froome tour de france 2022

Chris Froome: Being competitive at Tour de France would be a 'dream scenario'

The Israel-Premier Tech rider on being back at his normal level, appreciating his past, and aiming to have form late into the season

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It has been a long way back for Chris Froome. The four-time Tour de France winner has been on a journey back to his normal level ever since the horror crash at the Critérium du Dauphiné in 2019 .

The Israel-Premier Tech rider is still aiming to ride the Tour this summer though, describing being competitive there again as the "dream scenario".

Froome has not achieved a top ten finish in any race since the Tour of the Alps in 2019, which he is back at this year. In that time, we have seen Tadej Pogačar and Primož Roglič emerge at the top of the sport, and travelled through almost an entire pandemic.

After his move from Ineos to his new team at the end of 2020, he rode a full calendar last year, but failed to live up to his own exacting standards, riding mostly anonymously.

His 2022 had an aborted start to this season after suffering a knee injury , meaning his first race was Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali at the end of March. 

However, speaking to Cycling Weekly , Cyclingnews and Wielerflits at the Tour of the Alps, the 36-year-old said he had "overcome a lot of hurdles" and that there was "nothing really holding me back now".

"I'm generally pretty happy with how things are going at the moment," Froome said. "I can take a lot of positives out of this I think. Positives from the start of this year, I can really see a lot of response from my body to the training loads, to everything. I feel as if my body is responding differently to how it was last year. I've overcome a lot of hurdles.

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"Basically I've got the all clear now, I've got nothing really holding me back now. I can get fully engrossed in the training side of things now, I mean that's a side that I'm familiar with, I've been doing that for years. That's the side that I'm actually looking forward to now these next few months and see where I can get to."

Froome joined Israel-Premier Tech after 11 years at Team Sky/Ineos, during which he won two Vueltas a España , a Giro d'Italia , and four Tours, alongside multiple other titles.

When he signed for the team, his contract was described as "long-term" and it was said that he would ride for the squad "until the end of his career."

At the Tour of the Alps, Froome has attracted attention, as a seven-time Grand Tour rider would, but has also impressed himself; his 41st place on stage two was probably the most impressive ride on a hard stage he has done since his injury, certainly since joining Israel-Premier Tech.

"To be there when there are 25/30 guys left in the bunch on the climbs, that's not a feeling I've had for a long time," he said. "It shows that the training I'm doing is actually paying off. Obviously I had a bit of a late start to the year.

"I had a bit of a setback in January, so I am still a bit behind in terms of form and race prep and everything else. I'm pretty light on racing this year, I only had Coppi e Bartali until now, other guys have done Paris-Nice, Catalunya, Tirreno."

The Briton said that now he no longer really had any "residual pain or any residual issues from the crash", which will be a relief for him and his team.

"The power balance, left/right, that's all good now," Froome explained. "Now it's purely about doing the work, getting the hard yards in, getting the power up, getting the weight down, the same story as always in terms of getting back to form.

"That's a big relief. This first period from Coppi e Bartali until now I've seen a really good progression in terms of the response from my body. I'm pretty happy now."

Speaking after Coppi e Bartali, Froome said on his  YouTube  channel that he was looking to lose some weight ahead of the Tour of the Alps next week, so this is clearly something that is still occupying him.

His YouTube channel, launched at the beginning of this year, has been a way for him to connect to the public in a direct way, and he has been reasonably unfiltered.

"I interact more on social media now and even do videos on YouTube," Froome said. "I've been racing and winning the big races for many years but people said they didn’t know me because I shielded myself. 

"I've made more of an effort to be more open and show who I am as a person. I've enjoyed that process too. I’m mature enough to recognise what to listen to and what not to listen, on social media and in the media. I’m happy doing my own thing and sharing the journey I'm on now."

Chris Froome with former teammate, and fellow Tour de France winner, Geraint Thomas this year

While Froome seems less guarded than his days at the very top of the sport, he and his team are still very careful about how much he speaks about the future, because he is still on the journey back.

However, he confirmed that his programme would include the Tour de Romandie next week, and then either the Tour de Suisse or the Dauphiné in June. This hints at a progression towards the Tour, something he was less specific about.

"I think it all depends on how everything goes on this next month and a half," he said. "I think that would be a final test to see if I'm ready to go back into a race like the Tour de France.

"Obviously, that would be the dream scenario for me. To get back into the Tour and be competitive again. But, there are lots of steps that need to come before that."

His slow start to the year has given him the confidence that he might be able to continue his form late into the season, later than if he was already at his peak already.

"I'm definitely taking a bigger picture approach to the season," he explained. "I'm looking to have a very active summer. Keep racing late into this year. It has been a slow start but I like the way things are heading now.

"I certainly saw in previous years when I haven't had any setbacks or issues, getting up to peak form later I've been able to hold it longer into the season. I think previously, thinking back to earlier years in my career, when I've been flying in February/March I have struggled to hold onto it past the Tour de France.

