Into the mountains. The appeal of man and bike taking each other on over Nature’s steepest challenges always brings out the crowds. The riders set off down a tunnel of thronging spectators who lined the pavements of Tomblaine ten deep, climbed onto walls and vehicles and leant over balconies and upper window ledges. The peloton worked up the climbs with a blur of flags in their peripheral vision – Union flags (who would have thought that a few years ago?), Norwegian and Australian flags, the odd Viking helmet or silly wig, and all manner of yellow shirts. Fans cheered, pointed cameras and mobiles, and clutched L’Equipe or binoculars. It is a big event when the Tour comes to your neck of the woods.
This was the stage Team Sky were most nervous about; they had dominated stages like it in smaller races in the run up to the Tour, but this was the real testing ground to see if the team really could perform on the biggest stage. Stage 7 was set to finish on the summit of a ‘new’ mountain – La Planche des Belles Filles. Sean Yates had recce’d it earlier, as he had all the stages he thought might pose problems. The riders had studied the profiles, talked through tactics and responses to potential scenarios, and clarified their roles. All that was left to do was turn a pedal.
Saturday 7 July had been earmarked as an important day. With Cancellara, the time-trial specialist, leading by just seven seconds, the yellow jersey was up for grabs. This is where the Team Sky plan had to be executed to perfection. Wiggins needed his team mates to help him hit the climbs in the best position. Coming into the foot of the 5.9km climb, Boasson Hagen took up the pacesetting at the front of the peloton with Rogers, Porte, Froome and Wiggins right behind him. The pace was fierce, and the 8.5 per cent average gradient soon helped to split the bunch in two. By the time it was Porte’s turn to pull at the front, the leading group had been reduced to just eight … and then five. Defending champion Cadel Evans, star descender Vincenzo Nibali and Rein Taaramäe were the only ones with legs left to stay with Froome and Wiggins. When Evans accelerated with one kilometre to go, he couldn’t shake Froome, Wiggins and Nibali, and Froome darted for the line to take his first Tour stage win.
‘The finish at Belle Filles was one of the highlights of the three weeks for me,’ said Porte. ‘Everyone saw Sky was there. We meant business. The whole team played a part. It was the first day in the mountains and we all knew then we could win the race. It was a special day, pure satisfaction,’ added Eisel. ‘I was riding with Christian Knees and we brought the big guys to the bottom of the climb. I’d done my job, delivered the guys, and took it easy up the climb. When I got back to the bus, the guys said, “Froomey won and Bradley’s in yellow!” We watch the end of each stage on the TV on the bus on the way to the hotel, and I saw the other guys flying up the climb. It was incredible. Cadel attacked and Froomey chased and outsprinted him. There was a magical shot as Froomey comes over the steep climb alone and behind him is just blue sky … beautiful.’
It was the first time Team Sky had led the Tour de France. They had three riders in the top 10 of the GC: Wiggins, Froome in ninth, Rogers in 10th. ‘It is an incredible feeling to have done what we’ve done,’ said Wiggins. ‘It sounds corny but this is something I’ve dreamt of since I was a child – sat on the home trainer in Kilburn watching my hero Miguel Indurain do it. Those dreams have now come true and I’m sat here at the top of the mountain in yellow. It’s phenomenal. I’m chuffed for Froomey, because he had some bad fortune last week, but now he’s got his stage and he’s going to be an integral part of me winning this race. I’ve survived a very, very manic first week and I’m just very pleased to be in yellow.’
The milestone moment was felt throughout the team. Back at the hotel, the mechanics waited to greet the man whose bikes they prepare with a congratulatory hug. And then, after the performance he’d been training for all year, it was the normal routine for Wiggins: massage, dinner, then back to his hotel room to reflect on that yellow jersey that lay folded, ready to wear the next day.
First day in the mountains, last day in the yellow jersey: Fabian Cancellara, the Swiss time-trial specialist, loses the lead in the overall standings to Bradley Wiggins.
‘It’s a dream come true. I’m chuffed to bits. It wasn’t the plan to go for the stage but I’d seen the finish before and I thought “I’ve got the legs” and I gave it a small nudge.’
Chris Froome after his first Tour stage win.
