Superb Froome batters rivals in time trial with Germany's Martin taking the stage win

By Ian Parker, Press Association

Published: | Updated:


Chris Froome strengthened his grip on the yellow jersey in the 100th Tour de France as he finished second behind Tony Martin in the individual time trial to Mont-Saint-Michel.

Although his time of 36 minutes 41 seconds was 12 seconds off that of world time trial champion Martin's, Froome can be happy to have taken more than two minutes out of both Alejandro Valverde and Alberto Contador to extend his lead in the general classification to three minutes 25 seconds over Valverde.

Froome had been ahead of Martin at both of the intermediate check points during the 33 kilometre run from Avranches, but fell off the pace in the final 11km.

Super: Chris Froome dominated his rivals in the time trial and only finished behind Germany's Tony Martin

Super: Chris Froome dominated his rivals in the time trial and only finished behind Germany's Tony Martin

Ahead: The Team Sky rider was in fine form as he increased his overall lead to three minutes

Ahead: The Team Sky rider was in fine form as he increased his overall lead to three minutes

Getting used to this: Froome on the podium yet again with the yellow jersey

Getting used to this: Froome on the podium yet again with the yellow jersey

The German Martin, who took silver in the Olympic time trial behind Sir Bradley Wiggins and ahead of Froome in third last year, could be seen watching on anxiously as Froome crossed the 9.5km marker one second ahead of his time, and then the 22km marker with a two second lead.

But while Froome would have gladly taken a second stage win of the Tour so far, his primary concern was distancing his general classification rivals, and he did that comfortably despite slowing relative to Martin towards the finish.

Valverde, the last man to set off before Froome, could only manage a time of 38 minutes 41 seconds despite pushing so hard he nearly struck a wall on the road along the Normandy coast.

Contador was a further three seconds down in 15th place, and the result sees Froome more than double the lead he took with his stage victory on stage eight to Ax 3 Domaines on Saturday.

Top of the pile: Tony Martin is the time trial World Champion, and proved his quality once again

Top of the pile: Tony Martin is the time trial World Champion, and proved his quality once again

Future: Froome can now hope to stay safe in the peloton and out of trouble

Future: Froome can now hope to stay safe in the peloton and out of trouble

Thomas De Gendt of Vaconsoleil took third place in the time trial, with Froome's Team Sky team-mate Richie Porte in an encouraging fourth, one minute 21 seconds down, to suggest he is back in his rhythm after losing more than 17 minutes on Sunday's stage nine.

Martin's Omega Pharma-Quick Step team dominated most of the other headlines on the day both on and off the road, with their 23-year-old Polish rider Michal Kwiatkowski taking fifth place and Frenchman Sylvain Chavanel seventh to give them three riders in the top 10.

Mark Cavendish finished all the way down in 163rd place, but only after a spectator had thrown urine at him out on the course as the controversy over last night's crash in Saint-Malo continued.

Soaked: Mark Cavendish had an eventful ride after having urine thrown on him

Soaked: Mark Cavendish had an eventful ride after having urine thrown on him

Impressive: Team Sky's Richie Porte finished fourth in the time trial

Impressive: Team Sky's Richie Porte finished fourth in the time trial

Fastest: German rider Tony Martin of the Omega Pharma won the stage ahead of Team Sky's Froome

Fastest: German rider Tony Martin of the Omega Pharma won the stage ahead of Team Sky's Froome

Froome said he had been disappointed to hear about the incident.

'It's one of the beauties of our sport that anyone can come and watch and anyone can get into it and enjoy the excitement, and really get up close to the top riders in the world,' he said.

'Mark's one of the big characters in the sport, some people love him, some hate him, but to do something disrespectful like that is really sad.

'It ruins the whole atmosphere for the spectators coming to the sport. One individual doing that just leaves a bit of a bad taste in the mouth. And a bad taste in Mark's mouth.'

2013 Tour de France standings

Stage 11 result

1. Tony Martin (Germany/Omega Pharma - Quick-Step) 36:29"

2. Chris Froome (Britain/Team Sky) +12"

3. Thomas De Gendt (Belgium / Vacansoleil) +1:01"

4. Richie Porte (Australia/Team Sky) +1:21"

5. Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland/Omega Pharma - Quick-Step) +1:31"

Yellow Jersey classification

1. Chris Froome (Britain/Team Sky) 42:29:24"

2. Alejandro Valverde (Spain/Movistar) +3:25"

3. Bauke Mollema (Netherlands/Belkin) +3:37"

4. Alberto Contador (Spain/Saxo-Tinkoff) +3:54"

5. Roman Kreuziger (Czech Republic/Saxo-Tinkoff) +3:57"

 

Tour de FranceChris Froome

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