Getting to know the new TdF king

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

 

UNLIKE the so popular American cyclist Lance Armstrong — who won the Tour de France (TdF) seven times consecutively (1999-2005) only to earn notoriety after finding him positive of doping that resulted in being stripped off of all his seven titles — the new TdF king, British rider Christopher Froome, is not so known to many cycling fans.

Records say he won a few small stage races since turning professional in 2007, but his biggest victory was the TdF this year that just ended last July 21. Playing as the main domestique (‘sacrifice’ in cycling terminology) for the Sky Team during last year’s TdF with teammate Bradley Wiggins winning the crown and him landing second in the overall classification, his TdF tiara this year was his first ‘grand slam’ since he started professional road racing at the age of 22.

His fourth place overall finish in the 2008 Herald Sun Tour in Victoria, Australia (Australia’s famous multi-stage bikefest) attracted the attention of British cycling coach Rod Ellingworth, who believed that Froome, who was born in Nairobi, Kenya to British parents, had potential. And Ellingworth was right, especially when Froome placed second in the 21-day 2011 Vuelta a Espana (Tour of Spain) and in last year’s TdF. Some European sports columnists said Froome won the TdF this year because the defending champion, his skipper Wiggins, was absent due to injury. Well, that could be a good alibi and should not be taken for granted.

Anyway, for sure the two will meet again next year or at the Tour of Spain in September if Wiggins has already fully recuperated. I believe it will be one helluva fight between the two even if both belong to the same squad. It reminds me of my close victory to my teammate and town mate Cesar Catambay during the 1973 Tour of Luzon with only 54 seconds separating us. It was one of the closest gaps in the history of Philippine professional multi-stage cycling races. Many say nagbigayan daw kami, ika nga, similar to what Wiggins and Froome did in the 2012 TdF.

Froome was born on May 20, 1985 in Kenya, spent his childhood there, later moved to South Africa, but still rode under the Kenyan flag. Nonetheless, he said: “I made it clear that I had always carried a British passport and felt British.”

Well, he should be believed because obviously he’s Caucasian, tall (6’1”) and thin (152 lbs.). I believe he’s the second tallest rider that won the TdF, next to five-time champion six-foot-three Miguel Indurain of Spain. And because of his TdF victory this year comprising three stage wins (8, 15 and 17), the world governing cycling body Union Cycliste Internationale put him now at the top rank with 587 points.

But the bad news is (true or not), Froome, after his victory, is being suspected of doping similar to what happened to Armstrong. But he insists that he and his team are clean and honest and the 19 times of drug testing done to him during the race with negative findings will be the strong evidence. He firmly said he will never go the Armstrong way. I agree.

Froome was four minutes 20 seconds ahead of his closest pursuer Colombian mountain specialist Nairo Quintana and more than five minutes ahead of his arch-rival and the two-time champion Alberto Contador of Spain who landed fourth overall.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: And Jesus Christ said to his eleven disciples “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt hem; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” MARK 16: 16-18  

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