Chris Froome effectively wins Tour de France ahead of largely ceremonial final stage
Posted July 20, 2013 11:49 am.
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Chris Froome has effectively ensured that he will become Britain’s second successive Tour de France champion after Bradley Wiggins, by retaining his big race lead in the penultimate stage before Sunday’s processional run-in to Paris.
Froome finished third in Stage 20 to the ski station of Annecy-Semnoz, won by Colombian rider Nairo Quintana. The 125-kilometre (78-mile) trek was the last of four successive stages in the Alps and the final significant obstacle Froome needed to overcome before Sunday’s usually relaxed ride to the finish on the Champs-Elysees in Paris.
Froome easily retained his lead. Alberto Contador, who had been second at the start of the day, struggled on the final climb and dropped off the podium.
Quintana moved up to second overall, with Joaquim Rodriguez taking the third podium spot. Rodriguez was second on the stage behind Quintana
Froome first took the race lead and the yellow jersey that goes with it on Stage 8, when the Sky rider won the climb to the Ax-3 Domaines ski station in the Pyrenees.
All that remains now is Stage 21, a 133-kilometre (82-mile) ride from Versailles to the Champs-Elysees.
