Froome inspired by Quintana challenge

REIGNING champion Chris Froome and his Sky team could barely hide their excitement ahead of Saturday’s Tour de France start in Normandy.

Speaking from their team hotel, Froome and Sky boss Dave Brailsford identified Colombian climber Nairo Quintana as a particular threat to the Briton’s hopes of a hattrick of Tour successes.

Quintana finished second to Froome the two years he won the Tour — in 2013 and 2015 — and with the reigning champion branding this year’s edition “a climber’s Tour”, much is expected of the Colombian.

“I think he’s more motivated than ever,” said Froome of Quintana. “In both Tours that I’ve been able to win he was runner-up. As it stands now on paper and on the road, he has to be the biggest rival for me.”

Brailsford suggested the one thing holding back Quintana, 26, is the fact he had never won the race before. But the Colombian has been in fine form this season, already winning two week-long stage races in Catalonia and Romandie, while finishing third in the Basque Country.

“He’s had a good season,” said Brailsford. “His previous (Tour) performances have been optimised by a strong last few days and last week. The question is whether he’s stepped up. He’ll be asking himself that question as much as everyone else (will).

“He’ll come with confidence, but also questions, because he’s never done it. ”

Froome also showed at the beginning of June that he is riding into top shape by winning the Criterium de Dauphine stage race. But his preparation in 2016 has been quite different to when he won his first Tour three years ago. Then he competed in several weeklong stage races from early February to late April.

This time, though, Froome raced the five-day Sun Herald Tour in Australia in early February, but then did not compete again until the Tour of Romandie in late April.