"I felt five years younger" - Chris Froome ends 2023 motivated towards another Tour de France pursuit

Chris Froome was not taken to the Tour de France and then entered a bit of a stalemate. He travelled to Asia to end his season and reports on a new spirit on the bike.

“I left the Tour of Hainan 2023 with very high morale. Despite some health problems at the beginning, the days went by I felt better and better and I can say I felt five years younger," Froome told SpazioCiclismo. "I wanted to go on the run, I felt brilliant and completely regenerated. This gave me further motivation to think about 2024 and how to approach next season. I have no expectations, but at the same time I would like to be in the top positions again in the final stages of the race."

The Briton rode to 14th at the Mercan'Tour Classic Alpes-Maritimes and that looked to be giving him a sign the Tour presence was certain, as he topped climber teammates. At La Route d'Occitanie however he didn't have the same legs, and ultimately was not selected to his main goal of the year. “I've had a lot of back problems this year and it turns out they happen because of the position I was in on the bike. I went to a riding specialist and with him we tried to get closer to the position I had in my time with Team Sky."

"Indeed, there was a lot of difference between what I did then and how I felt in the saddle recently. So, we made some big changes and now I feel much better, so much so that the back pain is gone," he reports. After shedding the knee pain from his injury of many years ago at the Critérium du Dauphiné, Froome continues to leave behind small health issues.

At the Tour of Hainan and Japan Cup he wasn't in contention for a result but was motivated and says he felt young - in what was a very different racing environment. "So now I want to be able to bring out the best in me and know, once I retire, that I will have nothing to regret."

"Whether this means winning or helping my teammates do it, it will be fine anyway. I can only control my level of performance and preparation that I can sustain to be in a position to be chosen for the next Tour. So, from this point of view, I'll do everything I can," he concludes.