Chris Froome: 'The novelty of winning the Tour de France hasn't worn off'
Chris Froome will be crowned Tour de France champion if all goes to plan in Paris on Sunday, joining a select group of three-time winners


Chris Froome will cruise into Paris and down the Champs-Élysées for his third Tour de France trophy tomorrow with all the excitement of his first from 2013.
Team Sky's British leader, who finished the last mountain stage in Morzine with a healthy 4-05-minute lead, says that the novelty of winning has not grown old for him and that he is still living a dream.
"I've won it three times, and I can't say the novelty has worn off," Froome said. "It's such a big dream to have the yellow jersey. Iit's an honour, the biggest in our sport. I hope to be back next year to fight again."
Froome walked cooly into the dry press room after a wet ride to Morzine. Rain, and Sky's force, nullified most attacks and Froome ended the last mountain day on top.
On Sunday, if everything goes to plan, he will become one of only four three-time winners, the last being American Greg LeMond. Only four others, the greats, have won more – five each.
"It's amazing the feeling, it could be the first Tour all over again. Just the emotions getting down that last descent, making sure I didn't put a foot wrong, just getting to the last kilometre," Froome said.
"It was relief. Three weeks of putting everything on the road. Coming down today, it's an amazing feeling."
Tour de France stage 20 highlights
Froome's early gains came from a hair-raising descent to Bagnères-de-Luchon. He made another surprising move by attacking in the cross-winds on the road to Montpellier with Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) and team-mate Geraint Thomas. He then added to that in the two time trials and summit finishes.
"It feels like it's been an absolute roller coaster," he added. "There have been amazing moments where we took it on, the descents, the cross-winds and sprinting with Peter Sagan. Things like that. You can't scrip those moments. It's bike racing at it's best. It feels incredible to be a part of that and to shape this year's Tour de France in that way."
Froome's Tour nearly looked to come unhinged when he crashed on Mont Ventoux and on Friday, on the wet descent leading to Saint-Gervais. He admitted that it could have gone either way even if he had a healthy lead.
"When I hit the ground, I was in pain [on Friday]," Froome said. "[On Friday] evening, I was mentally drained. I actually slept quite well.
"That's why I keep saying to people when they ask, it's just not over until you cross that final finish line. Just in a blink of an eye, things can turn around and you can be on the back foot."
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.
-
-
Best bicycle insurance, including what you need to know and how to compare
Wondering how to protect your pride and joy? Our helpful guide tells you all you need to know about bicycle insurance
By Hannah Bussey • Published
-
Five talking points from stage eleven of the Giro d’Italia 2022
The Cycling Weekly highlights package from the stage which finally saw an Italian win at the home race this year
By Luke Friend • Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers insist they had a 'good day' on stage four of the Giro d'Italia, amid confusing tactics
The train returned, but Pavel Sivakov was dropped on Mount Etna
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Chris Froome: Being competitive at Tour de France would be a 'dream scenario'
The Israel-Premier Tech rider on being back at his normal level, appreciating his past, and aiming to have form late into the season
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Pavel Sivakov: 'I’m really happy to be back to my level'
Ineos Grenadiers rider in break at Tour of the Alps, caught with under 10km to go
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Bradley Wiggins: Ineos Grenadiers victory at Paris-Roubaix was 'typical Dave Brailsford'
Former Tour de France winner spent the day on a motorbike covering the race
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'You gotta love bike racing don't you, it's the best thing in the world' — Ben Turner after a dramatic first Paris-Roubaix
Ineos Grenadiers rider claims 11th after crashing, but sees teammate win race
By Adam Becket • Published
-
From finishing outside the time limit to winning Paris-Roubaix, Dylan van Baarle 'buzzing' after victory
Dutch rouleur claims first Paris-Roubaix for Ineos Grenadiers after 12 years of trying
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers head to Paris-Roubaix without one 'pure leader', but lots of options
Filippo Ganna is a favourite for the race, but says he doesn't know why
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Filippo Ganna to lead Ineos Grenadiers at Paris-Roubaix
British squad announce seven man team for Hell of the North
By Adam Becket • Published