Riblon conquers Alpe d’Huez, Froome pads lead

L’ALPE D’HUEZ, France: Yellow jersey holder Chris Froome extended his lead over Alberto Contador as Christope Riblon triumphed atop the Alpe d’Huez on stage 18 to end the hosts’ victory famine on Thursday.
Froome began the day with a 4min 34sec lead on Contador but on what was billed as the ‘Queen’ stage of the race — with six climbs on the menu — Contador’s Saxo team failed to loosen the British race leader’s grip.
Contador ultimately failed to respond when Froome and Australian teammate Richie Porte upped the pace on the second and final ascension of the 13.8 km climb to the summit of the Alpe.
The Spaniard, a two-time winner in 2007 and 2009 who was stripped of his 2010 title after a positive test for clenbuterol, remains in second place but is now 5:11 behind.
Froome and Porte were later handed a 20-second penalty by race officials after infringing rules on feeding inside the last 20 km.
But the Kenyan-born Briton, who had sent Porte back to the team car in search of sugar-heavy power gels inside the last 5 km, was unapologetic.
“It’s not the first time that I’ve run out of sugar. It’s a horible feeling and I’m just happy to have come out with more of an advantage than I had at the start of the stage,” he said.
When asked about the significance of his time penalty, Froome added: “That’s one of those things that comes with the race. If it comes with a 20sec penalty, I have to accept that.”
Before the final climb of the Alpe, Contador and teammate Roman Kreuziger had tried to distance Froome on the technical descent of the Col de Sarenne.
They ultimately failed, and Froome later speculated those efforts had proved costly.
“We knew they would attack on the descent of the Col de Sarenne, but it was still a long way from the base of the Alpe d’Huez and that move could have cost them energy that they didn’t have in the final,” he added.
Contador could only lament: “I wasn’t on a good day. It was hot and very humid. But despite my setback I’ve limited my losses. I hope to have better legs in the next few days.”
The Spaniard’s place on the podium in Paris, however, is in danger from arguably the day’s biggest beneficiary.
Movistar’s Nairo Quintana finished 2:09 behind Riblon having attacked Froome and Porte in the final kilometers alongside Spaniard Joaquim Rodriguez of Katusha.
The little Colombian climber moved up to third overall at 5:32, just 21sec behind Contador, and within sight of a podium finish on his maiden Tour.
“I still haven’t won a stage yet but I’m very happy with my performance today,” said Quintana, who in the process tightened his grip on the white jersey for the best-placed rider aged 25 or under.
Froome also gave Contador food for thought over the coming Alpine stages when he added: “I think there’s going to be quite a battle played out for the second and third places on the podium.”
Riblon, meanwhile, began the final climb over the Alpe’s famous 21 hairpin bends, where thousands of fans decked in colorful costumes added color and drama to the occasion, in the company of BMC’s Tejay Van Garderen.
The American accelerated away from Riblon after only a couple of kilometers and despite taking a healthy lead the Frenchman did not give up.
Encouraged by his sporting director, Riblon finally caught sight of the American inside the final three kilometers and when he caught up with a little more than a kilometer to race he left ‘TVG’ in his wake.
It was Riblon’s second mountaintop stage win following his solo victory at Ax-Trois-Domaines three years ago.
“I can’t believe it! I didn’t think I was going to catch him, it was only my sporting director who kept me going, telling me that Tejay was going to crack,” said Riblon.