Tour de France champ Froome stays safe after Peak challenge

Defending Tour de France champion Chris Froome, of Britain, consolidated his position in the overall top ten after making it safely through the testing Peak District National Park’s Holme Moss stretch of the race.
Tour De France, Chris Froome (Centre) tackles on the Holme Moss Climb...6th July 2014 Picture by Simon HulmeTour De France, Chris Froome (Centre) tackles on the Holme Moss Climb...6th July 2014 Picture by Simon Hulme
Tour De France, Chris Froome (Centre) tackles on the Holme Moss Climb...6th July 2014 Picture by Simon Hulme

The Holme Moss stretch helped light the touch paper during Stage Two as Blel Kadri, of AG2R, attacked through crowds of spectators with Thomas Voeckler, of Europcar, chasing him down.

Froome’s team mate Richie Porte got stranded temporarily before Holme Moss after suffering a mechanical and had to chase back to the peloton as riders pressed for vital time gains.

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The Peak District Park’s Holme Moss presented a tough challenge for the riders so early in the race.

Froome, 29, managed a credible sixth place after the Leeds to Harrogate Stage One and further consolidated his position as one of the favourites after Stage Two.

However, a flurry of Stage Two hill climbs not least Holme Moss along Derbyshire’s border and Jenkin Road, in Wincobank, Sheffield, blew the field apart as overall contenders took to the front to prevent time losses.

Nibali won Stage Two and took the overall leader’s yellow jersey in Sheffield but Froome consolidated his position with a comfortable 19th placing ensuring fifth position in the overall after two stages.

After Kittel’s Stage Three win on Monday from Cambridge to London, Nibali stayed in yellow and Froome stayed fifth before the race continues in France today, Tuesday, July 8.