Chris Froome has said he will be looking to support Richard Carapaz at the Vuelta a España 2020, as he is still unsure of his own form.
Ineos Grenadiers rider Froome will be lining up at his first Grand Tour since the 2018 Tour de France, as he continues to regain fitness after horrific injuries suffered mid-way through the 2019 season.
The Vuelta a España, which starts in the Basque Country on Tuesday (October 20), will also be Froome’s last race with Ineos (formerly Team Sky), as he heads to Israel Start-Up Nation next year after a decade and seven Grand Tour wins with his old squad.
Froome said: “We’ve got a great team here to support Richard as much as possible.
“I’m going to take it one day at a time, and hopefully finish the Vuelta on a high note. For me personally, I am going to take these first few days to see where I am in the bunch.”
Froome suffered multiple serious injuries during a crashed at the Critérium du Dauphiné last year, which could have ended his career.
But the 35-year-old has returned to the peloton and hopes to be able to get back to his best in the coming months.
Froome added: “I think it’s quite hard to say where I am at the moment given that I haven’t done many stage races recently.
“Signs in training have gotten better and better, and I am feeling more like myself again, which is fantastic. It’s hard to quantify that when I haven’t been able to race against rivals. After the first few stages, I will be able to have a more clear plan for the rest of the race, and know what kind of job I can fulfil at that point.”
Ineos will be riding in support of the 2019 Giro d’Italia winner Richard Carapaz, in the hopes of taking a consolation after failing to win the Tour de France for the first time since 2014.
>>> Bradley Wiggins liquidates businesses with debts of over £1m
Ecuadorian Carapaz said: “I’m in good shape, and feeling really motivated to go for it. I think I can be up there in the fight for the Vuelta, we've got a very strong team and we're keen to get into it.”
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
-
-
Enve introduces new SES line-up: hookless, tubeless-only and purpose-built for ‘modern road riding’
Simplified line offers four new discipline-specific American-made wheels with a proprietary hub
-
'I had lactate up to my ears': Mathieu van der Poel's stage 17 attack was an 'all or nothing' attempt
The Dutchman acknowledged he was perhaps too optimistic, but seemed encouraged by his performance nevertheless
-
Is this Ineos Grenadiers' Tour de France team? Geraint Thomas teases with eight-man training squad photo
It would not be a surprise to see the same faces in Copenhagen
-
Richard Carapaz is ready for whatever the Giro d'Italia final week throws at him
Ecuadorean's confidence bolstered by the strength of his Ineos Grenadiers team
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
'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
-
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
