Saudi Ministry of Education to showcase innovations at 2025 Geneva International Exhibition    7,523 violators of residency, labor, and border security laws deported in a week    Video contradicts Israeli army account of deadly March 23 strike on Gaza paramedics    Saudi Arabia spends over $241 million to implement de-mining projects in 3 countries    Italy's Meloni government approves controversial security decree expanding police protections and penalties    Egypt submits new Gaza ceasefire and prisoner exchange proposal: Report    'Everything is possible' — Ronaldo focused on titles, not 1,000-goal milestone after Riyadh Derby win    Saudi, US military leaders discuss enhanced defense cooperation in Riyadh    King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language launches program with Indiana University    Ronaldo brace powers Al Nassr past Al Hilal in Riyadh derby thriller    Ed Sheeran weaves Persian music into new song, Azizam    Al-Jadaan: Crown Prince's directives confirm government's ability to bring back balance to real estate market    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Foreign investors are allowed to engage in real estate business outside Makkah and Madinah Commercial speculation should not be the purpose of real estate transaction    Aubameyang fires Al Qadsiah into King's Cup final with stoppage-time winner over Al Raed    Musk's X is suing India, as Tesla and Starlink plan entry    Tesla sales plunge after backlash against Elon Musk    Danilo Pereira fires Al Ittihad into King's Cup final with dramatic stoppage-time double    Screen time in bed linked to insomnia, study finds    Mexico bans junk food in schools to fight childhood obesity epidemic    Sweet sales surge ahead of Eid as Saudi chocolate imports top 123 million kg in 2024    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Running man Froome keeps yellow jersey despite bike drama
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 15 - 07 - 2016

Chris Froome kept hold of the Tour de France race leader's yellow jersey despite a crash with a motorcycle Thursday that threatened to wreck his race hopes.

Froome initially seemed to have lost the race lead after his bicycle was broken by the crash leaving him at one point running desperately along the road waiting for a replacement bike.

But Tour organizers reinstated him in the lead at the end of the 12th stage which finished on the iconic Mont Ventoux, now with a 47sec lead over British compatriot Adam Yates.

"What a finish. Ventoux is full of surprises. Around the last kilometer a motorbike braked hard," explained Froome on French TV after being presented with the yellow jersey.

"I was with Richie Porte and Bauke Mollema and all three of us went into the back of it. I got hit from behind by another motorbike that broke my bicycle.

"I'm happy with the jury's decision. I think it's right. Thanks to them and thanks to the Tour de France organization."

Briton Froome was riding to the finish inside the final kilometer with Australian Porte and Mollema of the Netherlands having distanced the rest of the overall contenders when all three crashed into a motorcycle that was brought to a standstill by a wall of fans.

Froome tried to ride on but his bike was broken and he started running up the climb as he waited for his team car to catch up and give him a new bike.

First he was given a neutral bike by an official race car but he found it unrideable, ditching it before finally being given a team bike to finish the stage, which had started 178km away in Montpellier.

The incident initially seemed to have cost him terribly as Yates was provisionally announced as the new Tour leader with Froome, who had started the day with a 28sec lead over his countryman, trailing down in sixth place at 53sec.

Yates, who remains the leading young rider in the race, said he agreed with the race jury's decision to change the initial results.

"It is what it is, I'm really happy with the outcome. I wouldn't have wanted to take the jersey like this," said the 23-year-old.

"After his performances in the Tour so far he (Froome) is the rightful owner of the yellow jersey. It wouldn't have felt right to have taken it like that."

The race jury decided to look into the incident and after a short time deliberating, it published an updated general classification with Froome back on top.

The jury opted to apply the 3km rule normally used in mass sprint finishes, which neutralizes times in the run-in to the line in case of a crash or technical incident.

It means Froome and Porte were given the same time as Mollema, the first to get up and finish from their group.

It meant all three gained 19sec on the next batch of favorites, who were also held up by the crash as they rode into a bottleneck caused by blocked motorcycles and cars.

Froome therefore extended his lead with his main rival Nairo Quintana now third at 54sec, Mollema fourth at 56sec and young Frenchman Romain Bardet fifth at 1:15 ahead of Friday's 37km time-trial.

Froome's Sky team manager Dave Brailsford told French TV that the decision had rewarded those who were strongest on the day.

"The jury and organizers opted for fair play," he said.

"It wasn't easy but you have to stay calm. Richie, Chris and Mollema were the strongest today and the organizers decided to maintain the lead they had gained at the moment of the accident. For me, it's a fair decision."

Brailsford even afforded himself a joke, saying of Froome's brief jog toward the finish: "Maybe next year he'll run the Paris marathon!"

Almost lost in all the drama was the fact that Belgian Thomas De Gendt beat compatriot Serge Pauwels in a sprint finish to win the stage after both had been part of an initial 13-man breakaway.

Yet the over-riding image that will be repeated many times even long after this Tour finishes, was the sight of the yellow jersey running desperately up the Tour's most revered mountain as his race hopes seemed to be evaporating.


Clic here to read the story from its source.