Chris Froome could aim for Vuelta a Espana after Tour de France crash
Possibility that injured Sky leader Chris Froome may ride in the Vuelta and Tour of Britain, alongside Bradley Wiggins
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

After abandoning the Tour de France on Wednesday, Chris Froome could ride the Vuelta a España or the Tour of Britain next, and possibly with Bradley Wiggins.
"If it makes sense, if it's the right thing to do from the performance point of view then why not?" Sky's team boss, David Brailsford said. "But let's wait to see first and take stock of the situation."
Froome abandoned the Tour de France yesterday in stage five after crashing three times just over 24 hours and travelled to his home in Monaco. The biggest concern for the team is his left wrist, which Brailsford said that he believes will not need surgery.
"You have to stop and take stock of the situation. Until we found out exact the nature of his injury, and what that recover and rehab programme looks like, it’s a bit early to speculate on the rest of the year," Brailsford continued.
"There are obviously quite a bit of WorldTour races left, which would be a consideration, a Grand Tour would be a consideration, the Tour of Britain might be a consideration..."
The 29-year-old Brit built his season around the Tour de France but was only able to race five and a half days of it. He could be hungry to race another Grand Tour – the Vuelta a España from August 23 to September 14 – to finish off his season.
Wiggins, however, might be thinking the same thing as he races the Commonwealth Games and builds towards the World Championship time trial on September 24. He has yet to race a Grand Tour this year and despite winning the Tour of California and British time trial title, was left at home for the Tour de France.
They raced the 2011 Vuelta together in Spain, where Froome placed second and Wiggins third. Froome returned in 2012 and placed fourth.
"[The Vuelta is] not confirmed yet," Brailsford said of Wiggins. "We'll have to see how he goes in the Commonwealth Games and where we're at after that. Brad's goal is to get into the best shape possible for the World time trial championships."
Wiggins and Froome have not raced a Grand Tour together since they went one-two, respectively, in the 2012 Tour de France. In that race, they butted heads often. Froome wrote in his book, "We rode around [Wiggins] and his moods like he was a traffic island."
Since the 2012 Tour, the have had mostly different racing programmes. They raced the Tour of Oman and Worlds road race together in 2013 and not once in the same Sky team so far in 2014.
Bradley Wiggins (left) and Chris Froome (right) on the podium of the 2011 Vuelta a Espana
Chris Froome abandons Tour de France
Chris Froome’s exit from the Tour de France “devastating”
Team Sky boss speaks after defending champion Chris Froome crashes out of stage five and abandons the race
Thank you for reading 10 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.
-
-
Bikes of the Atlas Mountain Race 2023: from comfort gravellers to speed weapons, here’s what caught our eye
Covering 1,300km / 800mi of Morocco’s gravel roads and mountain passes, the Atlas Mountain Race demands a tech-heavy approach for its 3+ days of bikepacking racing
By Stefan Abram • Published
-
British champion Cameron Mason hoping for rain at Cyclo-cross World Championships
British national champion says patience will be the key in what’s expected to be a fast race in Hoogerheide, the Netherlands
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Chris Froome highlights dangers of long Covid after battle with virus
Four-time Tour de France champion warns of cardiovascular impact and says his VO2 max took a hit after illness
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Chris Froome labels WorldTour relegation a ‘death sentence for many teams’
Four-time Tour de France winner says UCI points system needs overhaul as Israel-PremierTech face relegation from the WorldTour
By Tom Thewlis • Last updated
-
Chris Froome still holds out hope for fifth Tour de France win
Israel-Premier Tech rider says the dream is "always there"
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Tour de Yorkshire to be replaced with new look cycling event in 2024
Tour de Yorkshire not due to return to north of England, although initial plans announced for new cycling event in area
By Tom Thewlis • Last updated
-
Chris Froome out of Tour de France after positive Covid-19 test result
Four-time winner and third on Alpe d’Huez stage forced to abandon on stage 18
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
'I’m going to keep pushing. I don’t know what my limits are': Chris Froome climbs to best result since 2018
Israel-Premier Tech rider finished third on stage 12 of the Tour de France to Alpe d'Huez
By Adam Becket • Published
-
La Planche des Belles Filles: will today's Tour de France climb be make or break?
Primož Roglič may be looking to salvage his Tour de France by exorcising his 2020 demons on the brutal climb
By Tom Thewlis • Last updated
-
'Dismiss Geraint Thomas at your peril' — Bradley Wiggins sees Welshman as Tour de France 'underdog'
Ineos Grenadiers rider will head to Tour off the back of Tour de Suisse win
By Adam Becket • Published