Chris Froome Set For Tour De France Win

Team Sky's Two Remarkable Riders

Updated: 6:57pm UK, Saturday 20 July 2013

By Paul Kelso, Sports Correspondent

When Team Sky was founded in 2010, Sir Dave Brailsford's stated ambition of winning the Tour de France within five years was greeted by the sound of people laughing behind their hands.

Some did not even bother concealing their mirth.

A Briton, after all, had not won cycling's greatest test at all in its 97 years. Three years later, in the centenary running of Le Tour, a Brailsford Brit is about to win it for the second successive year.

There are many reasons for the British annexation of the Champs Elysees but chief among them is the presence in Sky's black-and-blue ranks of two extraordinary athletes.

The first, Sir Bradley Wiggins, was familiar to the public when he won the race last year having developed within the Olympic track team run by Brailsford.

He secured national treasure status a week later in the 2012 Games.

Chris Froome, who come sunset in Paris on Sunday night will inherit Wiggins's title, is a very different character, but his rise is no less remarkable.

Both men have been shaped by bumpy upbringings outside the UK, and both have lost a parent. But there are few other similarities, beyond the bikes.

Wiggins grew up in Belgium, close to cycling's roots, and endured the absence of his father who left the family having planted the seed of cycling in his son's head.

Froome was schooled in the sport as far from its European epicentre as it is possible to imagine.

Born in Kenya to English parents who separated when he was just 11, he learned the sport riding with a cycling club founded for poor black Africans.

It was an early lesson in self-sufficiency that has served him well throughout his career.

His peers and teachers at boarding school in South Africa talk of Froome's fierce motivation, and hours spent on the rollers in his room hammering out static miles that laid the foundations of the astonishing strength and determination we have seen this last three weeks.

He ploughed a lonely furrow, struggling to find a professional berth in South Africa and then in Europe before his talent and promise was spotted by Brailsford, who signed him up to his formative team.

That came two years after Froome's mother Jane died from cancer.

His formative years did not leave him with the purest technique. While Wiggins's flat back and languid leg strokes seem to eat up the miles, Froome strikes a hunched silhouette.

It may not be pretty but it is just as effective, particularly in the mountains that have punctuated this ferociously tough Tour.

It is arguable that in taking victory in this of all years Froome has demonstrated that in the Grand Tours at least, he is a superior performer to Wiggins.

There was evidence last year, which Froome spent as Wiggins's super-domestique, leading him up the most testing climbs and, notoriously, suggesting at times that he had the team leaders' measure.

This year there has been no argument that Froome is the strongest man in the field, and certainly his own team, which has been a shadow of the devastating black road-train that propelled Wiggins to yellow last year.

His strength in the mountains has left rivals in awe, in part because he has often had to defend the yellow jersey above the tree-line alone.

The defining stage came a week ago on Mont Ventoux, when Froome rode away from the peleton and his rivals with a superlative display of climbing.

It was immediately hailed as one of the great stage wins in 100 years of the Tour, and more immediately consolidated his grip on the yellow jersey.

He has not looked like relinquishing it, not on the double ascent of Alpe D'Huez last week or the final mountain stages on the road back to Paris.

On Sunday he will find the Champs Elysee en fete and ready for a floodlit firework celebration of the world's greatest bike race.

And its champion will be a Briton so good even the most partisan Frenchman will have to applaud.

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After Paris, Next Stop Yorkshire For Le Tour

As the Union flags flutter in Paris at the end of the Tour de France for the second year in a row, in Yorkshire they're already working to put a British stamp on the 2014 event.

The Grand Depart, the opening stage of the world's biggest annual sporting event, will start in Leeds and end in Harrogate, taking in the spectacular scenery of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Half way along the route, in the newly-painted Black Bull pub on the village green in Reeth, landlady Kim Atkinson is nervous.

Every one of her nine bedrooms in a building dating back to 1680 was booked for the first weekend of July 2014 within 20 hours of the route being confirmed.

"Are we going to be able to cope?" she wondered, listing staff, beer and food supplies as her main worries in a village which has one road in and one road out.

But like other businesses on a route that will be inundated with cyclists, support teams, media and thousands of spectators, Kim know the tills will be busy.

Team Sky's Chris Froome with fellow competitors in this year's race

"We will be prepared," she assured herself, "These are good things to worry about."

The Tour's organisers claim more than 5,000 hotel rooms are needed every night of the event for the teams, tour personnel and media alone.

On average, spectators travel 80 miles to stand at the roadside for more than six hours.

The crowds that will descend next year were hard to imagine as local cyclist Martin Derbyshire paused on a winding single track high on the hills above the village of Muker.

