Chris Froome's presence at Tour de France "depends on the Dauphiné" Israel DS says

Chris Froome's 11th place at the Mercan'Tour Classic Alpes-Maritimes has brought a breath of antecipation to Israel - Premier Tech, who will be testing the Briton at the Critérium du Dauphiné this coming week hoping for further positive signs ahead of the Tour de France.

Team DS Rik Verbrugghe has said in an interview with La Dernière Heure that his participation at the Grand Boucle “depends on the Dauphiné and how he goes in June. He’ll do the Mont Ventoux race after the Dauphiné," he reveals. The Mont Ventoux Dénivelé Challenge takes place in the 14th of June  - two days after the finale of the Dauphiné - and should be the veteran's last race if he is to go to the Tour. 

Froome had to delay his start to the season due a knee injury, however has more recently affirmed that "everything is at 100%" and he has slowly been on rising form towards the summer. “We’re going to the Dauphiné with a Chris Froome who’s coming up fast. I’m impatient to see how he gets on in that race," Verbrugghe added.

He's also talked about the personal expectations regarding the development of the four-time Tou winner: “It’s difficult to say. He’s coming back strongly, but the Dauphiné will really show what his current capacity is like at the highest level. In training, his data is heading in the right direction. But now we have to see what he can do in the race. But the signs are good.”

Despite having a free role at the Dauphiné, Froome is unlikely to have a role superior to those of Jakob Fuglsang and Michael Woods who have taken to the Tour de Suisse due to the more climber-focused race. “Suisse is our priority and with Fuglsang, we’ll go for the podium or even the overall victory. He’s got the team he needs to help him," he concluded.