Four-time champion Chris Froome feels like ‘neo-pro’ at Tour comeback

Associated PressJun 23, 2021, 8:43 PM EDT

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As the finest Grand Tour rider of his generation, Chris Froome is used to honors, awards and accolades.

One thing he is not used to at the Tour de France – the race he dominated over the past decade and made him famous – is carrying water bottles for others.

In cycling jargon, it’s called being a “domestique,” and the sight of a former four-time champion in that role will be something quite unusual at cycling’s biggest event.

But a bit more than two years after a horrific, career-threatening crash that left him on the side of a road with multiple serious injuries, Froome is ready to play the sideman part. With the mindset of a rookie.

“I’m really excited for this year’s upcoming start,” the 36-year-old Froome said ahead of Saturday’s opening stage in the western port city of Brest.

“Brest was where I first discovered the Tour de France back in 2008 as a neo pro. I’m heading to the Tour de France this year with a very similar mindset as back in 2008. I’m looking to gain something through racing the Tour de France.”

For the first time since 2013, the year he won his first Tour, Froome won’t be on the starting line with personal ambitions. He has been tasked with a role of road captain at his new Israel Start-Up Nation team and will work in support of leader Michael Woods.

“Typically, going into the Tour de France I obviously got a lot of pressure on my shoulders, as a (top) contender,” Froome said. “That’s not the case this time around. This time around, I’m only (…) trying to do the best job possible to support the guys around me. For almost the last decade I had been going to the Tour de France with a team that was doing a similar job for me. It feels great to be on the other side now, and give back a little bit.”

So much has changed for Froome since that training crash during the 2019 Criterium du Dauphine, an event he had been using to fine-tune his bid for a record-equaling fifth Tour title. The accident not only left him with a fractured right femur, a fractured elbow and fractured ribs, it also cost him his spot in the Team Ineos’ Tour de France squad the year after.

After getting back to competitive racing, Froome did not return to his previous best level and lost his status as the leader of the mighty British outfit. After it was announced his contract could not be renewed and that he would be joining the fast-growing Israel Start-Up Nation team, Froome was left out of the Ineos roster for the 2020 Tour due to poor form.

The Kenyan-born cyclist is still very far from the level that helped him secure the Spanish Vuelta (in 2011 and 2017) and the Giro d’Italia (2018) in addition to his four Tour crowns. He was 47th at the Criterium du Dauphine earlier this month and has not produced a Top 10 result during the entire season.

“I would have hoped that the process would have been faster,” Froome said. “It’s an ongoing process. I’m very happy with where I’m at in terms of left-right leg balance. I think from that side of things I can certainly say that’s behind me. At the moment I’m a lot more focused on the work on the bike and to get back to my former level, having missed so much racing from obviously the downtime of the accident and then straight into the COVID lockdown last year as well.”

For now, he hopes this Tour will serve as a “stepping stone” on the road leading to his past luster.

So, returning to cycling’s biggest race for the first time in three years, would a stage win be enough?

“If you had asked me that question three years ago, I probably would not have said it really ranks anywhere on my list of priorities,” Froome said. “Of course it’s nice to have, but when (the general classification) is your sole focus, it’s not really going to change, it’s not defining in terms of your career. Now, obviously, it’s a very different scenario. For Team Israel Start-Up Nation, a stage win would be massive.”

And for him, too.

Thomas sees Giro d’Italia lead cut slightly by Roglič; Buitrago wins Stage 19

Associated PressMay 26, 2023, 7:13 PM EDT

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TRE CIME DI LAVAREDO, Italy — Geraint Thomas maintained his bid to become the oldest Giro d’Italia champion although his lead was cut slightly by Primož Roglič during the toughest stage of the race.

Roglič crossed the summit finish of the so-called “Queen Stage” three seconds ahead of Thomas at the end of the race’s final mountain road leg.

There were no flat sections and five tough, classified climbs on the 114-mile route from Longarone to the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, which had gradients of up to 18%.

Stage 19 was won by Santiago Buitrago, who finished 51 seconds ahead of Derek Gee and 1 minute, 46 seconds ahead of Magnus Cort and Roglič, who just missed out on bonus seconds.

“I’m really happy with this victory. It was the most difficult moment of a difficult Giro for me personally,” said Buitrago, who rides for Bahrain Victorious. “I wanted to try and raise my arms before the end and coming here at Tre Cime di Lavaredo is amazing.

“This is the recompense for all the work that I’ve done. … There’s a lot of motivation for me and the whole team having seen the fruits of our labors.”

The 37-year-old Thomas, who rides for Ineos Grenadiers, is 26 seconds ahead of Roglič going into what will be a decisive penultimate stage

Third-placed João Almeida lost more time and was 59 seconds behind Thomas.

Roglič changed his bicycle shortly before the start of the penultimate climb and he made his move inside the final kilometer. However, Thomas was able to stick to his wheel and the British cyclist made his own attack in the final 500 meters and looked to have slightly distanced his rival.

But Roglič came back and gained what could be a vital few seconds.

The winner will likely be decided in the mountain time trial that ends in a demanding climb up Monte Lussari, with an elevation of over 3,000 feet and gradients of up to 22%.

“Tomorrow we go full again,” Roglič said. “It’s good. We got a bit of legs back, so tomorrow we go full, eh?

“If I wouldn’t be confident then I don’t start. The best one at the end wins.”

The race ends in a mostly ceremonial finish in Rome, where Thomas could beat the age record held by Fiorenzo Magni, who was 34 when he won in 1955.

Thomas celebrates 37th birthday by retaining Giro d’Italia lead; Roglic into 2nd

Associated PressMay 25, 2023, 12:28 PM EDT

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VAL DI ZOLDO, Italy — Geraint Thomas celebrated his 37th birthday with another strong ride in the mountains to retain the pink jersey during Stage 18 of the Giro d’Italia.

Thomas crossed immediately behind Primoz Roglic, who moved up from third place to second.

“The legs have been good,” Thomas said. “Need to enjoy these moments.”

Joao Almeida dropped from second to third overall after losing 21 seconds over the 100-mile route from Oderzo to Val di Zoldo, which included two first-category climbs followed by two second-category climbs in the finale – including an uphill finish.

Thomas – the 2018 Tour de France champion – leads Roglic by 29 seconds and Almeida by 39 seconds.

“It’s a pleasant day. I take time on Almeida and didn’t get dropped by Primoz,” Thomas said. “I felt pretty good, always under control but Primoz obviously went hard. It wasn’t easy. … I just want to be consistent until the end.”

Italian champion Filippo Zanna won the stage ahead of fellow breakaway rider Thibaut Pinot in a two-man sprint.

With only two more climbing stages remaining before the mostly ceremonial finish in Rome, Thomas is poised to become the oldest Giro winner in history – beating the record of Fiorenzo Magni, who was 34 when he won in 1955.

Chris Horner holds the record for oldest Grand Tour champion, set when he won the Spanish Vuelta in 2013 at 41.

However, Thomas will still be tested over the next two days.

Stage 19 is considered perhaps the race’s toughest, a 114-mile leg from Longarone to Tre Cime Di Lavaredo featuring five major climbs. Then there’s a mountain time trial.