Chris Froome: 'No excuses' for losing Tour de France lead on stage 12 summit finish
Froome conceded the yellow jersey to Fabio Aru despite his Sky team-mates pacing him perfectly through to the summit finish of stage 12 of the Tour de France at Peyragudes


Team Sky's Chris Froome says that he has "no excuses" for slipping behind on the Peyragudes finish on stage 12 and losing the Tour de France's yellow leader's jersey, saying that he just lacked the power.
Froome slipped behind by 22 seconds when arriving at the summit finish and with the time bonuses lost, moved to second overall at six seconds behind Fabio Aru (Astana).
>>> Five talking points from stage 12 of the Tour de France
"It was certainly a tough day for me in the final," Froome said. "My team-mates did such an amazing job for me today, but I didn't have the legs to finish it of.
"No excuses, I just didn't have the legs on the final kick."
Froome had his team work over the Port de Balès and Col de Peyresourde climbs. Michal Kwiatkowski pulled with a huge effort, Mikel Nieve and Mikel Landa followed.
Sky appeared in control, not even a little slip on the descent when Nieve went off road and Froome and Aru followed could disrupt Froome's yellow run.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"There was a bit of a tight turn at the bottom of the climb, a couple of us just overshot the corner," said Froome. "I just had to go onto the grass, and turn around and come back on."
He led by 18 seconds at the start of the day, but that changed on the short and steep final kick to Peyragudes's airstrip.
"It's brutal. Ramps of over 20 per cent, that's a really hard, hard finish," Froome continued. "I can only say congratulations to Romain Bardet for winning the stage and also to Fabio Aru for taking the jersey. The race is certainly on, now."
Froome just finished his warm-down and would have been thinking "what now?"
For the first time in the race, Sky does not have the yellow jersey after its run with Geraint Thomas and Froome.
Anything appears possible tomorrow with Aru leading by 22 seconds over Froome, 25 seconds over Bardet and 55 seconds over Rigoberto Urán (Cannondale-Drapac).
The tightly packed leading group faces a short 101-kilometre mountain stage on Friday to Foix, stages in the Alps next week and in Froome’s favour, a final 22.5-kilometre time trial in Marseille next Saturday.
Froome added, "It's certainly going to be a big fight now from here to Paris."
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
Tom Pidcock’s Q36.5 receive Giro d’Italia wildcard invite along with Tudor Pro Cycling
Team Polti Visit Malta and VF Group BardianiCSF - Faizane also receive invitations from RCS
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Be seen all year round with 35% off Magicshine bike lights in the Amazon Big Spring Sale
This is your last chance to seize a deal on some of the best bike lights with daylight running features. Act fast, as the sale ends at midnight tonight
By Matt Ischt-Barnard Published
-
'An unprecedented opportunity for brands to be part of the evolution' - Ineos Grenadiers sponsor hunt steps up with sales agency partnership
Sportfive have been employed to find "non-endemic global partners for the team"
By Adam Becket Published
-
'We've all got a little bit extra in us this year' - Ineos Grenadiers recapture 'fighting spirit' with aggressive Paris-Nice display
British team continue to put tumultuous 2024 behind them with momentum and a new found mentality
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Could a TotalEnergies deal be the end of Ineos Grenadiers as we know them?
Reports suggested this week that Ineos could be close to signing a deal with the French petrochemical firm
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'They’re racing with their hearts again' - Robbie McEwen on Ineos Grenadiers' bright start to 2025
The British squad have already won four times in 2025
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers are entertaining so far this year, but how long will it last?
The British WorldTour squad have won four times already in 2025, but more than that, they have been fun. Is this the new dawn?
By Adam Becket Published
-
Caleb Ewan says he was put in a 'bad situation' by Jayco AlUla before he joined Ineos Grenadiers
Ewan joined Ineos Grenadiers in January after spending just one year with Jayco AlUla
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'There's no bull****, that's what I've always liked' - Geraint Thomas's first BC coach Rod Ellingworth on the retiring Welshman
The 2018 Tour de France winner will step away from professional cycling at the end of the season
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'It is time to change goals' - Egan Bernal's coach confirms Ineos Grenadiers exit
'I want to thank all the cyclists I have had the opportunity to coach over the past ten years' Xabier Artetxe says in LinkedIn post
By Tom Thewlis Published