'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
Three years on from the horror crash that threatened to derail his entire career, and almost cost him his life, Chris Froome climbed to third on stage 12 of the Tour de France, his best result since the 2018 version.
He might not have had the legs to match Tom Pidcock and Louis Meintjes on Alpe d'Huez, but the Israel-Premier Tech rider showed glimpses of his old self, the one that won four Tours de France in just five editions.
Froome was clearly exhausted at the finish, with a cough interrupting interviews at the stage finish in the scrum for his attention. He might not have had the legs in recent years, but he has remained popular with fans.
"I have no regrets today," the 37-year-old said. "Naturally I would have loved to have put my hands up and I tried to win the stage. I gave it everything today. I don’t have any regrets. Where I’ve come from over the last three years, battling back from my accident to finish third on one of the hardest stages in the Tour, I can be really happy with that.
"I’m going to keep pushing. I don’t know what my limits are, I’ll keep trying to improve and hopefully get back to them again."
Froome crashed while on a recon ride of a time-trial at the Critérium du Dauphiné in June 2019. Since then, he has moved from Ineos to Israel-Premier Tech, but his old form has so far proved elusive.
His highest finish in the interim was 11th at the Mercan Tour Classic Alpes-Maritimes back in May. He also 22nd on a flat stage of the UAE Tour in 2021, and he finished 23rd overall at the Tour de Slovaquie last year too.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
The last time Froome finished on the podium of a stage at the Tour was in 2018, when he finished second on the stage 20 time trial on his way to third overall. The same year he finished fourth on that year's Alpe d'Huez stage, which was won by his then teammate Geraint Thomas.
"I’ve been feeling better and better and have been wanting to target a stage like today," he explained. "I tried my luck in the breakaway and I gave it everything that I had. I have regrets, I had no more to give on that final climb. Tom [Pidcock] and Louis [Meintjes] had more in their engines than me. Congrats to them for the stage today. Thanks to my team and my teammates for allowing me the chance to get up the road today."
Pidcock, the man 15 years his junior, put his breakaway companions under pressure on the descent from the Croix de Fer before attacking decisively on the Alpe.
"It was all still unknown," Froome said. "To me personally, Tom seemed like the strongest in the group. The way he bridged the gap to me on the first climb. He was flying on the descents today. His mountain biking came in handy today. There were a few points where I backed off because he was pushing the limits."
He may not have won, but Froome will want this result to be the start of something new, not a valedictory statement. His best result for four years is certainly the genus of something.
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
Adam is Cycling Weekly’s news editor – his greatest love is road racing but as long as he is cycling on tarmac, he's happy. Before joining Cycling Weekly he spent two years writing for Procycling, where he interviewed riders and wrote about racing. He's usually out and about on the roads of Bristol and its surrounds. Before cycling took over his professional life, he covered ecclesiastical matters at the world’s largest Anglican newspaper and politics at Business Insider. Don't ask how that is related to cycling.
-
Remco Evenepoel goes on first outdoor ride since horror crash, hints at Tour de France on Strava
'On my way back' says the Belgian, as he builds back up to Tour de France form with almost-100km ride
By James Shrubsall Published
-
Four weeks after breaking arm, Lizzie Deignan set to start La Vuelta Femenina
British rider to line up at eight-stage race on Sunday, less than a month on from crash at Tour of Flanders
By Adam Becket Published
-
Wout van Aert back on drop bars as he says he’s 'almost professional again' in Strava post
Visma-Lease a Bike rider broke his collarbone, sternum and several ribs in a high speed crash at Dwars door Vlaanderen
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Jonas Vingegaard leaves hospital after Itzulia Basque Country horror crash
Danish rider underwent surgery to repair broken collarbone; too early to know whether Tour de France return will be possible
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Will the Tour de France be won by the last man standing?
With Jonas Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel and Primož Roglič hitting the deck at Itzulia Basque Country, all three now face battle to get their seasons back on track
By Adam Becket Published
-
Israel-Premier Tech to tackle Paris-Roubaix on gravel bikes
Team will ride the Factor Ostro Gravel in Sunday’s cobbled Monument
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tom Pidcock unable to bear weight on right leg after Itzulia Basque Country crash
British rider crashed during recon of opening stage time trial last weekend and injured his right hip
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Mark Cavendish to miss Scheldeprijs as illness continues to affect schedule
Cavendish will ride Presidential Cycling Tour of Türkiye later this month, Astana Qazaqstan confirms
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Mathieu van der Poel not intimidated by Tadej Pogačar’s form ahead of Milan-San Remo clash
Dutchman starts his 2024 road season at Italian Monument on Saturday
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Introducing the British rider with a 100% GC record in 2024
Victories at the Tour du Rwanda and Tour de Taiwan cap a glittering start to pro life for the 21-year-old
By Adam Becket Published