Chris Froome hopes to get to Tour de France in 'best shape possible' - 'I'd really like to get back there'

ByJames Walker-Roberts

Updated 05/03/2024 at 17:07 GMT

Chris Froome is a four-time Tour de France winner but missed on selection in Israel-Premier Tech's team for the race in 2023. The 38-year-old has said his aim is to be back at the Tour de France this summer and is hoping for a “steady build” towards an 11th appearance. His appearance at Tirreno-Adriatico this week is the first time he has been on the WorldTour this year.

Chris Froome has outlined his ambition to return to the Tour de France after missing out on a spot at the race last season.

Froome is a four-time winner of the Tour but was surprisingly not included in Israel-Premier Tech's team for the race in 2023.

The 38-year-old has been striving to rediscover his best form after working his way back from a serious crash at the Criterium du Dauphine in 2019.

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His appearance at Tirreno-Adriatico this week is the first time he has ridden on the WorldTour this year.

“The goal for me is to try and get to the Tour in the best shape possible this year,” Froome told Cyclingnews ahead of Stage 2.

“First of all, get to the Tour after having missed out last year. I'd really like to get back there again this year.”

Froome dominated the Tour de France when he was at Team Sky (now Ineos Grenadiers), winning four times between 2013 and 2017.

He also came second in 2012 and third in 2018.

Last year was only the second time in his career that Froome hasn’t competed at any of the three Grand Tours.

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He says he is hoping for a “steady build” towards an 11th appearance at the Tour this summer.

“Looking forward to getting some WorldTour racing in the legs,” he added.

“This is the first WorldTour event I'm doing this year after Rwanda and some time at altitude as well.

“So just looking forward to getting back into it again and continuing a steady build towards the Tour.

“It basically comes down to team selection, and I imagine looking at the stage races building up to the Tour will be part of that. So this is this is where it starts.”

Chris Froome is a four-time Tour de France winner

Image credit: Getty Images

Froome joined Israel-Premier Tech on a five-year deal in 2021.

He said in November that he plans to see out his contract despite team owner Sylvan Adams saying he hasn’t been “value for money”.

"I signed a five-year contract when I joined,” said Froome.

“I still feel like there’s more in the legs and I want to go out having given it my all. I’m not going to give up on it. I’ve had much worse said about me.

“If I can get back to the Tour de France and be there when the race gets selective, when there are fewer guys left on the climbs, whether it’s fighting for a stage win again or even trying to ride whatever position on GC again – to me, just to be back in the race, when the race gets selective, that for me would be the dream.”

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