It’s the video you didn’t know you were waiting for: Marcel Kittel taking on Chris Froome in an arm wrestle.
The footage, from a press event, was posted by Tour de France organisers ASO ahead of their Shanghai Criterium.
Not sure this really counts as a spoiler, but Froome – a nine-time winner of the World’s Spindliest Arms Competition (disclaimer: not an actual thing) – is admirably whole-hearted in his efforts.
Le duel le plus inattendu : @chrisfroome vs @marcelkittel / The most (un)-expected fight: @chrisfroome vs @marcelkittel #ShanghaiCriterium pic.twitter.com/S9HZC57AYz
— Le Tour de France (@LeTour) October 28, 2017
Froome later tweeted.
I let @marcelkittel have it… didn’t want to embarrass him #ShanghaiCriterium https://t.co/xpEGLr4d2B
— Chris Froome (@chrisfroome) October 28, 2017
Kittel said:
The difference between climber and sprinter. #ShanghaiCriterium https://t.co/qfbj7ywbPW
— Marcel Kittel (@marcelkittel) October 28, 2017
We’d give Froome points for maintaining good humour throughout what was never going to be a glorious opportunity for him to showcase his physical prowess.
He had a fair stab at the on-stage Tai Chi too.
Qui est passé Maitre Tai Chi selon vous ? / Who has the best Tai Chi skills? #ShanghaiCriterium pic.twitter.com/9QjJVwNMZP
— Le Tour de France (@LeTour) October 28, 2017
Froome did at least win the subsequent bike race after getting away as part of an almost-too-good-to-be-true break with Tour de France runner-up Rigoberto Uran; King of the Mountains winner Warren Barguil; and Alberto Contador, in what you could perhaps call his final race.

11 thoughts on “Video: Froome v Kittel arm wrestle”
I’d like to see Peter Sagan
I’d like to see Peter Sagan have a go. Can’t imagine anyone would stand a chance.
Cheers
steady lad wrote:
Hoy, Förstemann, Baugé and lots more.
Reckon Greipel would take
Reckon Greipel would take some beating.
davel wrote:
Maybe but I’d still fancy Peter Sagan.
steady lad wrote:
Yeah I think Sagan’s the kind of guy who’s naturally good at almost anything he put his mind to, a bit like Usain Bolt and his Javelin throwing prowess
RobD wrote:
ooh racist
davel wrote:
When you’re arm-wrestling with the Gorilla, you don’t stop when you’re tired. You stop when the Gorilla’s tired.
captain_slog wrote:
Well played sir.
How did a full peloton let
How did a full peloton let those four get away? Some fishy end of season stuff.
Leviathan wrote:
Yeah, they’re fixed.
Don’t worry Froome fans; he
Don’t worry Froome fans; he’ll come back and win in a few years after fitting a motorised arm…