Chris Froome proves a difficult spring can be put behind him as he excels at the Tour de Romandie – but has his preparation for Le Tour been irretrievably damaged?
It’s a return to winning ways for the 2013 Tour de France champion – something he seems particularly happy about (above)! Can he raise his game to compete with his 2014 rivals?
Photo © Graham Watson
Spring has not been particularly happy for 2013 Tour de France champion Chris Froome. After an admittedly good start to the season in the Tour of Oman, the Team Sky rider has had to deal with injuries and illness as he prepares for his defence of the calendar’s flagship race.
A lot of rhetoric has been written as, while Froome has been on the sidelines, Alberto Contador especially has been mopping up the plaudits as the form GC rider so far in 2014. But it doesn’t necessarily mean he won’t be in top condition for the Tour.
Contador’s wins, while extremely impressive against the likes of Vincenzo Nibali and Nairo Quintana, were nonetheless at a very early part of the season and with his outspoken intention to return to his old serial-winning ways, we shouldn’t be surprised that he has hit such good form so early.
It’s significant that Nibali, who is also targeting the Tour, has not been in such prolific form, while Quintana has had his eyes elsewhere this year as he adapts to being ‘The Next Big Thing’; both are focused on their own approaches which significantly differ from that of the Spaniard.
The original plan for Froome was to largely repeat his build-up last season: after all, why change a winning formula? With the possible exception of Quintana, Froome was head and shoulders above the rest of the field over the course of the race – possibly the greatest vindication of his preparation one could ask for.
To his and Team Sky’s credit, they haven’t panicked following his setbacks and have instead stuck to their plan; replacing the races he’d withdrawn from with carefully controlled training designed to keep him on track. It’s an approach that Team Sky have perfected over the past four years, firstly with Bradley Wiggins then Froome as team leader – leading to three podium and two grand tour wins so far.
It seems it has paid off once more, with Froome able to see off the challenges at the Tour de Romandie and defend his title. By all accounts, he is back on track despite the issues he’s faced this season.
The only concern for him now is the competitive mileage in his legs. Of course, his training will deal with the distance and elevation he’ll need to cover to be in top condition, but will he be race ready? It’s widely accepted in all sport that there is a vital difference between fitness and race-readiness. Entering a three-week race, despite his experience, requires this level of readiness. As much for the physical capacity, it’s the psychological preparation that makes race winners.
This is where Contador is likely to have the advantage, while it can be argued that Froome will have the fresher legs come July if he prepares tactically well. The third piece in the puzzle, Nibali, sits in the middle having been unspectacular yet racing gamely throughout – his form bettering as time goes on.
It will be fascinating to see which approach pays off in the summer.
Rolling Resistance 