Cycling-Triple champion Froome finally earns crowd respect (Reuters)
By Julien Pretot PARIS, July 24 (Reuters) – Chris Froome rode a wave of hostility to his first two Tour de France wins, but had an easier time out of the saddle on his way to a third, winning respect if not love from the tough French crowds. This year, Froome was more relaxed and spontaneous as the crowds seemingly warmed to the Kenyan-born rider. A sometimes robotic character, Froome looked human when, after his bike was broken in a crash involving a motorbike on the slopes of Mont Ventoux, he started to run up the road in one of the most memorable moments of any Tour.