Froome eyes finish line after his ‘toughest test’
CYCLING DART READY FOR HALEP
CHRIS FROOME returns to the road next month admitting he has struggled to cope mentally with the fallout from his life-threatening crash.
The 34-year-old will be part of the Team Ineos squad for the UAE Tour of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, starting February 23.
It will be Froome’s first race since a 40mph collision with a wall on the Criterium du Dauphine last June left him in intensive care with multiple broken bones.
Froome’s target remains a fifth Tour de France title but he says there are “no guarantees”.
“I’m incredibly fortunate to be back and for everything to be working correctly,” he said.
“I’m fully conscious that the next few months are going to be pretty tough, and I’ve got a lot of ground to make up. But I’ve had amazing support and now I can put everything into getting miles.”
According to the surgeon who performed emergency surgery, Froome lost four pints of blood in the crash and broke his neck, elbow, femur, hip and several ribs.
The road to recovery has been arduous, and Froome said: “This has been one of the toughest tests of my career – mentally, it has been difficult to deal with the losses that I’ve had and coming from such a low point.
“Going for a fifth Yellow Jersey is massive for me. It’s such a motivation, but coming back from the accident gives me even more reason to try to get there.”
HARRIET DART will return to Rod Laver Arena today believing she now has the fitness to run Simona Halep out of the Australian Open.
The British No3 left the main court at Melbourne Park in tears last year after she failed to win a game against ruthless Maria Sharapova.
And Dart managed to take only two games off world No1 Ashleigh Barty in the third round of Wimbledon in July.
But the world No164 is now back on the big stage after coming through qualifying without dropping a set and fighting back to beat Japan’s Misaki Doi.
And Dart, 23, says she is ready to face reigning Wimbledon champion Halep this morning.
“Those experiences of playing Barty and Sharapova will help me,” Dart said. “I have qualified and won a round here. That gives me extra confidence. I definitely kept my composure and was proud with how I was able to turn it around in the first round, even after having those match points at 6-5.
“I have come on a lot since last year. I had a really good off-season.
“I feel a lot physically stronger and that is helping me in my matches. Physically, I am in a much better place.
“Now I believe I can match Halep. It’s an exciting opportunity to see where my level is at.
“I will go into that match thinking I can win.”