"Whereas, taking a slower approach now hopefully I'll be able to hold onto that level until the end of the season."

Chris Froome wins the Tour de France in 2017

It is clearly very important for Froome and his team to manage expectations, and not get too carried away with predicted the level that he will be able to be at. The weight of being one of the riders of the last decade clearly creates pressure, however much he tries to manage it.

"You can never keep everyone happy," Froome laughed. "If people have expectations, they'll always judge you on your last performance, not what you achieved during your career."

However, his setbacks have given him a new perspective on those years of success, 2011-2018.

"Looking back at the years where I was winning Grand Tour after Grand Tour, especially when you are in that moment, in that frame of mind, it's difficult to fully appreciate how fortunate you are," he said.

"Now being away from it after the crash, I've had time to reflect on that. I realise I was really fortunate and privileged to have those opportunities.

"In that moment there's a lot of buzz about it but you don't fully appreciate it. Now looking from the other side, I know how difficult it is to get everything 100%, to be in the mindset and physical position to fight for the victory. To be at 100%, to have everything in place, is not normal. It really is a privilege."

It's a second chance for Froome post his crash, even if he has not quite made it back to the top yet.

He told Procycling magazine last year: "I genuinely feel as if I’ve been given a second chance now, I’ve been given a second chance to come back to the highest level of professional cycling. I’m just so grateful for it. 

"I mean a lot of people see the whole crash as a negative…yes, it is a negative, it took me back a long way. But at the same time it’s tested me, tested my motivation, my love for the sport."

He aims to still get back to the elite level, to be a top rider, he insists, despite the fact he will turn 37 next month.

"The goal is to try to get back to that kind of level," he said "But there are so many small things that you take for granted, that just help you to be in that position.

"After all your Grand Tour victories, you’re already thinking about the next goal. You are never in the moment celebrating and enjoying it, maybe for a few hours but then you’re straight onto the next goal. It's strange but you only fully appreciate it years afterwards."

Whatever the end, it is clear that Froome does not want to give up, and is still fighting hard for his future in cycling. As he said, he knows where he is at now, and if he can train like he used to, perhaps there is no reason to believe he can be as good as he used to. 

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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.

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Chris Froome will be at the 2022 Tour de France

37-year-old froome forms part of the oldest eight-man squad at this year's tour..

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Chris Froome will be riding the 2022 Tour de France after being selected for Israel – Premier Tech’s squad.

The four-time champion made his return to the French Grand Tour in 2021 after two years out due to injury, riding to 133rd overall, the level that won him multiple Grand Tours lost in that Critérium du Dauphiné crash in 2019.

While the 37-year-old has struggled for form since that accident, leaving Ineos at the end of 2020 for the Israeli WorldTour squad, this season he’s shown glimpses of progress.

At the Mercan-Tour Classic Alpes-Maritimes on May 31, Froome finished 11th, his teammate Jakob Fuglsang winning that race.

And it will be the Dane who leads the Israel – Premier Tech squad this Grande Boucle, who along with Canadian Michael Woods will be hoping to bring home a first-ever Tour stage win for the team.

In their Tour squad announcement, Israel – Premier Tech describe Froome as having had his “best season” with the team in 2022.

“It’s awesome to be starting my 10th Tour de France with Israel – Premier Tech,” Froome said. “I’ve worked exceptionally hard this year and I’m looking forward to giving it my all. We’ve got a great group of riders in the lineup and we can’t wait for the battle to begin in Copenhagen.”

The rest of the squad is made up of Hugo Houle, Simon Clarke, Daryl Impey, Omer Goldstein and Krists Neilands, who with an average age of 33 will have the oldest eight-man team at the race by more than two years, with Bike-Exchange Jayco in second.

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La Vuelta a Espana

Tour of britain (men), tour de romandie women, uci mtb loudenvielle france, hambourg classic, gp de fourmies (coupe de france), giro della toscana, coppa sabatini, trofeo matteotti, skoda tour du luxembourg, gp de wallonie, kampioenschap van vlaanderen, tour of gatineau, uci road world championships, primus classic, chris froome confirmed for 2022 tour de france.

Froome, 37, claimed the last of his Tour successes in 2017 but has struggled for form since suffering career-threatening injuries in June 2019.

Four-time winner Chris Froome was named on Wednesday in Israel Premier-Tech's team for next month's Tour de France.

2022 Tour de France

The Briton will be joined by fellow veterans in Canadian Michael Woods , 35, and 37-year-old Dane Jakob Fuglsang on the starting line on Fuglsang's home roads on July 1.

"It's awesome to be starting my 10th Tour de France with Israel-Premier Tech," Froome said in a team statement.

"I've worked exceptionally hard this year and I'm looking forward to giving it my all.

"We've got a great group of riders in the line-up and we can't wait for the battle to begin in Copenhagen."

