"Covid is no joke" - Chris Froome struggles through opening week of Vuelta a Espana

Israel - Premier Tech are on the brink of relegation and Chris Froome is unlikely to be helping the team with further points throughout the Vuelta a Espana as he's struggling through the opening week and has commented on his current feelings within the race.

On his Twitter, Froome said that it was a "rough first week" and that "Covid is no joke". Froome had the double-Grand Tour stint planned as his form was on the rise throughout the summer, however after a strong Tour de France - relative to his past three years - he was infected with Covid-19 in the final week and had to take time off the bike.

At the Vuelta a Espana he is no longer showing the signs of improvement that he had shown during the Tour, as he has struggled throughout the race and is yet to finish inside the Top100 on a stage.

"Lots of climbing to look forward to today" he said, as the race tackles one of it's hardest stages towards Colláu Fancuaya which will set further differences in the fight for the overall classification, and where the veteran is expected to ride into the finish with the gruppetto.