kwiatkowski, only 22 riders, including Froome and another teammate, Mikel Landa, managed to stay in the reduced bunch at the front.

Also among them were Fabio Aru, Romain Bardet and Rigoberto Urán, who avoided the trap. But Dan Martin lost 51 seconds after being caught in a split in the finale. He dropped to seventh place over all, 2 minutes 3 seconds off the pace.

At one point, it appeared that Bardet was going to be left behind, but he was helped back in the lead group by Oliver Naesen. Michael Matthews of Australia won the stage in a sprint to the line.

With the race now entering the stages that decide the final podium, Froome, of Britain, went straight to the point with his aggressive racing. He appears in great shape and has what is considered the best team surrounding him in his bid to win a fourth Tour title.

“Everyone knew it was going to split at some point,” Froome said. “For us, it was more about just being on the right side of it. Knowing it was going to kick off on that open section in the last 20 kilometers to go, the guys committed to that, and we saw the gaps opening out straight away.”

Froome, the defending champion, has an 18-second overall lead over Aru, of Italy, with Bardet, of France, 23 seconds back in third place. Urán, a Colombian completes the leading quartet, 29 seconds off the pace.

Landa, a Spaniard who has been impressive since the start of the Tour despite dedicating himself to Froome, moved back to fifth over all, 1:17 back.

Froome said the goal of his preparation for the Tour had been “to head into the third week feeling the way I’m feeling now.”

The battle for the yellow jersey was scheduled to resume Wednesday in the first of two Alpine stages in high altitude, a grueling 113.7-mile trek.

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