Team Sky's Chris Froome is not ruling out the 2017 Giro d'Italia next May despite saying this summer that the Tour de France will remain his focus.
Froome finished the Vuelta a España second overall for a third time this season, 1-23 minutes behind race winner Nairo Quintana (Movistar). Now, he is planning a rest with his wife and baby boy and of course, his 2017 schedule.
"I'm always open to anything," Froome said. "I wouldn't write [the Giro] off. But I think mostly important it's about seeing what route organisers go with and see what takes my fancy."
The Giro d'Italia organiser RCS Sport may have time to tweak its route to entice cycling's biggest star. It is already planning a time trial through the Franciacorta valleys and hills that Froome knows so well from his time living near Brescia.
Cycling Director Mauro Vegni told Cycling Weekly in May, "It's never easy to put all the favourites together in a Grand Tour, but the goal would be to do so next year because it's a special year given how it's the 100th edition of the Giro."
Steven Kruijswijk (LottoNL-Jumbo), Fabio Aru (Astana) and 2016 victor Vincenzo Nibali, next year with Bahrain-Merida, plan to be on the start line in 2017.
Froome's toughest day (so far)
RCS Sport will present the Big Start in Milan on September 14. The race is reportedly beginning in Sassari and spending an additional two days on the island of Sardinia. It will present the entire 100th edition on October 25.
Froome would have to approach next season differently if he also wants to take aim at another Tour de France title. After he won in July, he indicated that the French race would remain his focus and gave little hope to RCS Sport.
"As it stands, with my focus on the Tour, it's difficult to commit to the Giro," Froome said. "It's difficult to back up two Grand Tours like that.
"Times have changed, with it being so much more competitive, it's harder to stay at the top for the duration of the season when you have guys targeting and training for specific events."
Froome debuted in the Tour de France in 2008 when he still raced as a Kenyan. In 2009 and 2010, he raced the Giro. After his 2011 breakthrough in the Vuelta, however, he turned his back on Italy and gave the Tour his focus.
If not Froome, Wout Poels or Mikel Landa could lead Team Sky's black and blue train through Italy next May.
