For his three previous victories at the Tour de France, Chris Froome took advantage of the first big mountain stage to deliver the decisive blow. However, this year's edition proved different as on Thursday, he tried the trusted strategy but never got going, and he surrendered the overall race lead to Fabio Aru as Bardet won the stage.

With its mountaintop finish, the hugely demanding first stage in the Pyrenees looked like the perfect setting for Froome’s Sky Team to stamp its authority on the race, and to help him increase his lead.

Until the final 400 yards of the 133-mile marathon through six grueling ascents in the Pyrenees, the well-oiled Sky machine had everything under control.

Froome’s teammates had set a fast tempo that prevented others from attacking — a tactic that laid the groundwork for Froome’s expected assault in the steep final section leading to the finish at the ski station of Peyragudes.



Not only was he unable to attack, but the British rider also cracked during the climb. Frenchman Romain Bardet won Stage 12 of the Tour de France ahead of Rigoberto Uran and Aru, who seized the Tour lead by six seconds.

Bardet is third overall, 25 seconds off the pace. Uran was handed a 20-second penalty for accepting a water bottle in the last 5 kilometers, which is not allowed, and is in fourth place overall, 55 seconds back.

“My teammates did such an amazing job,” Chris Froome said. “I didn’t have the legs at the end to finish it off. Simple as that. No excuses.”

When Aru launched his attack in the final few hundred yards, Chris Froome was only able to follow the Astana team leader for a few bike lengths before he cracked. He ended up crossing the line in seventh place, 22 seconds behind Bardet.

Bidding to become the first Frenchman to win the Tour since Bernard Hinault in 1985, Bardet was the strongest in the brutal incline and described his third stage win on the Tour as “an immense joy.”

He said he had visited the ski station with his parents to scout out the final climb. “I knew it could suit me,” he said. “I was patient. I made the difference on the final hill. There was not much to do before that with the wind and the Sky train.”

Aru had trailed Froome by 18 seconds at the start of the stage.

“It’s one of the most beautiful things that can happen to you in life, wearing the yellow jersey,” said Aru. “Clearly, it won’t be easy to defend it. There are still nine more stages, we’ll do our best.”

The final of the six ascents in the the stage between Pau and the ski station was too difficult for Froome, who had worn the yellow jersey over the previous seven stages.

He was grimacing with the effort, his arms glistening with sweat, as he wrestled his bike up the super-steep climb, which was used as a location for the 1997 James Bond movie “Tomorrow Never Dies.”

Froome zig-zagged his bike across the tarmac as he tried to cope with a gradient so steep that it seemed to glue his wheels to the road.

I did my utmost at the end. But I didn’t have the legs to follow, he said.

Winner: Romain Bardet

Yellow jersey: Fabio Aru

Friday’s Stage 13: A short but challenging 62.7-mile ride from Saint-Girons to Foix featuring three Category 1 climbs and a long downhill finish.

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Source: http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Chris-Froome-loses-Tour-de-France-lead-Bardet-11287690.php

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