Chris Froome crashes on Tour de France cobbles but avoids losing time

Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas warmed down on the rollers in the shadow of the Roubaix velodrome, with the dust and fatigue of their Tour de France trip through the Hell of the North mixed with satisfaction and relief.

Both Team Sky riders finished in the front group, 27 second behind stage winner John Degenkolb (Trek-Segafredo) with most of their overall rivals. Thomas is now second overall, 43 seconds down on Greg van Avermaet (BMC Racing), with Froome up to eighth at 1:42.

"I think it's a good position to be in. I'm really happy with that," Froome insisted after the riders prepared for the plane transfer south to the Alps.

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"I'm relieved to get this stage behind us, I'm really looking forward to the mountains now, where the real race will start. I hope to come out of the mountains swinging."

Froome was well protected by his Team Sky squad, quickly recovering from a crash into a ditch and even making an attack off the front at one point.

"I had a little tumble halfway through, but I'm just grateful to get through the stage without having any major issue," he said, aware that most of his rivals finished on the same time but that Richie Porte crashed out after just 10km.

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