Before training again with the 2017 Tour in mind, Froome will take part in the Rio Olympics where he will be among the favourites for the road race and the time trial – an event he chose to contest six months ago. “Kellan, I dedicate this victory to you”, Froome said from the winner’s podium.
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With Nairo Quintana out of sorts, claiming an allergy was the reason, and Alberto Contador quitting the race during the ninth stage after illness weakened him having also been diminished by crashes on the first two days, Froome had no true rivals.
Ahead of them are five-times champions Miguel Indurain of Spain, Belgian great Eddy Merckx plus Frenchmen Bernard Hinault and Jacques Anquetil.
“Greipel is waiting, he’s always won one stage at a Tour de France”. “Being in the position that I’m in now, I’m understanding how tough it is to win a race like the Tour de France”.
For the second time in three years, Poland’s Rafal Majka won the polkadot king of the mountains jersey, but the only man to try to challenge him was Thomas De Gendt, who’s not even a climber.
“It would be my dream to keep coming back to the Tour de France for the next five, six years”, he said.
“I can’t say the novelty is wearing off”.
Froome will head to Rio next week after taking part in Sunday’s RideLondon event, targeting glory in both the road race and the time trial.
“But I think with the team we’ve got we can be extremely competitive”.
Froome took the yellow jersey with a daring downhill attack in Stage 8, padded his lead with a late breakaway in Stage 11, and overcame a motor bike crash on the legendary Mont Ventoux and a fall on a slippery descent in the Alps with two stages to go.
The race won’t live long in memories, but that moment will, as Froome demonstrated the single-minded determination that would guide him again to victory. “The French public, they make this race what it is”.
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“It’s going to be an extremely hard race to judge tactically”.
