Team Sky are celebrating a double victory after clinching the overall win in two European early season stage races, with Chris Froome edging out Alberto Contador to win the Ruta del Sol, and Geraint Thomas taking the Volta ao Algarve.
While Froome’s success represents a psychological victory on the Spaniard’s home soil before the pair lock horns in July’s Tour de France, Thomas’s win is just his third in a stage race, with the Welshman having previously won the Bayern Rundfahrt twice.
The 28-year-old took the lead in Portugal after winning Stage 2 of the race from the break on Thursday.
On Saturday's queen stage, won by team mate Richie Porte – a previous winner of the event in Sky colours – Thomas comfortably kept the yellow jersey.
Following Sunday’s concluding stage, won in a bunch sprint by Lotto-Soudal’s André Greipel, Thomas topped the General Classification by 27 seconds from world champion Michal Kwiatkowski of Etixx-Quick Step.
Sports director Gabriel Rasch told the Team Sky website: “It’s been easy this week with those guys. They are sacrificing everything for each other and it really shows the team spirit. Me and Kurt [Arvesen] are really, really proud to be a part of it.
Elsewhere on the Iberian Peninsula, Froome was putting down an early season marker against Contador, with both men getting their 2015 campaigns following the disappointment of crashing out of the Tour de France last year.
The Team Sky rider distanced Contador on yesterday’s penultimate stage to move a second ahead of the Tinkoff-Saxo man in the overall standings and take the red jersey of race leader.
This afternoon, Froome finished sixth – and crucially, ahead of Contador – to seal his overall win in a stage won by Movistar’s Juan Jose Lobato.
Froome, who also took the points jersey, said: “It wasn’t as easy as I’d imagined and the racing was full on today. It was windy, but I’m really happy with how the guys performed out there – they supported me all the way through and I’m delighted to get this win for them.
“It couldn’t have gone any better for us out here, and this win’s special as it’s my first race of the season. That said, I still have a lot to build on as we head towards the Tour de France. I want to stay on this path, staying healthy and injury-free, and gradually building my form.
“No win comes easily – you have to work for them – and I’m grateful to my wife, and my team for helping to get me in this position. It’s such a privilege to have that infrastructure behind me.”
Froome added: “This week’s been a huge morale boost for everyone in the team, not just here but in the Algarve as well. Richie winning yesterday and Geraint taking the GC has given us all a great buzz. We’re doing really well and hopefully we can build on that heading into this next phase of racing.”
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12 comments
Go Froooooome!!!!
How can you not love the guy! He's an inspiration and such a dedicated hard working guy.
Try reading his book to find out more about his background and the journey he's been on before rubbishing him! Such a nice guy and an unbelievable cyclist!
And of course his own book is going to tell you what a dishonest scumbag he is?
Having said that, he is an ugly ass rider but he's got fight and loves to attack, which is awesome.
those elbows though
So? The guy is a phenomenal athlete, let him stick his elbows out if that's part of his makeup. I'd far rather we were talking about his wins than how graceful he looks as he loses...
It is early in the season and while welcome, these races are far from decisive in terms of the big races.
His break on the 4th stage was excellent Contador had no response to it which was the most shocking part of it.
I know we should be proud of Froome, but it was really exciting when Contador socked him one, whereas the comeback had an air of boring inevitability about it.
Please can he do something to make us like him? I really do want do, but how can you love a robot?
I know people who absolutely love Froome but there's something that makes it hard to warm to him unlike say Geraint or Cav who show they have personalities. If he wasn't British I'd still prefer him to say Contador, but he wouldn't be a favourite rider by a long shot.
Some stage that Ruta one... What a mountain
'Thomas’s win is just his third in a stage race, ' Just his third! Is this fair comment about a guy who's ridden his socks off in order to get team leaders over the line in the big tours and monuments?
Having watched the race between Froome and Contador, I felt when Contador in his break on the last climb on day 2, he caught Froome out of position. However Froome was able to claw back the initial lost time and finish well. The third days last climb, Froome was better placed to compete with Contador. I noticed that when Froome applies a sustained attack Contador is unable to stay on his wheel.
It's going to be a great season between these two great riders.
Indeed. I tried to work out exactly how far Froome was behind Contador at the moment Contador attacked, but couldn't. According to Sky's report the gap at the time Contador attacked was substantial, maybe over half a minute. If this is true, then Froome took back more than 20 seconds. So, if they had kicked off together, it would have been Froome who won. Whilst Contador is undoubtedly a formidable climber, seems he got his win by stealth; not Sky's or Froomes most prominent quality. Go Froome: a fantastic cyclist and our British hope for more grand tours.