‘I may be older, but I’m getting better’ – Froome

CHRIS FROOME warned his rivals he is still improving after effectively wrapping up his fourth Tour de France title in Marseille yesterday.

Froome (right) finished third in the 22.5km time trial that started and finished in the city’s Stade Velodrome, increasing his overall lead ahead of tomorrow’s procession into Paris as his rivals could not keep pace.

Froome leads by just 54 seconds from Colombian Rigoberto Uran, who leap-frogged Frenchman Romain Bardet with a superior performance against the clock.

But such narrow margins can be explained by a Tour course which seemed custom-designed to downplay Froome’s strengths, featuring only three mountain-top finishes and 36.5km of time trials.

Froome conquered it anyway, drawing on his experience and the strength of his team to keep rivals at bay. Although the margins were narrow, the 32-year-old insisted that was not a sign he is on the wane.

‘I’m definitely getting older but at the same time each year I like to think I’m still learning more, still developing as a rider, and becoming a more complete rider,’ he said. ‘Hopefully as a rider I’m still improving.’

Froome’s fourth win leaves him just one behind the all-time Tour record of five, jointly held by Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Jacques Anquetil and Miguel Indurain.

Prior to yesterday’s time trial, Froome had never trailed in the general classification by more than 12 seconds, but never led by more than 27 either.

Ireland’s Dan Martin finished in 40th place on the day, which was enough to keep the Quick-Step Floors rider in sixth place in the general classification – his best ever finish in the Tour de France.

Nicolas Roche is in 33rd place overall, one hour and 32 minutes behind Froome.

Orica-Scott rider Simon Yates hung on to seventh place overall, securing the young riders’ white jersey which was won by his twin brother and teammate Adam 12 months ago.