There are moments in a career that define an athlete and how they’ll be remembered forever. Despite having won four Tour de France titles, when people ask fifty years from now, “Who was Chris Froome?”, they’ll likely talk above all about his astonishing exploit at the 2018 Giro d’Italia – that wild attack on the Colle delle Finestre, 80 km from the finish, which completely overturned the general classification and wrote one of the most electrifying chapters in the modern history of the Corsa Rosa.
Froome had only raced the Giro in 2009 and 2010, before becoming the stage-race machine we came to know. Thus, his 2018 participation – already with four Tours in his trophy cabinet – was met with great interest and curiosity, especially to see whether he could break free from the rigid logic of the French Grand Tour.
Chris Froome on the Colle delle Finestre
Even though he had won on the Zoncolan, up to Stage 19 Froome’s Giro had been far from remarkable, largely overshadowed by fellow Brit Simon Yates, who had claimed three stage wins and worn the Maglia Rosa for 13 days. With three stages to go, Froome was fourth overall, 3’22” behind Yates, and also trailing Tom Dumoulin and Domenico Pozzovivo. To change the outcome of his Giro, Froome had to set aside the calculated, computer-like rider who had conquered the Tour, and instead reveal an unseen side: the attacker, the revolutionary, the risk-taker. And that’s exactly what he did.
Stage 19, from Venaria Reale to Bardonecchia (185 km), featured the climbs of Colle del Lys, Colle delle Finestre, Sestriere, and Jafferau. Froome chose to make his move on the monstrous Finestre, with his team setting a relentless pace from the lower slopes of the 18+ km climb (average gradient of 9.2%). The first major result of that move was cracking Simon Yates, drained by a Giro spent always on the attack. He would finish the stage nearly 40 minutes down. The final effort came from Kenny Elissonde, who paved the way for one of Froome’s trademark high-cadence surges. With 80 km to go, the Kenyan-born Brit went all-in – and never looked back.
Tom Dumoulin’s reaction became famous. Virtually in the Maglia Rosa after Yates’ collapse, he initially urged calm among the GC contenders, clearly thinking Froome’s attack was suicidal. But Froome crested the Finestre with a 40-second gap, extended it to 2’10” by the bottom of the descent, 2’45” atop Sestriere, 3’10” at the base of Jafferau, and 3’23” over Dumoulin at the finish. Mission accomplished! He took the Maglia Rosa with two days remaining. On the following fraction, he calmly defended it on the Cervinia stage, and then basked in the glory during the grand finale in Rome.
Fate would have it that the Colle delle Finestre attack and the 2018 Giro victory remain, to this day, the last major triumphs of Froome’s legendary career. A year later, a horrific training crash forced him to abandon any personal ambitions. And yet, though no longer competitive, Chris Froome continues to enjoy the magic of the peloton, carrying with him a fascinating aura and a legacy of experience and greatness.
