272km, 45kmh: Chris Froome's astonishing 'Empty the Tank' training ride on Strava
Whatever riding you did this weekend has just been put in the shade

With spring on the horizon, now is the time that most of us think about up our mileage and speed on the weekend ride. However whatever you got up to on Sunday, we guarantee it won't have anything on this amazing ride that Chris Froome uploaded to Strava.
Having already racked up more than 4,000km since the start of the year, Froome headed out on Sunday for his biggest training ride since he returned to Strava in late December: a training ride longer than any race last year apart from Milan-San Remo.
Leaving his house just north of Johannesburg at 6.30am, Froome wouldn't return for another seven hours as he ticked off an astonishing 271.65km with only a couple of breaks during the ride.
Watch: Chris Froome's Pinarello Dogma F10
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ro3K6HyzHpU
What makes this ride even more amazing is Froome's average speed. Now, we're going to assume that most of this ride was motor-paced (and indeed the activity has now been flagged on Strava), but the Team Sky rider still managed an average speed of 44.8kmh, including a maximum speed of 89.3kmh on a fast, straight descent just a few kilometres from the end of his ride.
Unsurprisingly, Froome's effort was richly rewarded by other Strava users, with no fewer than 13,000 of them (at the time of writing) giving the 32-year-old kudos.
Despite having the spectre of an anti-doping investigation hanging over him, Froome doesn't seem to have lost any motivation with his training this year, not having had a complete day off the bike since December 30.
Since the start of 2018 he has covered more than 4,500km from his base in South Africa, riding for nearly 140 hours including a 33 hour week last week.
That meant that his latest ride came after two other days in the saddle which may have seemed rather long for most of us, but perhaps 171km and 136km rides at a little over 30kmh don't take quite as much out of your legs when you're a four-time Tour de France winner.
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Henry Robertshaw began his time at Cycling Weekly working with the tech team, writing reviews, buying guides and appearing in videos advising on how to dress for the seasons. He later moved over to the news team, where his work focused on the professional peloton as well as legislation and provision for cycling. He's since moved his career in a new direction, with a role at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
-
-
Ayesha McGowan: 'Girmay crossed the finish line solo, but we all won today’
'Seeing a Black man on the top step at the Giro d'Italia is no small thing when it comes to representation in cycling,' the American says
By Anne-Marije Rook • Published
-
Vel adds new gravel and road wheelsets to its expanding lineup
Latest offerings include 60mm carbon road wheel and a 'race-ready' gravel wheelset with a claimed weight of 1,350g
By Luke Friend • Published
-
Winner Dylan van Baarle shares impressive Strava data from fastest-ever Paris-Roubaix
The Dutchman covered the 257.2km route in 5-37-00, winning with a powerful solo attack 19km from the finish line
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Chris Froome eager to lose weight after 'baptism of fire' at Coppi e Bartali
The Briton admitted he was 2kg overweight after the Italian race, while confirming he will race the Tour of the Alps
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Chris Froome confirmed to race Tour of the Alps
Organisers announced the Briton's involvement for just his second race of 2022
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Strava's latest update adds 3D maps to its mobile apps
The update is free and offers users a 3D terrain view of their surroundings
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Victor Campenaerts breaks Tadej Pogačar's Coll de Rates Strava record
The Belgian climbed the Spanish mountain 13 seconds quicker than Pogačar on Saturday February 12
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Strava maps will now show points of interest for all users in the apps first 2022 update
Strava has identified the most popular spots and locations for its users and added them to maps feature
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
'My preparations have definitely been delayed': Chris Froome taking it 'pretty steady' with knee injury
Four-time Tour de France winner says there is a 'good buzz' around Israel-Premier Tech as he heads into second year with team
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Chris Froome's 2022 preparations interrupted by knee injury
The Briton is taking some time off after suffering with pain in his right knee
By Ryan Dabbs • Published