Having tackled part of the stage one route watched by skylarks calling overhead and sheep grazing in the sunshine, he wondered how the Tour's elite athletes will cope with Dales roads in high summer.

"They're melting at Middleham," he reported, "The roads are sticky."

Officials say Yorkshire's roads are up to the test. Pic: Bradley Ormesher

But officials insist no-one expects a perfect race track and Yorkshire's roads will be good enough.

"The Tour de France is a road race, so competitors expect to ride on a surface that is in a normal condition," says the North Yorkshire County Council website.

"Roads are regularly inspected and are maintained in a safe and useable condition," it adds.

Despite melting roads, potential beer shortages and no room at the inn, at the Dales Bike Centre in the hamlet of Fremington, excitement is mounting.

Brenda Price proudly showed off her re-decorated red white and blue cafe, complete with one of the three hundred yellow-jersied toy sheep hidden around the Dales as part of a competition to drum up enthusiasm.

Next door, her husband Stuart can see the Tour de France course from his bike workshop and said he can't wait for July 5th 2014.

"It's difficult to imagine how many people are going to be here and the atmosphere it's going to bring," he pondered.

"It's just going to be amazing, absolutely amazing."

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Economy Figures Set To Show 'Positive Growth'

By Tadhg Enright, Business Reporter

Economists are predicting good news when the first estimate of economic growth during April, May and June is revealed next week.

Analysts expect the Office for National Statistics to say that the economy grew by around 0.5% when it reveals its preliminary estimate for Q2 GDP on Thursday.

They point to several important economic indicators which have been positive in recent months.

Consumer confidence was at a 25 months high in June. Business confidence in Q2 was at its highest since 2007.

Retail sales volumes rose by 0.9% between Q1 and Q2. New car sales were 13.4% higher in June compared with the same month last year. 

Economist Vicky Pryce says consumers are more confident in spending money

Former government economic advisor Vicky Pryce told Sky News: "I think what's going on right now is that the consumer is very keen on spending. The consumer has reduced his savings ratio very substantially from about 7% a year ago to about 4% now so they are spending their way out of this recession. 

"It's not because they're earning an awful lot more because of course average earnings have not really moved very much and there all sorts of restrictions in terms of public sector wages so they are suffering a little bit from that. But they are feeling a lot more confident so they're out there spending."

Even the International Monetary Fund, which recently encouraged the Government to ease public spending cuts, has revised upwards its forecast for UK economic growth in 2013 from 0.7% to 0.9%.

However, some of the economy's biggest problems remain with more Government cutbacks still on the horizon, banks still reluctant to lend and consumer prices rising at a faster rate than average wages.

There are also signs of a resurgence in the property market

Howard Archer, chief UK & European economist at IHS Global Insight, said: "There are still significant headwinds to growth which suggest that the upside for growth will be limited for some time to come and that the economy will likely remain prone to periodic losses of momentum.

"While we are encouraged by the recent extended and diverse good news on the UK economy, we currently remain cautious in markedly raising our GDP growth forecasts - especially given the many false dawns that there have been in recent times and the fact that events in the eurozone still pose a significant threat."

There is also mounting evidence of a resurgence in the property market with house prices rising in June and mortgage approvals at a 41 month high in May.

However critics of the Government's homebuying incentives such as Help to Buy have warned that it risks fuelling a property bubble.

Brunel University professor Moorad Choudhry told Sky News: "I'd like to ask why is the Government subsidising house purchases? That is something we got out of years back when we unwound tax relief on mortgages' interest.

"If I inject cheap money into the stock market and it rises, that's not genuine growth. It's conceptually similar to subsidising anything and it's a false growth."

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Mosque Blasts Suspect Held Over OAP's Murder

One of two Ukrainian men being held in connection to bomb attacks near three mosques in the West Midlands has been arrested over the murder of a 82-year-old man.

West Midlands Police say the 25-year-old terror suspect was arrested in relation to "a further act of terrorism".

A police spokesman said: "This arrest is in connection with the murder of Mohammed Saleem in Small Heath, Birmingham on Monday April 29."

The stabbing death of Mr Saleem, a highly-regarded and well-known figure in the local community, was described by detectives at the time as a "despicable" attack on a defenceless pensioner.

Debris from a device was found close to a mosque in Wolverhampton

A joint family statement read during a press conference at West Midlands Police headquarters on May 2 described Mr Saleem as "a much-loved and respected community member".

The statement read: "We can't express our feelings of sadness and devastation.

"It's hard to accept that our beloved father and grandfather has been taken from us in such a brutal way."

On Saturday, counter-terrorism officers were granted extra time to question the Ukrainian nationals in connection with the explosions.

