Tour de France: Chris Froome dreaming of one more TDF, hails Tadej Pogacar as 'rider of the year and of the century'
Published 05/11/2024 at 14:36 GMT
Four-time champion Chris Froome says it is “not crazy” to continue dreaming that he could compete at another Tour de France, despite struggling for a return to form since his high-speed crash in 2019. Britain’s seven-time Grand Tour winner has also described Tadej Pogacar "the best rider of the year and of the century".
Girmay pips Roglic and Cavendish in rain-soaked Saitama exhibition
Video credit: TNT Sports
Britain’s four-time Tour de France champion Chris Froome says he continues to dream of competing at the prestigious event at least one more time, and does not think it is “crazy” to believe that.
The 39-year-old has struggled for a return to the form which won him seven Grand Tour titles, the last of which came at the Giro d’Italia in 2018, after suffering a high-speed crash during training in the year following that success.
Froome, who has competed for Israel Premier-Tech since 2021, has not completed a Tour since finishing outside of the top 100 in 2021, having withdrawn late in the race in 2022 after testing positive for Covid.
The British rider has not been picked in his team’s squad for the Tour over the past two editions, but he believes that could change next season.
"It's not crazy to think that I can return to the Tour," Froome told Marca. "I keep dreaming about it.
"I still don't know what my schedule will be for next year. We will see it in the next training camp in 2025. But my challenge is to try to run in a big one again."
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2024/07/21/4007663-81290913-2560-1440.jpg)
Froome enjoys a laugh with former Ineos team-mates and staff before final stage
Video credit: TNT Sports
Froome has fought back from serious injuries he sustained while training for the Criterium du Dauphine in 2019, when he hit a wall at high speed after taking his hand off the handlebars to try and blow his nose.
He told Marca he had never felt as “strong” as when the incident happened, but said: "I have to be honest and realise that I can no longer have the same challenges that I had before that crash, but I still enjoy the bike."
- Girmay pips Roglic and Cavendish in rain-soaked Saitama exhibition
- Pogacar offers verdict on 'brutal' 2025 Tour de France route
- Tour de France route could tempt Cavendish 'to go one more time' - Voigt
Pogacar is 'rider of the century'
While Froome’s status as a yellow jersey contender have faded over the years, he has seen Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard dominate the Tour over the past five editions, with double Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel also challenging.
But it is reigning Tour de France champion Pogacar who has caught the eye of the four-time winner, describing him as the standout cyclist since the turn of the millennium.
"They have been very good for two years, dominating in the Tour and elsewhere. But Remco is also there at a high level," he said.
"Even though they win a lot, cycling is a fun sport with them. I believe that Pogacar, after winning two majors and several other things [this year], is the best rider of the year and of the century."
---
Stream the 2025 cycling season, including the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes, live on discovery+
Related Topics
Thoughts?
Advertisement
Advertisement