Reuters
Paris, June 30: Chris Froome struggled for form and then crashed out in 2014, but the Briton is ready to forget his failures and pitch in as a title-contender this year again. However, he is a bit apprehensive as to whether Team Sky of which he is a part of, will be able to control the race as they usually do. Froome had won the title in 2013.
However, his preparations have not been all that inspiring. Froome was forced to skip the Tirreno-Adriatico week-long race in March because of illness and looked lost in the Tour of Catalunya later that month before crashing in the Fleche Wallonne classic in April.
“I definitely feel as if I had a slower build up to the Tour this year, I don’t necessarily think it’s a bad thing. I’m exactly where I need to be,” said Froome, who achieved the Dauphine/Tour double in 2013.
To help Froome win the Dauphine, Team Sky rode hard to contain attacks and provide their leader with the perfect launching pad for his late accelerations.
It may be not possible on the Tour, though, where a unique set of aggressive riders will assemble at the start in Utrecht.
Froome will not only face old rival Alberto Contador, who will use every opportunity to wear down the Sky machine, but also Colombian Nairo Quintana, France’s Thibaut Pinot and Nibali — all offensive riders who have never been at their best all together at the start of the Tour, which should be the case this year.
One thing that Froome cannot rely on, however, is a private motor home, which teammate Richie Porte benefited from on the Giro d’Italia, to avoid dodgy hotels as the International Cycling Union (UCI) has banned its use ‘to reaffirm absolute fairness between all riders’.