“It’s still way too early to say” - Chris Froome unsure he'll be allowed Tour de France return later this summer
Cycling
After suffering the bitter blow of being left out of the Israel - Premier Tech lineup for the 2023 Tour de France, whether or not four-time Maillot Jaune winner Chris Froome will be allowed to return to the race he became synonymous with during the 2010s later this year, remains to be seen.
The 39-year-old made a return to racing on Wednesday afternoon, finishing 47th at the Mercan'Tour Classic as he worked in a predominantly domestique role for teammates such as George Bennett (7th on the day) and Matthew Riccitello (10th on the day). With the upcoming Criterium du Dauphine also on Froome's race programme in the coming weeks, it might be imperative the Brit impresses.
“It’s still way too early to say,” Froome said pre-Mercan'Tour Classic, when asked by Eurosport if a return to the Tour de France will be on the cards for him later this summer. "First things first, let’s get through today, and get into the Dauphiné and see how the condition is.”
As mentioned, four Tour de France victories live on the palmares of Froome and with three Criterium du Dauphine triumphs in the past, this is a time of year that historically the former Team Sky figurehead has excelled in.
Froome took victory at the Tour de France in 2013, 2015, 2016 & 2017
Having been out of action since March ahead of the Mercan'Tour Classic however, the racing level of the 39-year-old is far from his best at the current moment. “It’s been a long time since I’ve raced, since I fractured my wrist in Tirreno,” Froome explains. “I had to wear a cast for almost two months. I’m looking forward to racing again, and next week going off to the Dauphiné.”
“I’m fully recovered, and I’ve just came down from an altitude camp with the team, and I am looking forward to racing again,” Froome, who in total has seven Grand Tour victories on his palmares. “I haven’t raced in a few month, so just getting back into the race again, finding the legs, and helping. We’ve got a couple of guys who are really aiming for the victory.”
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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Mistermaumau29-05-202410
Stop the salary :-)
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In the end, George Bennett finished as our best rider in 7th place followed by Matthew Riccitello in 10th place. Lenny Martinez took the win. It wasn't the result we were hoping for but the guys fought hard today and showed good legs after their recent altitude camp 💪
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