Tour de France history: Mont Ventoux has not only seen tragic Tour de France stories. The spectators at this mythical peak in Provence have also been able to witness breathtaking performances and curious occurrences. On 14.07.2016/XNUMX/XNUMX – exactly three years ago today – the yellow jersey left his bike and jogged up the mountain. But Chris Froome was lucky in his misfortune.
The starting position: Chris Froome leads only just
We write that July 14, 2016. The twelfth stage of the Tour de France was on the agenda. It ran over 178 kilometers from Montpellier to the Chalet Reynard ski station on Mont Ventoux. Actually, the section should have been longer. Due to the strong wind on Mont Ventoux, however, the stage was shortened by six kilometers. Nevertheless, this final climb should be the steepest on average in the Tour de France 2016 be. The expectations were correspondingly high. Then Chris Froome I seemed to be struggling this year. After eleven stages, he led the overall ranking by just 28 seconds Adam Yates and with 31 seconds ahead Daniel Martin. Should the major attack on Chris Froome succeed today? The Brit had fond memories of that climb. Three years earlier he made one of his most impressive attacks here when he distanced Alberto Contador from a seated position. But today everything should be different.
The Incident: Froome, Mollema & Porte fall
The stage win was taken. A group could not be caught up the Mont Ventoux. Thomas De Gendt jubilantly crossed the finish line. A real drama was unfolding behind it. Chris Froome, Bauke Mollema and Richie Porte were the strongest favourites. 1,5 kilometers from the finish, however, this became their undoing. A spectator forced one Camera escort motorcycle to an emergency stop - and the pros drove up. While Richie Porte and Bauke Mollema were able to continue, Chris Froome's frame broke. Since the supply could take several minutes, the man in the yellow jersey makes a decision: He runs! The pictures went around the world and viewers couldn't believe their eyes. Only later did he get a spare wheel from Mavic. The competition was already there – and Adam Yates in the yellow jersey.
Adam Yates:
"I don't want to win the jersey like that. I want to get it with my legs.”
The result: The jury corrects the result
The jury deliberated. At 18:04 the time had come. Chris Froome was allowed to be Yellow jersey keep! The jury rated the status before the crash as the official final score. This put Chris Froome 47 seconds ahead of Adam Yates instead of 53 seconds behind. This accident could actually only happen because the organizers shorten stage had to. As a result, those spectators who were standing on the last six kilometers of Mont Ventoux had to spread out over the kilometers before. Suddenly there were more than twice as many spectators on the side of the road - and one of the largest Tour History Curiosities took its course. By the way: The correction ultimately had no effect on the final classification. In Paris, Chris Froome won by more than four minutes.
Chris Froome:
"I am very relieved. The decision of the commissioners is correct. I thank the organization of the Tour de France.”