Chris Froome aiming high but unsure of form: "With COVID, I’m a bit unsure of where I’m at"

Chris Froome has geared up and is ready for his eighth Vuelta a Espana. Although the ambitions of a third overall title seem way too distant, the Briton is having more modest ambitions and is looking for a good result in a race he talks very fondly of.

“The Tour went very well for us and I was unfortunate not to make it to Paris,” Froome told reporters before the start of the race in Utrecht. “I was one of many who got COVID, and it did affect me pretty heavily. I was symptomatic for 10 days and even after that I was struggling to get the hard training done.”

At the Tour Froome showed form in a way he hadn't for years, climbing to third place on the Alpe d'Huez stage, and abandoning the Tour in the final week whilst just outside the Top25. A modest result, but one that gave the Briton his best signs since his crash at the 2019 Critérium du Dauphiné.

“Unfortunately, with COVID, I’m a bit unsure of where I’m at, so I’m hoping to get into the racing and get into the pointy end of the stages in the second and third week. Certainly, in the bigger mountain stages, I will be looking to try and target them and be more present. But everything depends on how the first part goes," Froome explained.

As an experienced Grand Tour rider, he's said that that would be his main goal. “I love what the Vuelta tests in people. The GC battle in the Vuelta is brutal, with so many more mountain stages.," he said. "It’s real hand-to-hand fighting, dealing with really hot conditions… I’ve always enjoyed it, and I’m happy to be here.”

Having won the race in 2011 - after Juan José Cobo was, years later, suspended - and in 2017 after his final Tour de France win, Froome looks back on a good history with the race. “I have only good memories of here. Certainly, I remember how much the fans got involved and I hope we have a similar experience with the Vuelta. I think it does Grand Tours good to travel around a bit and give a bit more to countries other than Spain, France and so on," he said. "We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. For now, we’re just making the most of races the best we can".

Asked about Remco Evenepoel, who has been under constant media pressure, Froome has responded: “He’s certainly shown he’s got the level to be up there fighting for the victory, I don’t think anyone doubts that. The challenge for him is similar to Mike [Woods], it’s about managing the peaks and troughs over three weeks. Whoever can do best will be the winner," Froome said. 

“But there’s a very strong list of contenders, guys who have won the race multiple times. It should be an exciting race," the Israel - Premier Tech rider concluded.