Chris Froome expecting warm welcome from Tour de France fans after tough 2015
Froome says he expects a great atmosphere at the 2016 edition of the Tour de France after trouble with fans on the roadside last year


Team Sky's Chris Froome says that he expects the 2016 Tour de France to be different from 2015, when fans booed him, called names and threw urine.
Froome is lining up on Saturday in Normandy to try for his third title. On Thursday at the Mecure hotel, just 500 metres away from Omaha Beach where allied forces landed on D-Day, he met with press.
>>> Tour de France 2016 preview: Grand Départ and week one (video)
"Hopefully it'll be in the same way that we were received a couple of weeks ago in the [Critérium du] Dauphiné; there was a great atmosphere there," Froome said to a small room packed with journalists.
"This is the biggest race for us and the biggest race in our calendar. We love being here and we love racing in France."
Froome's former teammate Richie Porte was punched after helping his captain to win at La Pierre-Saint-Martin last year. Days later on the stage to Mende, Froome described how someone through a "small cup of urine" and yelled "doper" at him.
Watch: Tour de France 2016 - The Contenders
The tension and fears appeared to grow around the race and Sky. In the later stages, armed French police stood around the Sky bus before and after the stages against possible troublemakers.
In France, and around the world, a much larger fear has developed after the terrorists attacks in Paris last November that left 130 dead. Another round in Brussels in March, killed 32.
After the Brussels bombings, Belgian race organisers upped security around their races. The Tour organiser ASO announced this week that in addition to the 23,000 police, the GIGN force with a special anti-terrorism branch will help protect its race. Froome said that he is thinking about the race first.
"We are here at the start, we haven't seen any additional personnel here or anything like that," Froome explained.
"Our focus is on the race, what you mentioned there is something that's happening behind the scenes. We didn't come here thinking about it, our focus is on our race."
Froome prepared to be ready for the third week of this year's race through the Alps and for the second half of the season with the Rio de Janeiro Olympics and the Vuelta a España.
"It's been good for me to change it up and have a different focus. It has been different, and I'm glad that we took that approach, hopefully that will carry me well in the third week.
"That is something that I made as a personal goal, to be stronger than ever in the past in the third week of this year's edition,” added Froome.
"More specifically, it's delaying the reach of peak form. In previous seasons, in the spring I had already been at that shape and then just trying to hang to it. I have only really just got there now.
"In this period, I feel that I've reached that level again. I hope that means I can hang on to it longer this time and as you say, on to Rio as well.
"Many people will be looking at the last week given it's so heavy-loaded in the mountains, stages 17, 18 and 20. Anyone wanting to make up time, those will be good opportunities. For who is defending, that will be one of the toughest challenges in four back to back days like that."
The race starts with several flat stages in Normandy and then heads to the south, where Sky said that it could already try to attack in the crosswinds to help gain time and deliver Froome to a third victory.
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
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.
-
-
Rideable art: 10 standout handmade bikes from Enve’s Bike Builder Round-Up
Enve Composites opened the doors of their Utah-based HQ to the public last month for their fourth annual Builder Round-Up. Here are 10 standout handmade bikes from the bike show.
By Anne-Marije Rook • Published
-
“I should be doing my final exams but instead I’m riding the Giro!”
Cycling Weekly meets Team Mendelspeck, one of the amateur teams riding the Giro Donne
By Owen Rogers • Published
-
Egan Bernal takes next step of his comeback at altitude training camp in Andorra
The Tour de France and Giro d’Italia winner on the road to recovery after horror crash in January
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
'I had proper fever and chills' - Adam Yates bounces back from Covid for Tour de France
British rider heads to fifth Tour de France as one of Ineos Grenadiers' leader, but with doubts over form
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'I’m just going to try and enjoy myself' — Geraint Thomas readies himself for his 12th Tour de France
Ineos Grenadiers are targeting the yellow jersey with Thomas, Adam Yates and Dani Martínez
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'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
-
Covid threatens to disrupt Tour de France line-up
Virus sweeps through the peloton at key preparation races with Tour de Suisse race leader Vlasov forced to abandon
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Adam Yates out of Tour de Suisse with covid
Brit returns a positive test for coronavirus but the rest of Ineos Grenadiers will race on in Switzerland.
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Can anyone stop the Jumbo juggernaut? Five talking points from the Critérium du Dauphiné
Wout van Aert and Primož Roglič are the best at the French race, but the Tour de France is another level up
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Filippo Ganna storms to time trial victory on stage four of the Critérium du Dauphiné
Wout van Aert second on stage yet again, Belgian remains in yellow jersey with increased lead
By Adam Becket • Published