“If anyone can do it, he can do it of all those people there at the Tour”.
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The race’s 200km route means that Froome, 31, and his fellow Sky teammates will ride through Kingston town centre before crossing Hampton Court Bridge into Surrey.
“All being well, that’s what we will be doing”, Brailsford told Sky Sports. There’s nothing like the most hard road race in the world to prepare you for the Olympics! “Vive le Tour et vive la France!”
Cheered on by thousands of fans undeterred by the recent spate of violence across Europe, Froome celebrated his third Tour title in four years.
Relive the final stage, and podium celebrations, in the gallery below.
Immediately afterward, Froome was greeted by his wife and infant son, who he took in his arms.
“To Michelle my wife and my son Kellan, your love and support make everything possible”.
Andre Greipel of Germany won the 21st leg in a sprint finish.
Team Sky’s leader sealed his third Tour victory on the streets of Paris yesterday and will perform something of a victory lap on home soil at RideLondon on Sunday, effectively a leg loosener before flying to Rio for the Olympics.
Then it was time for the traditional flute of champagne.
“That’s the thing with the Tour: there are so many ups and downs and so many twists and turns, you go through all that as a team, ” said the 30-year-old.
Froome also still had bandages on his right knee and elbow, the result of a downhill crash two days ago.
Only four men – five-time winners Jacques Anquetil, Bernard Hinault, Eddy Merckx and Miguel Indurain – now have more Tour victories than Froome.
“I feel as if, even at this point, at the age of 31, I’m still learning so much about the sport, and I think tactically I’ve shown this year I’ve matured”.
Children at Chris Froome’s old school in South Africa have been celebrating his victory at the Tour de France by wearing special yellow T-shirts.
Twelve months later he was leading his own squad and three stage wins helped him to a maiden Grand Tour success.
The 2016 Vuelta begins in Ourense, north west Spain, on August 20, 10 days after the Olympic time-trial takes place.
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Another stage victor from this year’s Tour de France, Michael Matthews (Orica-BikeExchange) will race, as will former world champion Tom Boonen (Etixx – Quick-Step). “It’s the biggest event we have on our calendar and to be here in the yellow jersey, it’s every cyclist’s dream”.
