To win the Tour de France this year, Tadej Pogacar needs to prepare to pull a Chris Froome - Opinion

More than four years after it happened, at the 2018 Giro d’Italia, Chris Froome’s 80km solo raid on the maglia rosa remains one of the most remarkable things many have ever seen someone do on a bike. For the few of you who need reminding — as well as the rest, who might merely welcome the opportunity to relive it — it occurred midway through Stage 18 on what was, realistically, the last chance for any rider to make any meaningful difference to the overall race. Ad/> Going into the day in fourth place in the overall competition, 3’22 down on the lead of Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott), despite winning a stage, it had been a disappointing Grand Tour for Froome.

At least by his own standards. Tour de France'In a precarious position' — How things unravelled for Jumbo-Visma on dire day at the Tour3 HOURS AGO For him to leap up three places and into the race lead was, at least from outside his camp, an unimaginable prospect. Inside the camp it was a different matter.

The stage was planned down to the last detail, and executed to perfection. Team Sky put the peloton under pressure early on, set a feverish pace onto the Colle delle Finestre, and prepared their leader to launch. When he did just that there was nothing any of his rivals could do.