Chris Froome has recovered from his high-speed crash in the Criterium du Dauphine in June last year and has his sights firmly set on this year’s Tour de France.
The 34-year-old Team Ineos rider, who has won four editions of the La Grande Boucle (The Big Loop), said the prospect of going for a fifth yellow jersey was massive for him.
“The only appointment I’ve set myself is the Tour de France,” he said.
Chris Froome has his sights firmly set on this year’s Tour de France. Photo: ASO/Alex Broadway
“Until then, every week I’m just going to keep chipping away, keep trying to make the most of every camp and every race building up to July and hope come that start line in Nice I’ll be ready to go.
“Another title is such a motivation, but on top of that now obviously coming back from this injury it’s just even more reason for me to try and get back there.
“There are no guarantees in sport, no guarantees that I’ll be back to challenge for it, but I’m going to give it absolutely everything I’ve got.”
The British rider, who fractured his femur (thighbone), elbow and ribs in the accident, attended his first official training camp for the year this month.
“I’ve been given all the green lights now to get back on the bike and I’m just making that transition now from the rehab phase back into normal training again. So I’m really feeling the fitness at the moment.
“You have to start somewhere. I’m just incredibly fortunate to be back on the bike again and for everything to be working correctly.”
Froome said he was fully conscious that the next few months were going to be “pretty tough” and would require a lot of hard work.
“I’ve got a lot of ground to make up to get back to where I was, but I’ve had amazing support to this point, which has got me here.
“Now I can really just get stuck into the training and get the miles in on the bike to try and build up that strength again.”
He added that this was a key period for him during which he was going to lay the foundation for all the hard work to come.
“At the moment it’s about just building up the hours on the road that I haven’t had for the last six months.”
Froome said this certainly had been one of the toughest tests for him throughout his career.
“Mentally as well, it has been difficult to deal with the losses I’ve had, and coming from such a low point, but at the same time I’ve just been so busy with all the rehab on a daily basis.
“To be here now on this training camp with the rest of the team and to be doing the same rides as everyone else … it is really good to be back in this position now.
“To be doing what I’ve worked basically since the accident to be able to do, it’s a great feeling.”
