"There’s still a physical and mental element for Tadej Pogacar to overcome" - Chris Froome aware of the challenges of a Giro d'Italia/Tour de France double

Not since Marco Pantani back in 1998 has a rider won both the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France in the same calendar year. One of those to have attempted the challenge was Chris Froome in 2018, and the seven-time Grand Tour winner has analysed Tadej Pogacar's chances in 2024.

"Speaking firsthand, and knowing how hard it is, he still has the capacity to win the Tour," says the 39-year-old, who missed out on selection for the 2024 Tour de France lineup of Israel - Premier Tech, in a pre-race column for Escape Collective. "He can be in top shape but what stood out for me was how well he handled the Giro. If you compare it to my win in 2018, I had to battle throughout the entire three weeks and just managed to turn the tables in the last few days, whereas Tadej was in complete control of the situation. I don’t want to say that he was riding within himself but he was basically setting the tempo everyday on the climbs."

Although Froome clearly believes in Pogacar's chances, the Brit is well aware of the potential pitfalls of embarking on such a difficult task. After all, there is a reason why no Giro winner since 1998 has been able to re-find their best legs at the Tour de France. "There’s still a physical and mental element for him to overcome having won the Giro because the double is a massive challenge," he explains.

"On a physical level, during the month of May, when the Giro is on, that’s really the key preparation time for riders trying to build up for the Tour de France. Most teams at that point are doing their altitude camps but if you’re racing the Giro you’re beholden to the speed of the race. You’re not taking rest days as part of your training, and you’re digging yourself into a hole by riding a Grand Tour," Froome continues. "Again, my case was different because [the 2018 Tour] was my fourth Grand Tour in a row, and I was mentally and physically tired. I wasn’t sharp coming into that race, and wasn’t as fresh but the way in which Tadej rode the Giro was very different to what I went through. He was dictating the speed, and everyone was waiting for him to attack. It was all on his own terms and for me, he’s perfectly placed to challenge for this year’s Tour, especially given that his number one rival isn’t at his absolute fighting best."