Chris Froome Reviews his Comeback on the Anniversary of Breaking Leg

Froome is going for 5

Team sponsor Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Chris Froome, Team director Dave Brailsford

BACK IN THE GAME

Four-time Tour de France Champion Chris Froome, has been hitting the gym every day during lockdown to try and replicate what he would be doing this time of the year in preparation for the Tour. Following a crash a year ago this week Froome was off the bike for multiple weeks while recovering from a broken femur and ribs. Froome may have benefitted more than his rivals from the extra training time; at the beginning of the season Froome looked unsure of himself. Froome, 35, is back in the saddle and preparing for the packed late season calendar.

“Some days I’m even doing up to six hours sitting on the stationary trainer – big days,” he said.

“Obviously I’m coming off the back of a big injury now as well.

“A lot of the training I’ve been doing up until this point has been indoors already, so it’s almost prepared me in a way for this whole lockdown period.”

THE TOUR

Froome believes it will be hard to control whether crowds turn up at the Tour de France, scheduled to start on August 29.

“For sure we can put the race on without people standing on the roads and fans in that sense,” Froome told former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen on an Instagram Live chat.

“I mean, we can put on the race and it can be broadcast on television.

“You’re not going to get the same scenes as you would get going through these tunnels of just people everywhere and all the rest of it.

“Maybe that’s the version of race we need to see this year. I don’t know.

“In theory, we can put the race on but I think the bigger question is would the organizers be able to keep people from actually coming out and gathering in large crowds? I think that’s the bigger question.”

Froome has been participating in a number of virtual cycling charity events to to raise donations for coronavirus relief.

One year on from the biggest challenge of my career. I’m ready for what’s next ???? @LeTour number 5???? pic.twitter.com/AJMsw9Tqgs

— Chris Froome (@chrisfroome) June 12, 2020

RBA/AFP Photo: Bettini