Ventoux farce could inspire Porte

YESTERDAY’S pivotal stage to the summit of Mont Ventoux was always likely to be dramatic but no one could have expected the drama that unfolded on the Giant of Provence.

Rider safety has been much debated since Antoine Demoite was killed in a crash with a motorbike in March and the dangers resurfaced on the grandest stage when a group containing Richie Porte crashed into the back of a camera-bike, bringing down Chris Froome and Bauke Mollema who had ridden away from their rivals.

It had all gone so well for Froome up until that point. Team Sky had snuffed out Nairo Quintana’s repeated attacks and when Froome launched one of his own the Colombian could not live with the acceleration.