As Chris Froome became the first Briton to win the Tour de France three times his Team Sky boss Sir David Brailsford told ITV in Paris that he’s “proud to be British”.
Advertisement
Having won a bronze in the time trial at the 2012 London Olympics, the 31-year-old’s hopes of a gold in Rio were boosted when his chief rival, Dutchman Tom Dumoulin, fractured his wrist during the Tour de France and is a doubt for the Games.
“I think by far this has been our strongest line-up at the Tour de France and I think it’s been for several reasons”, Froome said.
Frenchman Romain Bardet finished second overall, 2:52 behind Froome, who had a 4:05 lead going into the last stage but was caught on the wrong side of a split in the finale of Sunday’s stage.
The three time “Tour de France” victor has been confirmed by race organisers, to be joining the iconic race, in order to prepare for this years Olympics.
“The fact that the three-time victor of the Tour de France views this race as the flawless preparation for his bid for Olympic gold shows the calibre of the race we have developed in just three years”.
Froome was one of two Brits on the Paris podium, with 23-year-old Adam Yates also sealing the white jersey of best young rider – the first Brit ever to do so.
The British cyclist, who won the Tour in 2013 and previous year, was crowned the champion again after yesterday’s largely processional ride from Chantilly to the Champs Elysees in Paris.
“I’ve raced for three weeks for that”, Greipel said. The following day, it was decided that the time trial between Bourg-Saint-Andéol and La Caverne du Pont-d’Arc would go ahead, despite the bad scenes witnessed in Nice. Kenyan-born British rider Froome, the beneficiary of his teammates’ hard work for much of the Tour, was able to somewhat return the favors, serving as waiter for his buddies by collecting several bottles at once to share out.
Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain have won the most Tours with five each and Froome plans to give himself every chance of equalling those greats. He also won the three-week race in 2013.
In what has become a familiar sight, the Direction Data rider got himself into a breakaway, and then showed his strength to leave a group including former Tour de France victor Vincenzo Nibali in his wake.
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 made a decision to contest six months ago. “I’ve done absolutely everything I can to win this race, on flats, descents, time trials, I’ve done everything I can”.
“It suits me well”, he added.
He added: “I’m happy, the team is happy, we are not exhausted, we have got plenty of energy, all the guys have finished well, the Olympics are coming up and a lot of riding the Olympics, they are going to enjoy that, and then it’s on to the Tour of Spain”.
Only two other riders now racing have won the Tour, Alberto Contador twice, in 2007 and 2009 and Vincenzo Nibali in 2014, but Froome is ready for more.
Advertisement
“I am looking forward to finding out what next year’s edition will hold for us, what challenges we’re going to have to train for and be ready for”.
