Tour win in sight, Froome eyes Rio

Don’t expect Chris Froome to indulge in big celebrations on the Champs Elysees. After effectively securing a third Tour de France title Saturday, the Kenyan-born British rider has already turned his focus to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Froome, an Olympic bronze-medallist in the time trial four years ago in London, will once again be among the favourites in the race against the clock in Brazil.

Froome even defeated specialist Tom Dumoulin in his favourite discipline in the second time trial Thursday.

“I think it’s a course (in Rio) that suits me well, there’s almost 1,000 metres of climbing and it’s almost 60 kilometres in length,” said Froome, who will also compete in the road race in Rio.

“It’s going to be an extremely tough event. I won a bronze medal in the last Olympics in London and it would be absolutely incredible to win another one this year.”

The 54.5-kilometre men’s time trial in Rio, which features four climbs, is Aug. 10.

Froome travelled to Rio during the winter to preview the Olympic circuit and has changed his preparations this year to maintain peak form until the Games.

Four years ago, Froome’s former teammate, Bradley Wiggins, secured a Tour-Olympics double, triumphing in the London 2012 Games time trial ahead of German Tony Martin and Froome after posting the first British win at the Tour in July.

Froome’s hopes of victory in Rio have been boosted by Dumoulin’s injury at the Tour Friday. The Dutchman pulled out of the Tour after fracturing his wrist and might not recover in time for the Olympics.

Froome said he will take some days off to recover before competing in a one-day race in London next weekend. Then it’s off to Rio. “We’ll be there about a week before the race to start training a bit more again,” Froome said.