As Chris Froome and the rest of Team Sky rolled down the Champs-Elysees 53 seconds behind the winner of the final stage of the 2013 Tour de France Marcel Kittel, a smile was etched across the face of the yellow jersey holder. Kittel was amongst the other riders who excelled during the tour, but in truth it was all about one man, Chris Froome.
53 seconds were irrelevant after the blistering performance that the Kenyan-born Froome had produced over the past three weeks, dismantling every threat to the yellow jersey with a series of phenomenal rides.
After Bradley Wiggins had become the first ever British winner of the Tour de France during last year’s glorious summer of sport, Chris Froome matched his achievement in far more emphatic style. The man, who was runner up last year after shepherding Wiggins to victory entered the tour as overwhelming favourite, and lived up to the expectations, opening up a lead of over five minutes to his nearest rival Nairo Quintana heading into the final stage.
For all the brilliance of Wiggins last year in making history, the performance of Froome this time round was even more spectacular in the 100th edition of the Tour de France. After obliterating his opponents in the first mountain top finish of Ax-3-Domaines on stage 8, Froome held onto the yellow jersey in imperious form, even when his team wavered.
Unlike last year Team Sky were not the strongest unit in the race with fallibilities displayed, most notably on stage 9, where Froome was left to defend the yellow jersey on his own against multiple attacks. Yet every challenge was absorbed and every threat nullified, as Froome continued to excel in the mountains and time trials, including during an incredible ascent of Mont Ventoux. Richie Porte and Peter Kennaugh both provided excellent support in the mountains, whilst Geraint Thomas battled on to the end with extreme bravery after fracturing his hip in the first stage.
With his incredible performances came the questions over the legitimacy of his rides. The ugly debate over drug use rose to the fore again, as Froome was constantly questioned by those who were shocked by the levels of his performances. The shadow of Lance Armstrong once more loomed large, as Froome produced rides which bettered the performances of the former great, whose reputation has since been left in tatters as he was demonstrated to be arguably the greatest drugs cheat of all time.
“It’s not cool..” was Froome’s response to the suspicions that he was using drugs to bolster his performance. Visibly upset by the constant examination of his character, Froome not only had to deal with his rivals on the rode, but the critics off it. Yet he emerged with flying colours, as his calm demeanour endeared him to fans, as he came across as the guy from next door.
In a way this was the wrong time to win in such emphatic fashion, as the sport of cycling struggles to recover from the horrendous blows that drug abuse has dealt to its credibility. For one individual to be head and shoulders above the rest didn’t seem right, and of course suspicions were going to once more emerge, yet that should not deflect from the sheer brilliance that Froome has shown over a gruelling three weeks.
There is absolutely nothing to suggest that Froome is another Lance Armstrong or that Team Sky are using illegal methods to attain their success. Team Sky have adopted a scientific approach to the sport, highlighting any areas for improvement and exploiting those aspects to help their riders maximise their potential. That extra one or two percent is making all the difference, as Team Sky continue to push on the development of the sport.
Where that progression will end and meet a boundary we don’t know, but for now we should bask in the incredible achievements of Chris Froome, and applaud the grit, determination and brilliance of this man. Years of his life have been dedicated to this moment, and after a tough journey to reach this stage, he has now reached the pinnacle of his sport, and will surely be remembered as a true great.