“My coach Tim Kerrison also think it is possible to return to a very good condition”
Following his withdrawal yesterday from the USA Pro Challenge, Chris Froome has spoken about his drop in form since the Tour de France, plus his belief that he can still be a contender for the world road race championships in one month’s time.
“I just relaxed two or three weeks after the Tour, and my condition has dropped,” he told L’Equipe, revealing that he has put on four kilos since Paris. “It shows that being in the condition that I was in for the Tour takes a so much work. I cannot take for granted that I will be in the same shape in next year’s Tour.”
Froome lost four minutes 59 seconds on the opening stage of the USA Pro Challenge, placing 77th, and then had placings of 76th, 72nd, 108th, 49th [in the time trial – ed] and 98th. He pulled out early on yesterday’s final stage, having been sitting back in 94th overall.
Speaking at the end of this year’s race in Paris, Froome said then that he viewed the world road race championship as a realistic goal to strive for. The course this year in Florence is hillier than recent editions and Froome believes that riders with his characteristics stand a chance.
“The world championships is an event that doesn’t often favour climbers like the way it does this year, so it’d be a great opportunity to go for that,” he said then. “I’d like to make the worlds the focus for the second part of my season and use that as motivation to keep my form up in the races that come before it.
“I want to try and see the season through, not just switch off completely,” he continued. “Winning the yellow and rainbow jerseys would be an incredible double. I’ve focused on the Tour up until now but being the world champion, that’s probably the second biggest prize in cycling.”
Despite his anonymous performance in Colorado, he states that he believes that there’s still a chance to turn things around in the next month.
“My coach Tim Kerrison also thinks it is possible to return to a very good condition for the World Championship,” he said, making clear that he plans to work hard rather than ending his season early.
He will also do Il Lombardia, the Tour of Beijing and the Japan Cup.