Chris Froome holds off challengers to the yellow jersey on stage 12 of the Tour de France while Great Britain’s pentathletes look to get back to business on home soil. Here’s our review of the last 24 hours.
Chris Froome was made to fight hard on stage 12 of the Tour de France but keeps the yellow jersey after a gruelling climb up Plateau de Beille.
The Briton started and ended the day two minutes 52 seconds ahead of Tejay van Garderen after staving off attacks from Alberto Contador, Nairo Quintana and Vincenzo Nibali.
The win went to Spain’s Joaquim Rodriquez who claimed his second stage of the Tour as he crossed the line in five hours 40 minutes 14 seconds.
Froome’s ability to retain the lead was in no small part down to the work of Geraint Thomas who was once again in imperious form, the Welshman hauling his way back up the road after his team leader went on an attack.
"I was hoping maybe one or two guys might switch off mentally with that acceleration," said Froome.
"But everybody seemed pretty fresh so at that point I just said 'OK, I'm just going to try to get to the line today in the best condition possible and hopefully not lose any time'."
While Chris Froome is out in front in France Alex Dowsett’s Tour de France has come to an end after he failed to overcome an elbow injury sustained last week.
The 26-year-old crashed on stage four of the Tour and suffered an elbow injury that required six stitches.
Dowsett produced a solid ride on stage ten to help his team but struggled on stage 11 and could only manage two hours of the 195km course on Thursday.
Was beaten by the tour this year. Sad to be heading home, stomach problems in the night was the final nail in the coffin. Will be back.
Great Britain’s modern pentathletes will aim to put their recent World Championship disappointment behind them by impressing in front of the home crowds in Bath next month.
There were no individual medals for the Brits in Berlin but selectors have named a squad that will be looking to put things right when the European Championships come to Bath’s Sports Training Village from August 18-23.
The event is a key competition for British athletes aiming to compete at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, where only two athletes per gender per nation are able to compete.
“Everyone has pushed incredibly hard this year, especially with the Europeans in mind as not only are the championship titles up for grabs but this will also be one of the best opportunities for the team to try and achieve the Olympic qualifying standard,” said Pentathlon GB performance director Jan Bartu.
After finally getting close to repeating his London 2012 exploits at the World University Games, Craig Benson insists it is all systems go to make a splash at Rio.
Three years since setting a new personal best of 1:00.04 minutes in his heat in London, Benson show he was back to top form on the way to double bronze in Gwangju, South Korea earlier this month.
“I qualified first for the 100m final after a season’s best swim in the semi-finals which I was absolutely ecstatic about and it was just off my personal best time which I did at the London Olympics,” he said.
“So to be down almost getting a best time again in almost three years it was such a good feeling.
“I am happy with another international medal and this is really all about the Olympic season next year so ultimately it doesn’t matter if I finish first, second or third.”
James Ward will kick off Great Britain’s Davis Cup clash with France with an opening match against world number 11 Gilles Simon at Queen’s Club on Friday.
Britain produced a strong showing last time out as they beat the USA 3-2 in Glasgow to book their spot in the quarters.
However, they will face a stern test if they are to get past the French team of Simon, Richard Gasquet, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Nicholas Mahut.
Andy Murray will follow Ward’s outing with a match against Tsonga while Jamie Murray and Dom Inglor are set to take on Gasquet and Mahut in the doubles on Saturday.
© Sportsbeat 2015