Chris Froome says he won’t be ready for the Giro but Tour de France ‘is the driving force’
The Grand Tour star is back on the bike after his second operation
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NYqTr8P2CppBwXWU26HiQe-415-80.jpg)
Chris Froome says he won’t be back to 100 per cent fitness by the Giro d’Italia, but that he is fully focused on his Tour de France comeback.
The seven-time Grand Tour winner has been out of racing since a horrific crash during the Critérium du Dauphiné in June that left him with a broken right leg and other injuries.
Team Ineos rider Froome his now looking to his return next season, having undergone an operation to remove metalwork in his leg and elbow.
Speaking on Watts Occuring, the podcast hosted by his Welsh team-mates Luke Rowe and Geraint Thomas, Froome said: “It’s been a tough old six months but I think I’m pretty lucky all things considered that it wasn’t worse.
“I got back on the bike yesterday officially for the first time since my second operation to remove some of the metalwork, so hopefully there’s no going back now and hopefully everything I do will be towards the Tour next year.”
Froome crashed during a recon of the time trial stage at the Dauphiné, hitting a wall at 60km/h and suffering a complex open fracture to his femur and breaking bones in his sternum and neck.
The crash took the 34-year-old out for the rest of the season as he underwent rehab and slowly got back on the bike.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Froome said: “The first thing is just getting back on the bike and then trying to work on some of the weaknesses. That right leg now hasn’t been working properly for six months, so it’s quite weak and needs a lot of work.”
After starting with track session, Froome then returned to riding on the road before he took part on the team time trial at the Saitama Criterium in October.
Last month, Froome was back in hospital to have metalwork removed but has been back out on the bike already.
Froome said he hasn’t found it too difficult to keep his weight down while not riding, as his appetite isn’t as strong because he hasn’t been training for hours on the bike each day.
>>> Wout Van Aert describes pain of Tour de France injury ahead of racing return
He said: “I definitely won’t be ready to take on the Giro 100 per cent so I think logically the Tour makes a lot of sense and obviously for my own ambitions, trying to get number five, the record is a big goal.
"That’s the driving force for me, that’s the light at the end of the tunnel to get to the Tour in my best shape again. That’s definitely helped through the tough times.
“It’s also been quite daunting having that as a goal. Getting back on the bike for the first time was amazing, it was really cool to be out on the road again but it also highlighted how far away from Tour de France winning shape I am. I’ve lost six months and it’s going to take me a good few months to get back there.”
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
Alex Ballinger is editor of BikeBiz magazine, the leading publication for the UK cycle industry, and is the former digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter, then as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output, and now as the editor of BikeBiz. Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) Alex covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers. Away from the desk, Alex can be found racing time trials, riding BMX and mountain bikes, or exploring off-road on his gravel bike. He’s also an avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.
-
How to watch the Olympic cycling time trial at Paris 2024
Get all the information you need to watch the action of the men's and women's Olympic cycling time trial at Paris 2024
By Cat Glowinski Published
-
Ribble Cycles looking to capitalise on 'big summer of sport' with 30% off highly-rated models
Direct-to-consumer Ribble Cycles has always been rated highly among the Cycling Weekly tech team. This is our pick of the best Road, Gravel and E-bikes from their 'Summer Sale'
By Matt Ischt-Barnard Published
-
It's time to stop expecting so much of Ineos Grenadiers at the Tour de France
The British team are always under pressure to match their past best, but it’s not going to happen anytime soon
By Adam Becket Published
-
Tom Pidcock says Ineos Grenadiers will be 'better' at the Tour de France without Steve Cummings
Netflix series depicted tension between the DS and rider, dynamic sources told Cycling Weekly carries a degree of accuracy
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tom Pidcock 'dreaming' of taking yellow jersey on opening weekend of Tour de France
British rider hopes to play starring role in Italian Grand Départ
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'I think I'll get the opportunity to go for a stage' - Geraint Thomas relishing support role at Tour de France
Former yellow jersey winner says this year's race "could be my last"
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Carlos Rodríguez to lead Ineos Grenadiers at Tour de France, supported by Geraint Thomas and Tom Pidcock
British squad will aim to "race aggressively and disrupt" at the French Grand Tour
By Adam Becket Published
-
Chris Froome misses out on Tour de France selection
39-year-old absent from Israel-Premier Tech's eight-rider roster
By Tom Davidson Published
-
21 things you didn't know about Tom Pidcock
According to the man himself, he's never had a hangover. It's alright for some.
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tom Pidcock adds extra mountain bike race to schedule, one week before Tour de France
Pidcock confirms he will race World Cup event in Crans Montana, Switzerland ahead of Olympic title defence
By Tom Thewlis Published