Tour de France: Froome wins mountain time trial to Megève

Chris Froome (Team Sky) stormed to victory at the Tour de France during the 17km mountain time trial from Sallanches to Megève. He finished the course in a blistering 30:43, beating Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin) by 21 seconds and Fabio Aru (Astana) by 33 seconds.

"I didn't expect to beat Tom today," Froome said. "I think that pacing was key today. I started off steady and really controlled that first part and then just gave it everything I had over the top and through the last part. I'm really happy with that [performance]."

Froome's winning time trial pushed him even further into the lead of the overall classification, now positioned 3:52 ahead of Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) and 4:17 ahead of Adam Yates (Orica-BikeExchange).

The second time trial at the Tour de France was a much calmer affair compared to the stage 13 jaunt from La Caverne du Pont-d'Arc. There were no broken bones, crashes or riders being lifted off the tarmac by strong gusts of winds and blown into the rocky roadsides – this time around, it was just man versus mountain.

Stage 18 was all the talk among the overall contenders after the previous day's summit at Finhaut-Emosson, the first day in the Alps, and as the next place for riders to gain or lose time in the overall.

It was also highly anticipated as the first mountain time trial at the Tour since l'Alpe d'Huez was used in 2004, and even though Froome picked up more time on his rivals in Finhaut, he was looking to increase his lead on the climb to Megeve. The first four kilometres were a forgivingly flat section of the course, but the route soon kicked up the Côte de Domancy and then on to the Côte de Chozeau. The riders then descended into Megeve.

The crowds roared when it was time for the last block of riders to start, the best of the best in the overall classification at the Tour de France. And with Dumoulin's benchmark time of 31:04, all eyes were on the GC riders to see if they could out-do the Dutch time trial specialist.

Richie Porte (BMC) who chose to use a road bike instead of a time trial machine, was the first to create a 'wow' moment when he clocked 11:33 at the top of the Cote de Domancy, the first time check, nine seconds faster than Dumoulin. But his speed dropped after that, to nine seconds slower than the Dutchman at the second time check. Following the descent, the Australian flew through the finish line with 31:16. In the end, it stood out as a strong performance, good enough to finish fourth on the day and to remain in sixth place overall.

Fabio Aru (Astana) also set a quick time to the first time check, only four seconds slower than Dumoulin, and only 23 seconds slower at the second time check. Aru finished with the same time as Porte, but took third place on the day, and move up in GC from eighth to seventh.

"I was disappointed after the last time trial," Aru said. "I prepared well for the Tour, and I knew that I just had to go out there and do my best. I expected to do well today, and I gave it everything from the start."

It was a disappointing start to the mountain time trial for Nairo Quintana (Movistar), who in general has struggled on the climbing stages at the Tour de France. He was over a minute slower than Dumoulin by the second time check but finished slightly stronger than expected with a 31:53. Although the mediocre performance is not what we expect from the Colombian in the mountains, he did manage to pick up 13 seconds on Adam Yates (Orica-BikeExchange), but he remains in fourth overall. He is reportedly struggling with allergies at this Tour de France.

Yates, who was delighted after a strong stage 13 time trial, repeated that performance on the road to Megeve. He finished in 32:06, and although it was only good enough for 16th on the day, he held onto his third place overall, which is more than he expected of himself heading into this year's Tour de France.

Mollema, who also chose to use a road bike instead of a time trial machine, showed signs of struggle on the climb to Finhaut, and he continued to lose some seconds in the time trial. He tucked over his handlebars on the descent, desperately trying to limit his losses to GC rivals and he finished with 32:06, 17th on the day, but more importantly he held onto second place overall with two mountain stages to go.

Froome was the big surprise of the day, although maybe he shouldn't have been as he was the closest to Dumoulin's winning time in the stage 13 time trial. He started out 22 seconds down compared to Dumoulin at the Cote de Domancy, but he quickened his efforts and was marked at only 10 seconds down at the second check. He kept picking up speed and crossed the finish line with the fastest time of the day – 30:43, and attributed his win to being able to set a good pace and stay within his rhythm on the climbs.

Tour de France stage 18 highlights video

Dumoulin sets the benchmark to beat

After yesterday's travails in the first of four Alpine stages, it was time for the struggling riders to raise the curtain for the uphill time trial.

Sam Bennett (Bora-Argon 18), who has bravely limped through the race since his crash in the first week set off first, along the 17-kilometre test that would see riders take on two climbs before a technical descent to the line.

For many of the lower-placed GC riders this was a relative rest day but after almost three weeks of racing and thousands of metres of climbing, even the mere thought of racing today would have seen many within the peloton wish for Paris.

Bennett made it through, of course, but there were a string of riders keen on at least trying to trouble the leader board. First of those was Alexis Gougeard (AG2R La Mondiale), who was soon toppled by Nicolas Edet, who, riding for Cofidis, Solutions Credits, have little to show for their Tour so far. Edet's ride may have displayed guts but with some accomplished time trialists still in the hut, there was little chance of the Frenchman's resistance holding.

Romain Sicard (Direct Energie), Jerome Coppel (IAM Cycling), Ion Izagirre (Movistar Team) and Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal) all briefly led but while they all had short stints on the hot seat Tom Dumoulin (Giant Alpecin) was making mincemeat of their times.

The consummate time triallist, Dumoulin was 30 seconds faster at the second time check, as his long-limbed frame flew up the climbs as another Dutchman, Wilco Keldermann (LottoNL-Jumbo) did his best impression of a rider who wanted to be anywhere but the Tour. One pedalled with intent and desire, arching over his time trial bars on everything but the steepest sections, while the other looked to simply survive the ordeal.

A race of truth with such contrasting tales. Dumoulin crossed the line in 31:04, taking 41 seconds off De Gendt's effort. It looked as though he was on his way to securing a third stage victory, only to be beaten by the last rider on course, yellow jersey Froome.

"I think Froome in his best form can beat my time,” Dumoulin predicted as he watched Froome race for the finish line in Megeve. “I felt good on the steep bit at the beginning, but I felt I was losing a bit of strength on the longer stretches of 3-4%. It's easy to lose time on a course like this. I did a good time trial, but I don’t think it's good enough to win."

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