Chris Froome has said that the Critérium du Dauphiné is shaping up to be an exciting race after the Team Sky rider over-came the heat and the threat of Alberto Contador to extend his lead with his seocnd successive victory in the race
Froome was in yellow after winning the time trial and beat Contador in a stunning battle to win the 156km long stage which finished on the the Hors Category finish on the 13% Col du Béal.
“It was a really, really tough day today but the team did a really big job," Froome said to the Team Sky Press office: "It was hot out there, you could see a lot of the guys salting up, I think this is the first real hot day we’ve had this year in these kind of conditions, but the team did a really good job, so I’m really happy to be able to get the stage victory to be able to say thank you to them.”
“It’s shaping up to be a really exciting race, when Nieve pulled off I thought ‘ok’, this is the first time I’ve done a mountain top finish against my biggest rivals in a really long time now so let’s open things up and let’s see where everyone’s at and it seemed that Alberto came after me. He was able to hold my wheel, I wouldn’t say easily but I couldn’t shake him and it’s interesting to see a few other guys jumping around, Talansky, Kelderman, they put in a few good attacks there.
“I think in the final Alberto and I coming up to the line I think both of us were going as hard as we could. I like to think if he’d had any more he would have come around me but he’s definitely in really good condition.”