'Chris Froome asked me about Strava, but I don't know if he was using it'
Ian Boswell says he doesn't know if Chris Froome was the user behind the mysterious 'Luke Skywalker' Strava account


The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Thank you for signing up to The Pick. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
Chris Froome may have been using Strava with a secret name, but Sky teammate and training partner at the time Ian Boswell says that he does not know what he was doing.
The two trained together in South Africa in March, at the time that a cyclist was uploading to Strava with the account name Luke Skywalker and on the same rides as Boswell. The account was deleted only one month after it was created and shortly after it was made public.
>>> Chris Froome’s possible presence on Strava didn’t last long
"He was asking me about Strava while we were there. I was using it, but I don't if he was actually using it or not," Boswell said on Froome on Wednesday morning at the Giro d'Italia.
"I don't know. Seriously. We were in different apartments. I don't know what he was doing on his computer."
In South Africa, the two trained at altitude at the same time that team Orica-GreenEdge were there with Adam and Simon Yates, and Esteban Chaves.
"I know Chaves is on Strava, as well. I was telling [Froome] the times we did up climbs compared to the GreenEdge guys. It's fun to compare like that especially when you go training where there's only really us and maybe GreenEdge. I feel bad though, because the locals had some KOMs and the pros show up and put the times out of reach.
Watch: Pro bike - Chris Froome
"He kept asking me about it. I was telling him times, that I thought that we went this much faster up the climbs than Chaves or that we were this much slower. And he said, 'I think we can break that tomorrow if we go harder.'"
The American from Oregon is quickly rising up the ranks within Sky. He trains regularly around his base in Nice, France, and said that he has a "strong" Strava segment on part of the Madone climb near Monaco and that he is proud of setting the fastest time up Mount Baldy in the Tour of California last year because he took it off of friend and former Team Sky rider Joe Dombrowski.
"I'll always use it because it doesn't say anything. The files from Strava are just a time up a climb, it doesn't share any secret information.
"People are always trying to analyse Froome's efforts, which is bogus. Even at times, I'll have a Strava file where the signal gets confused and shows me as a minute faster where I went slower.
"He also runs those Q-rings so that power is different. He can run side by side with me, but his power is way different than me even if we are similar weight and aerodynamic-drags."
Boswell has other things to consider. In the Giro, he will be one of Mikel Landa's most important helpers in the mountains with Nicolas Roche and Mikel Nieve. He hopes that a good showing this year puts him in line for the Tour de France.
"But not this year! I hope not! Anything is possible, but I don't think I'm even on the long list for it.
"I think the team is being pretty cautious with my development and making sure I'm managed pretty well. Just the stress of the Tour, maybe not the physical racing, is more than the Vuelta [a España] or the Giro. I think this is probably the logical progression to come here after the Vuelta," Boswell added.
"My goal this year was to get integrated in that Tour group, which I did. In the Tenerife camp, it was pretty much all the guys plus myself. It was good to increase the training and work effort, and focus they have to start to transition to that style."
Thank you for reading 20 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
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
-
All the tech tips and tricks you need to commute all year round
Cycling Weekly's expert tech writers will be bringing you a host of tips, tricks, buying advice and - most importantly - motivation to keep you commuting all year
By Michelle Arthurs-Brennan Published
-
Ask a cycling coach: ‘Should I cycle commute every day?’
The length of your commute is a major factor; but there are ways to adapt your routine to maximise on the gains of riding into work
By Alex Welburn Published
-
Is Chris Froome - in 2023 - a professional cyclist, or an influencer?
The seven-time Grand Tour winner hasn't raced since July, but has taken to being interesting on social media
By Adam Becket Published
-
'I thought I was more in the door than I was' - Luke Rowe bares all on Vuelta a España snub
Welshman will not race a Grand Tour this year after he missed out on selection by Ineos Grenadiers
By Tom Davidson Published
-
‘I hope I get a cow’ - Josh Tarling aiming for the top prize at World Championships
Welshman competing in elite men’s individual time trial on Friday afternoon
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'All being well I’ll still be racing next year' but 'it's coming to an end' - Geraint Thomas on Ineos Grenadiers future
'It's nice to be arriving at a Worlds in decent nick' says the Welshman ahead of individual time trial in Stirling
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Carlos Rodriguez credits BMX skills with Tour de France stage win
Ineos Grenadiers rider dedicates his victory to his parents
By Vern Pitt Published
-
Chris Froome 'absolutely not' worth multi-million euro salary says his team boss
The four-time Tour de France winner was not selected for this year's Tour de France for performance reasons, Israel-Premier Tech boss Sylvan Adams says
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
'We just have to keep trying': Ineos Grenadiers ready to attack at the Tour de France
'You never know' British team's DS Steve Cummings says anything is still possible at French Grand Tour
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Disappointed on stage one, pleased with stage two: Tom Pidcock gaining confidence at Tour de France
Ineos Grenadiers rider satisfied with performance on the road to San Sebastián after difficult opening stage
By Tom Thewlis Published