Chris Froome says 'no regrets' about losing time after going deep on the Zoncolan
Froome says he's happy he went on to win on the Monte Zoncolan despite haemorrhaging more time to his rivals the following day

Chris Froome loses time on stage 15 of the 2018 Giro d'Italia (Sunada)

A Giro d'Italia summit stage win one day, a 1-32-minute loss the next – Chris Froome (Sky) has "no regrets" with his hard push to win on the Monte Zoncolan.
Froome heads into the final week in seventh overall, 4-52 down on leader and fellow Brit Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott). He fell behind with 18 kilometres remaining on stage 15 and lost more time in Sappada, 24 hours after raising his arms in celebration.
>>> How much time will Tom Dumoulin take on Simon Yates in the Giro d’Italia time trial?
"It was such an amazing experience, and one that I do not regret for one second," said Froome, who celebrated his 33rd birthday on Sunday.
"I do not regret putting everything on the line that day. Just the atmosphere on the climb, and the thousands of people who were up there. Also, for me, just taking a step back eight years when I last rode up the Zoncolan. I was almost relying on the public giving a push almost every 20 meters just to get up there. To come back here now eight years later and to win that stage, for me was so special."
The win put a spark into Froome's Giro campaign. It began with two crashes, both on his right side, and time loss on the important mountain days. Monte Zoncolan, stage 14, allowed for a moment of celebration for the four-time Tour de France champion.
"It hasn't been an easy race for me. I've been giving it my all. It wasn't an easy start, and I am obviously quite far back now in the GC," said Froome.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
The race still must cover a time trial on Tuesday and four mountain stages. Froome's gap to Yates may be too big, however, to recover.
"It's big, especially with the way Simon is riding. He hasn't shown a moment of weakness so far, and he is only getting stronger," added Froome.
"I genuinely thought yesterday that he might be paying a little bit for the effort on the Zoncolan, but he only seemed stronger yesterday. I can only say congrats to Simon and he's ridden an incredible race so far. It's going to take really a lot to get that jersey off his shoulders.
"If I gain anything on Tom Dumoulin [in the stage 16 time trial], I will be extremely happy," Froome added.
"He is the world champion time triallist, so I do not expect to gain anything on him. I am going to give it everything I've got, and take it from there. I am not going to expect anything from the rest of this Giro."
Yates' pink jersey ride is heading towards Rome, where he could become the race's first British winner. Froome was the favourite to win the 101st edition before it began in Jerusalem, but crashes led to a different outcome.
A different Yates, Simon's twin brother Adam, will face Froome in the Tour de France this July.
"They've become more prominent as they've gotten older and they have more experience," Froome said of the English twins.
"Simon's ridden an incredible race so far, and I can only say chapeau to him. He hasn't showed one moment of weakness throughout this race so far. I am not in the pink jersey, but it's pretty cool to see another Brit in the pink jersey in this Giro."
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
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.
-
Elisa Longo Borghini emerges as Flanders favourite with Dwars door Vlaanderen victory
The Italian rider soloed to her 50th career win ahead of an elite pack of chasers
By James Shrubsall Published
-
'We did a beautiful race up until 10km to go' - Visma-Lease a Bike pull defeat from the jaws of victory at Dwars door Vlaanderen
With such a difficult second place on Wednesday, could this performance affect confidence ahead of the Tour of Flanders?
By Adam Becket Published
-
'An unprecedented opportunity for brands to be part of the evolution' - Ineos Grenadiers sponsor hunt steps up with sales agency partnership
Sportfive have been employed to find "non-endemic global partners for the team"
By Adam Becket Published
-
'We've all got a little bit extra in us this year' - Ineos Grenadiers recapture 'fighting spirit' with aggressive Paris-Nice display
British team continue to put tumultuous 2024 behind them with momentum and a new found mentality
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Could a TotalEnergies deal be the end of Ineos Grenadiers as we know them?
Reports suggested this week that Ineos could be close to signing a deal with the French petrochemical firm
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'They’re racing with their hearts again' - Robbie McEwen on Ineos Grenadiers' bright start to 2025
The British squad have already won four times in 2025
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers are entertaining so far this year, but how long will it last?
The British WorldTour squad have won four times already in 2025, but more than that, they have been fun. Is this the new dawn?
By Adam Becket Published
-
Caleb Ewan says he was put in a 'bad situation' by Jayco AlUla before he joined Ineos Grenadiers
Ewan joined Ineos Grenadiers in January after spending just one year with Jayco AlUla
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'There's no bull****, that's what I've always liked' - Geraint Thomas's first BC coach Rod Ellingworth on the retiring Welshman
The 2018 Tour de France winner will step away from professional cycling at the end of the season
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'It is time to change goals' - Egan Bernal's coach confirms Ineos Grenadiers exit
'I want to thank all the cyclists I have had the opportunity to coach over the past ten years' Xabier Artetxe says in LinkedIn post
By Tom Thewlis Published