Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas’ friendship means there is no battle for Team Sky supremacy
GERAINT Thomas’ emergence as a title contender prompted memories of Sky’s last battle for supremacy when Chris Froome and Bradley Wiggins had a falling out. This time, it seems there’s no chance of history repeating.
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CHRIS Froome maintains it is possible to do the Giro-Tour double, despite fatigue costing him a record-equalling fifth Tour de France crown.
Froome won the Giro d’Italia in May, but was found wanting in July when the Tour went up a gear in the Alps and Pyrenees, and will have to settle for third.
But the Brit pointed to rival Tom Dumoulin, who will finish second in both races, as proof that it can be done.
“For him to be second in both grand tours shows that it’s possible to do both of the races at a high level, which leads me to believe it is possible to do both of them,” Froome said.
“It was big factor to do the Giro this year with the extra week thanks to the World Cup. That was part of my decision.
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“As I said, I still believe it’s possible, but it’s going to take some doing.”
Thomas’ surprising emergence as a title contender prompted memories of Team Sky’s last battle for leadership supremacy when Froome and Bradley Wiggins had a falling out in 2012.
But Froome said there was never any chance of history repeating.
“We’ve been teammates and friends for so long, so it made it easier to commentate with each other in the race,” he said.
“We were open and honest always. It was clear once we hit the Alps that Geraint was in better physical condition, which is the second aspect really.
“He’s been there at every step of the way for me over the years, he’s see me in these situations. I didn’t think I needed to give advice to him, he’s handled it every well.
“He was clearly the strongest guy in this Tour de France.”
Froome refused to discuss his future race plans and said he was just looking forward to getting home for the birth of his second child.
“I’m not writing anything off and taking any decisions at this point,” he said.
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