A sitting of Westminster Magistrates' Court granted officers up to seven days to question the men, who were initially detained on suspicion of being involved in the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism.

Following the men's arrest, the "seat of an explosion and debris" were found on a roundabout near the Wolverhampton Central Mosque.

Police believe the debris came from a device that exploded on the city's Fiveways roundabout at about 9.15am on June 28.

The remnants of a home-made explosive device were found outside a mosque in Walsall on Saturday June 22, and another device, containing nails, exploded near a mosque in Binfield Road, Tipton, on July 12.

Another device containing nails exploded near a mosque in Tipton

No one was injured by any of the explosions.

Speaking after police were granted further time to question the two suspects, Assistant Chief Consatble Marcus Beale said: "We continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the three explosions and are appealing to anyone who may have seen anything suspicious around these dates to contact us.

"We do not underestimate the impact this will have on communities across the West Midlands.

"The support of all communities has been fantastic with wider faith communities coming together to show solidarity.

"I would appeal to people, if you have the smallest piece of information that my help the investigation then please contact us on 101 at the earliest opportunity."

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NHS Health Checks Could 'Save 650 Lives'

Hundreds of lives could be saved every year if more people took advantage of NHS health checks, the Health Secretary has said.

A new review has found that checking 40 to 74-year-olds' blood pressure, cholesterol, weight and lifestyle could identify problems earlier and prevent 650 deaths, 1,600 heart attacks and 4,000 cases of diabetes a year.

Jeremy Hunt said thinking about personal health at an early stage is vital to living a long and prosperous life.

Before local authorities took over responsibility for commissioning the checks in April, there was considerable variation in how widely they were offered.

Now Public Health England, which leads the NHS Health Check programme, has launched a 10-point plan to help councils provide them to 20% of their eligible local population a year - 15 million people by 2018/19.

Kevin Fenton from Public Health England

Mr Hunt said: "Around 15 million people in England are eligible for a free NHS Health Check that could identify serious conditions early and add years to their life.

"I'd like to see all 40-74 year olds taking up this potentially life-saving opportunity. And I'd like to see the NHS and local authorities encouraging people in their area to get involved. We could save 650 lives a year if there was full take-up.

"We are an ageing population and thinking about our health early is vital to living a long and prosperous life."

Director of health and wellbeing for Public Health England, Professor Kevin Fenton, said: "NHS Health Check programme offers a real opportunity to reduce avoidable deaths and disability, and tackle health inequalities in England.

"We must do more to increase uptake and referral to appropriate risk management services, particularly in those communities at greatest risk, to remove blocks in processes that get in the way and make sure the programme is of consistent high quality across the country.

"We will establish an expert clinical and scientific advisory panel to review and advise on the evidence base and we will work with partners to develop a  research and analysis programme to support the delivery and evaluation of the programme at both local and national levels."

Between 2010 and 2020 the number of people aged 65 and over is expected to rise by 27% with those aged 85 and over rising by 44%.

The programme is for people aged 40-74 in England and is focused on preventing conditions like heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease.

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Coalition Split Calls Rejected By Tory Minister

A Tory minister has rejected calls from some of the party's senior backbenchers to separate from their Liberal Democrat Coalition colleagues before the 2015 general election.

Business Minister Michael Fallon said the arrangement was for five years and people and businesses would expect the Coalition to "finish that job".

Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, and select committee chairman Bernard Jenkin have led calls for the parties to go their separate ways before the next election.

But Mr Fallon told Sky News' Murnaghan programme: "There is a national interest at stake here.

"Every other coalition right across Europe, has gone," he said. "This one is sticking to it, the public finances are slowly coming right, we set out a five-year programme; the first time we have had a fixed parliament in this country.

Lib Dem president Tim Farron

"We set out a five-year programme all the way through to May 2015. I think in the national interest people would expect us to finish that job."

He added that the five-year fixed-term parliament meant: "business and everybody else can see that we are in it for the five-year term".

Asked about the prospect of an early split, Liberal Democrat president Tim Farron said: "I very much doubt that will happen.

"It's a few minority voices in the Conservatives who I think are getting jumpy because as the Coalition goes through the five-year period it rightly should last for …  they worry that the Liberal Democrats prevent them doing some of the more extreme things they would like to do."

He added that the Lib Dems had taken tough decisions "in the national interest, perhaps not in our own, but in the national interest".

"Indeed we're doing some of the things they would like us not to do - not least giving tax cuts to 23 million of the lowest paid people in this country and tackling climate change, which many of them feel inexplicably awkward about, and increasing the state pension - things that Conservatives don't normally do," he said.

"So, yes, there is a sense that Conservatives - a minority of them - resent being in power with the Liberal Democrats, but that's because the Conservatives did not win the last general election."