Earlier, French outfit Groupama-FDJ announced home hope Thibaut Pinot will race the Tour after skipping last season's Grand Boucle in favour of the Giro d'Italia.

Israel Premier-Tech team:

Jakob Fuglsang (DEN), Michael Woods (CAN), Chris Froome (GBR), Daryl Impey (RSA), Simon Clarke (AUS), Hugo Houle (CAN), Krists Neilands (LAT), Omer Goldstein (ISR)

Groupama FDJ team:

Antoine Duchesne (CAN), David Gaudu (FRA), Kevin Geniets (LUX), Stefan Kueng (SUI), Olivier Le Gac (FRA), Valentin Madouas (FRA), Thibaut Pinot (FRA), Michael Storer (AUS)

• Chris Froome
• Michael Woods
• Thibaut Pinot
• Jakob Fuglsang

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'No guarantees' - Chris Froome says he knows that his Tour de France spot is up in the air as he seeks top form

Updated 11/06/2022 at 09:46 GMT

Chris Froome is a four-time Tour de France champion, but after a scary crash during training three years ago, the 37-year-old seems aware that his spot is not as secure as it once was. The British cyclist will continue to find his top form at the Criterium du Dauphine this weekend.

Chris Froome

Image credit: Getty Images

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Tour de France Winners Throughout History

Here's a look back at riders that have won the tour de france and which countries' cyclists have been most successful, by julia elbaba • published july 19, 2022 • updated on july 20, 2022 at 9:25 am.

Every year, a Tour de France champion is crowned .

Over the years, the prestigious event has had winners from all around the world, testing the endurance and strength of all the riders.

Spanning over the course of 24 days, consisting of 21 stages, the race is known to be the world's  "most prestigious and most difficult"  race.

Here's everything you need to know about the most successful cyclists at the Tour de France over the years and which countries have had the most success from their athletes at the event:

Who has won the most Tour de France titles?

Cyclists with the most Tour de France victories are as follows:

Which American has won the Tour de France?

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Greg LeMond is the only American to have won the event , doing so three times.

Americans Lance Armstrong and Floyd Landis were stripped of their titles due to serious breaches of doping regulations.

Which countries have won the most Tour de France titles?

This year's leaders , Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogačar, are from Denmark and Slovenia, respectively, two countries that have had The counties with the most Tour de France victories are as follows:

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Chris Froome enjoys day of Tour de France redemption on L’Alpe d’Huez

Four-time winner finishes third after joining the attack of the day

Chris Froome enjoyed a day of cycling redemption on the Tour de France stage to L’Alpe d’Huez, going in the break of the day and finishing third behind Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) and Louis Meintjes (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert).

Froome has faced a long, long comeback from the terrible injuries he suffered in a crash while training before the time trial at the 2019 Critérium du Dauphiné, but could smile proudly beyond the finish line on stage 12 atop L’Alpe d’Huez . 

“I gave it everything I had today and I don't have any regrets,” Froome said. 

“Where I've come from in the last three years, to finish third on one of the hardest stages of the Tour, I can be really happy with that.”

"I've been feeling better and better. I've been wanting to target a stage like today and try my luck in the breakaway. I gave it everything I had."

Pidcock claims sensational L'Alpe d'Huez victory on stage 12 of Tour de France

The current GC standings in the 2022 Tour de France after stage 12

Chris Froome: I was quite sure Pogacar would lose Tour de France lead

Froome is now 37 and has often been written off but he is going to keep on racing.

“I'm going to keep pushing. I don't know where my limits are. I'll keep trying to improve and hopefully get back to winning ways again,” he said, ever optimistic.

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Froome was not part of the original breakaway that formed in the valley road outside of Briancon but was smart enough to attack on the lower slopes of the Col du Galibier and chased the six riders.

He was joined by Tom Pidcock on the long, fast descent, often struggling to hold his wheel but he made sure he was in the move.

"He was flying on the descents today,” Froome said of Pidcock.

“His bike handling and MTBing came in handy today. I definitely backed off a bit, because he was definitely pushing the limits.”

Froome rode well, intelligently, over the Col de la Croix de Fer and on the lower slopes of L’Alpe d’Huez.

When Pidcock attacked and Meintjes chased him, Froome paced his effort to secure third place and see if he could catch them. He could not have done any more.

“Naturally I would have loved to put my hands in the air and win the stage but no regrets,” he said.

"I didn't have any more to give on that final climb. Tom and Louis had more in the engine than me today. Congrats to them. Thanks to my team and teammates for allowing me the chance to get up the road today."

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Stephen is the most experienced member of the Cyclingnews team, having reported on professional cycling since 1994. He has been Head of News at Cyclingnews since 2022, before which he held the position of European editor since 2012 and previously worked for Reuters , Shift Active Media , and CyclingWeekly , among other publications.

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