‘Won’t matter who leader is’

Paris – Four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome (above) was coy this week over whether he or Geraint Thomas would lead Sky at the 2019 edition, but said it would make a great 10th birthday gift for the British team.

Froome came third at the 2018 Tour de France as team-mate Thomas emerged from his shadow to secure his maiden yellow jersey after a stronger start than his erstwhile captain.

“It doesn’t matter if I am or not,” Froome said when asked if he knew if he would lead Sky’s victory bid next year.

“It could end up being similar to 2018 where I had a double role to play alongside Geraint Thomas,” said Froome.

“It’s going to be a tough, tough, tough race, that’s for sure. But if one of us could win it it would be really special as this year is the tenth anniversary of the founding of Team Sky,” said the Kenyan-born Briton.

“There are five summit finishes and with three of the stages going over 2000 metres, well that just changes the whole dynamic of the Tour,” added Froome.

Defending Tour champion Thomas, meanwhile, was more open to the possibility of challenging for honours on the three-week Italian race.

“Racing both the Giro and the Tour is something I never thought I’d be able to do, but it is something to which I’ll now maybe give some thought,” said the 32-yearold Welshman. –