‘Fresh’ Froome warns his rivals

CHAMP NOT FAZED BY BEING WINLESS THIS YEAR Briton changed his preparation in order to also have a stab at elusive Vuelta title in August.

Chris Froome insisted this week he was unconcerned by his failure to win a race this year, saying he feels “fresher” ahead of a bid for a fourth Tour de France win.

Over the last five years, the 32-year-old Briton has always won at least two stage races leading into the Tour, but this season he is yet to taste victory of any sort.

The Kenyan-born Team Sky leader insists he has simply been gauging his efforts better to be able to come on stronger as the Tour progresses.

“I feel as if I’m exactly where I need to be,” said Froome, who was fourth at the Criterium du Dauphine earlier this month – a race he had won in the three previous years where he triumphed at the Tour.

“The Dauphine was just what I needed to get that extra race rhythm – I had been very light on race days up to the Dauphine, which means I’m coming into the Tour fresher than I’ve ever been before. If the numbers in training or my feeling on the bike are anything to go by, I’m ready for the next three weeks,” added Froome, ahead of tomorrow’s Tour start in Duesseldorf.

However, Froome gave a slightly ambiguous answer when asked whether his rivals would see him as more vulnerable having not won yet this year.

“Potentially. If the Dauphine was anything to go by then Richie Porte, certainly in terms of form and condition, Richie’s going to be the man to beat – and stands out as the strongest of my rivals.”

Australian Porte used to be a team-mate of Froome’s and helped him win his first two Tours in 2013 and 2015, before moving to BMC last year.

The likes of Porte, Jakob Fuglsang, Nairo Quintana and even Alejandro Valverde come into the Tour having won stage races this year, but not Froome.

“Having a victory coming into the Tour de France is always great for morale and confidence, but I can take a lot of confidence from having won three Tours already,” said the defending champion.

He also insisted he had prepared himself differently to be able to maintain his form through to the Vuelta a Espana, which begins in August.

That is a race in which the Briton has finished second three times, and one he is desperate to win. – AFP