"I've come to the reality now that returning to that level of fighting for victory at the Tour de France is going to be very, very difficult" - Chris Froome realistic about his level
CyclingSaturday, 13 April 2024 at 17:50
Now 38 years old, there's not much that Chris Froome has left to achieve in the peloton. One of his big goals though, is a return to the Tour de France, a race synonymous with his legendary career.
“I'm still contracted for this year and for next year, and for now I think that would take me until being 40 years old. I think that for me is quite a good goal to reach 40 and still be racing," the Israel - Premier Tech rider assesses of his future plans in conversation with Eurosport. “I would be really happy with that."
A four-time Tour de France winner in his pomp, Froome missed out on the race completely last year with his performances not deemed to be up to the level required by Israel - Premier Tech boss, Sylvan Adams. Nevertheless, the Brit remains optimistic. "I mean in terms of actual goals getting back to the Tour de France and fighting for even a stage win would be for me an amazing way to end my career with at least a few more battles in the mountains," he says.
Froome does however, have to admit another Maillot Jaune is unlikely. “A fifth Tour de France for me is always there as a dream, but I think I've come to the reality now that returning to that level of really fighting for victory at the Tour de France is certainly going to be very, very difficult," he admits. “For me right now, I would just love to get back to the Tour de France. Even if I'm there fighting in the mountains, potentially for another stage win, that would be amazing.”
After an injury-hit 2023, Froome has already had more issues this year, including a crash at Tirreno-Adriatico that left him with a broken wrist. “Unfortunately, things like this [wrist injury] do set me back. I mean crashing is never fun but when you break a bone then it takes time to recover and heal from that," he laments. "Time to train, time to go to the races, being healthy. That's all it takes, but to try and avoid having setbacks and bad luck.”
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- He already may be, he left them behind and then took over Pinkabstractengineer18-05-2025
- 3 youngsters out in front and 10 people within 2 minutes. Not very long ago, all it took to gain 2 minutes on every other rider was a big effort in a mountain stage but that doesn’t seem to happen anymore.Mistermaumau18-05-2025
- Poor guy, hope the rest day does him good.Mistermaumau18-05-2025
- But then why do you feel compelled to read stuff?????Mistermaumau18-05-2025
- Roads outside the capital are some of the best in the world, tarmac smooth as track. Beautiful tea-plantation landscapes, perfect weather, delicious cheap fruit. People are friendly but « sticky » with cyclists. Truck and bus drivers are criminal, you’ll experience feeling like Bernal anywhere busy. Globally not cheap. Genocide museum is peaceful but heavy. Lake Kivu is amazing (also to swim in) but has some dark « mysteries » Take a dirty bike, they’ll clean (chain too) & oil it for 1$. If you have a spare old working bike, consider saving on its return ticket and helping local cycling/triathlon associations, they’re athletes have nothing and they’ll find a way to keep it alive with whatever means, like connecting an old spoke to any broken one to retighten a wheel. Tourist attractions are expensive but pay for useful activities (protecting wildlife mainly). Plastic bags are banned, theft is very badly frowned upon so unlikely, service is generally bad but it helps if you explain what you expect. Go do it, it’s a great experience (if you wait a few more years, cycling friend of mine is building rental homes at the lake and will be organising bike tours).Mistermaumau18-05-2025
- Achilles heal lol. He has more mountain bike results than most full time mountain bikers will ever have.mij18-05-2025
- Primoz certainly had some sh*t luck today, and I feel badly for him, but that's racing. Now we're left an unexpected leaderboard, and I think that it's going to make the rest of this Giro very interesting to watch.
santiagobenites18-05-2025 - Win or lose Egan Bernal is a class act.Cyclingsbestfan18-05-2025
- Wout really needed this win. He needed it much more than Isaac did, and Isaac has the 'consolation' prize of leading the Giro now with a decent margin, so it was a win-win situation.santiagobenites18-05-2025
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KerisVroom18-05-2025
Hope he gets stage wins or two at TDF
Seriously.....are you from planet earth.
"Better late than never"
Can not think of a better example to that phrase
I've come to the same realization about my own future as a pro cyclist. I'm 58 and have an FTP of 230, and it's really starting to seem like I'm not going to make it.
Shiiiiiiiit, that makes you older than me :-)
I’m told it gets easier once you can enter the over 60s categories ;-)
I'm the Chris Froome of the under-60 level....
I'm 25, will turn 26 this August😅😂😂. You are far older than me😂😂😂
I'm more than two of you, so I only have to work half as hard!
Time to bring out the classic again.
Little bull and daddy bull stand on a hill looking down at a meadow full of cows.
Daddy, daddy, let’s run down and …. one
No son, let’s walk down and … them all.
I am just a 🥕 compared to you guys😂. I look like a carrot on a bike🚲 😂😂😂
Stealing a living.
Who's your top3?
1. TP
2. MDVD
3. JV
Too bad Jonas is injured😕. Otherwise, my boys are still on the saddle😂
lol armchair "experts." Thanks for the good times Chris. My personal favourite ride was in the 2018 Giro when you pulled back 3.22 minutes on Simon Yates on stage 19. An epic ride. It's worth looking for if you know nothing about it.
I think it can be difficult for a pro athlete to believe they are mortal after hitting the highs like he has.
Yes, but in the ludicrous budgets they command, is there not a little left for some mental massages when they’re having such problems.
I know these boys are not the brightest and must have a very tough outer (mental) skin but there are professionals who know how to deal with such issues.
Well, maybe tell them how to show it when they’re speaking. Sorry but obviously they spent more time in their youth on bikes than in education, it’s not their fault and it doesn’t mean they might not catch up later in life but their work and entourage do imply a vast reduction in time or possibilities for other things.
Mhm...
Only a bunch of years later than just about everybody else.
Fair but I commend him for his self belief. Can't be a professional athlete without believing in yourself even when others don't
Within reason. He's been extremely unreasonable. Going as far as blaming his bike fit
Can’t be a professional US president or dictator or worse without believing in yourself either but at some point you become your own worst enemy if you never listen to people around you that don’t just agree with you on everything.
Indeed 5 years too late. Still, he loves cycling. Would love to see him back in another job when he stops
Probadly buying Quickstep or something😆
If he wants to test himself against Jonas or Pogi, he’d be better off buying one of the other teams :-)
You’re assuming he has a lot of money lying around, at this point I think Ineos would be cheaper.
😂😂😂