"The 2019 Tour was the one that really got away" - Chris Froome reflects on Tour de France career and elusive 5th Maillot Jaune
Cycling
One of the iconic figures of the modern era of the Tour de France, at his peak Chris Froome secured himself four Maillot Jaune successes, 7 stage victories and a King of the Mountains jersey in the 2010s. Now aged 39 though, the Brit has been a notable omission from the last two editions. Can he get back for a Tour de France farewell in 2025?
A shadow of his former self, Froome has not been the same rider since a nearly life-ending crash a few years ago. Nevertheless, the seven-time Grand Tour winner's career continues to plod along at Israel - Premier Tech, although 2025 if the final year of his much-discussed contract with Sylvan Adams team. As mentioned, Froome was left out of Israel - Premier Tech's Tour de France lineup for the 2023 and 2024 Tour de France but the determined legend is still optimistic he can force selection for next year's edition.
"I didn't make the cut for the last two, but it's not far-fetched to think that, if I give it my all, I can still earn a spot on the team and play my part — hunting for a stage win, maybe, or working for my teammate Derek Gee, for example," he says with self belief in an official press release by the Tour de France following Froome's presence at Saturday's Saitama Criterium in Japan.
One of the most important stages of the 2025 Tour sees a return to Mont Ventoux, a climb the former Team Sky leader knows very well. "The Ventoux holds a very special place in my heart," he recalls. "When I won there in 2013, that was when I really knew I was going to take it all the way to Paris. In 2016, I had a similar performance in me, but that crash happened and mayhem ensued. It made no sense at all to start running, but it was an automatic reaction that just kicked in. And, in the end, it went down in history".
As mentioned, Froome has four Maillot Jaune victories added to his palmares but despite his best efforts since his last victory in 2017, a 5th Tour de France title has remained elusive. "That's life. At the end of the day, I think the 2019 Tour was the one that really got away," he concludes. "I'd never been as strong in training as before my crash in the Critérium du Dauphiné."
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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- I get the point totally. We live in the snowflake society where some riders forget they are getting paid to ride and get results. When they have a few issues they try to look outside of the real issue instead of themselves. It odd so many of the team are making no complaints and getting on with their job. If you do not like what you do find another job simples. Tough love as my mum would say.paultryan200207-11-2026
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
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🏆 Biniam Girmay wins the 2024 Tour de France Saitama Criterium 💪 #SaitamaCriterium | @saitamacrite
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