Mr Brady told The Sunday Telegraph it "makes sense" to part ways before the election.

"We need to convey a clear, separate identity and a separate set of aspirations from the Liberal Democrats," he said.

"You can't get those messages across in three weeks or even three months. You need a sustained period of time to ensure voters are comfortable with what you are saying - at least six months."

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Afghan Charity Trek: Ex-Airman On 444 Mile Walk

A former RAF serviceman has completed the last leg of a gruelling 444-mile charity walk across the UK carrying the weight of an injured soldier on his back.

Ben Greer has trekked through 100 towns and cities across the UK in the last two months in order to complete the distance, a mile for every British serviceman killed in Afghanistan since 2001.

His final mile took him from The Cenotaph to Buckingham Palace in London earlier today.

Ben Greer

Mr Greer, who served in six Afghan tours between 2006 and 2010, told Sky News the walk carrying a 100kg pack had been one of the most "arduous" things he had ever done.

"The most that you'd probably carry as a standard load would be up to 60kg so 100kg is the equivalent of putting one of your friends on your back in fighting order and evacuating them from the battlefield."

The former Chinook helicopter crewman, who left the service two years ago, regularly ferried injured servicemen.

"One of our main roles out there was casualty evacuation from the battlefield," he said.

"We picked up an awful lot of guys and had some of the best medical care in the world, certainly trauma wise, and you see a lot in the back of the aircraft.

"I've come back to my family but there's an awful lot who haven't and I think it's pertinent as a personal statement to come back and show that it's had quite an impact."

So far the Big Lift challenge has raised £34,582.57 for various charities including SSAFA, the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, Help for Heroes, the Army and RAF Benevolent Funds.

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Gazza: Paul Gascoigne Faces Assault Charges

Ex-England footballer Paul Gascoigne has been charged with two counts of common assault, British Transport Police said.

The former midfielder was also charged with one count of being drunk and disorderly following his arrest at Stevenage railway station earlier this month.

Baljit Ubhey, Chief Crown Prosecutor for Thames and Chiltern Crown Prosecution Service, said: "Following a BTP investigation, a file was forwarded to us to consider whether any criminal charges could be brought against the 46-year-old man. 

"Having carefully reviewed all of the available evidence, Thames and Chiltern CPS authorised officers from BTP to charge the man with common assault and being drunk and disorderly. 

"The charges are in relation to an incident at Stevenage rail station on the evening of Thursday, 4 July." 

Gascoigne after England lost in the semi-final of the 1990 World Cup

Gascoigne was charged after answering bail.

He was released to reappear at North East Herts Magistrates Court on August 5.

Gascoigne played Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Lazio, Rangers, Middlesbrough, Everton, Burnley and China's Gansu Tianma. He ended his career as player-coach for Boston United in League Two.

He won 57 caps for England.

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Russia Helicopter Crash: Two Britons Killed

Two British tourists have been killed alongside their Russian guide in a helicopter crash in northern Russia, according to reports.

Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry said the Eurocopter helicopter banked on one side and crashed while attempting to take off in Murmansk's Lovozersky district.

NTV Russia footage of the area

It is understood the pair, who had travelled to the remote region for an organised river fishing expedition, and their Russian translator were killed by the whirling rotors of the helicopter as the aircraft landed on its side.

The Life News website described them as "VIP tourists".

NTV Russia footage of the area

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are aware of reports of the deaths of two British nationals in Russia. We are in touch with the local authorities and stand ready to provide consular assistance."

Fishing expeditions to the salmon-rich rivers of the Far North are one of very few tourism attractions of Russia that bring in high-paying foreign tourists to regions beyond Moscow and St Petersburg.

"The foreign tourists were staying in a luxury camp for fishing," a security source told the Interfax news agency.

A distress signal had already been received from the chopper before it made the crash landing. The pilot survived but was injured.

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Light Aircraft Crashes Into English Channel

British and French emergency teams have responded to reports that a light aircraft has crashed into the English Channel.

The American-registered plane carrying one person on board came down about 15 miles off Dungeness in Kent at around 2.30pm.

A cross-Channel search and rescue operation has been launched involving both English and French teams, including a French helicopter and the Dungeness RNLI lifeboat.

The alarm was raised after the single-engine light aircraft, which was heading from London to Le Touquet, was overdue, a spokesman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said.

The incident happened four miles inside UK waters and is being co-ordinated by the British with help from the French authorities.

An MCA spokesman said a helicopter from RAF Wattisham in Suffolk was due to replace a French helicopter that had been searching for a number of hours.

Lifeboats from Dungeness and Calais are also involved in the operation.

More follows ...

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