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| Photo: Michelle Cound / www.Chris-Froome.com |
About a
year ago nobody talked about Chris Froome. The ex-Kenyan had been sidelined by
illness and injuries for a long time but in the Vuelta España he showed his
true potential. Without yet having signed a new contract for the following
season, Chris Froome ended second overall in the Spanish Grand Tour where he
probably would have won had Team Sky not having him wait for Bradley Wiggins in
the mountains.
Nine months
later Froome showed himself on the biggest scene of them all, being the
strongest rider in the Tour de France taking second place overall. An
achievement proving that Chris Froome isn't just a onetime wonder.
"It
hasn't been the easiest year by any means. I think many people were questioning
if the Vuelta performance last year was a once off, so to come back and do it
again at the Tour de France has been very reassuring", Chris Froome tells me.
Now it's
time for the Vuelta España and if you thought Chris Froome only had been
focusing on the Tour de France this year, you're dead wrong. Froome has been
aiming at the Vuelta from the beginning of the season, but he also knows that
with Alberto Contador in the race it will be a tough one.
"Alberto
has proved on many occasions that he is a great Grand Tour rider and I'm sure
he will be raring to go at this year's Vuelta after his ban. I've never raced
against him, so I'm not 100% sure what to expect. For me it will be difficult
to ride two Grand Tours back to back, especially with the Olympics between, but
I will go to the Vuelta with a positive mentality & hope to ride to the
best of my ability", he explains.
In the Tour
de France this year it was clear to see that Chris Froome had more in the tank
and he got to show and looking ahead Froome is also very clear about his
ambitions next year.
"I
would be disappointed not to be allowed to at least try and win the Tour de
France next year", he says.
Vuelta
España starts on Saturday the 18th of August and to help Chris Froome take the
win Team Sky sends the following riders to Spain: Juan Antonio Flecha, Sergio
Henao, Danny Pate, Richie Porte, Ian Stannard, Ben Swift, Rigoberto Urán and
Xabier Zandio.
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