Froome remains undecided on Tour tilt

A COURSE made up of 29 lung-busting climbs would appear to be tailor-made for Chris Froome, but the fourtime champion admitted yesterday that he may not even be on the start line at the 2020 Tour de France.

“It’s impossible to say,” said Froome at the route unveiling in Paris. “Nothing is decided.

“I need to get up to the right level before we even start talking about who will be the [Team Ineos] leader or that kind of thing.”

The reason for this uncertainty was evident when Froome walked, a right leg that trailed and which he has described as only being at 35 per cent on the bike.

The Briton is still in recovery after sustaining dreadful injuries in June when he hit a brick wall at high speed, fracturing ribs, a femur and an elbow after taking his hands off the handlebars to blow his nose.

He was not expected to race again this year but returned to his bike for a practice ride at the weekend outside Nice, starting point for the 2020 Tour, and is slated to take part in one of the events surrounding the Saitama Criterium in Japan this month.

In his absence, Ineos still prevailed at the 2019 Tour de France in the shape of the young Colombian Egan Bernal. The team also boasts the 2018 champion Geraint Thomas which means there really are no guarantees ahead of the June 27 start.

“There are eight months left,” Froome said.

Another setback, one that Froome can do nothing about, is age. Froome will turn 35 in May. Should he prevail next July and match the five titles of Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault, he would be the second oldest winner ever behind the Belgian Firmin Lambot who was 36 when he won for a second time in 1922.

“The Tour will be an enormous source of motivation,” he said.