Chris Froome: 'I'm only thinking about winning the Giro'
Froome says he has put his pending salbutamol case out of his mind as he bids to become Giro d'Italia champion
Chris Froome says he only has winning the 2018 Giro d'Italia on his mind and not the salbutamol anti-doping case from last year's Vuelta a España.
Team Sky's star, winner of four Tour de France titles, is starting the race for the first time with the objective to win the overall. It begins in Jerusalem on Friday with a 9.7-kilometre time trial.
>>> Giro d’Italia 2018 route: stage-by-stage details
"For me, I've mentally put all that aside," Froome said.
"To be here on the start line, I am only thinking about winning the race. I am not thinking about July. I am here to give my absolute best in the next three weeks to try to step on that top step when we reach the finish in Rome."
Froome's top rival and defending champion Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb) said that if he were Froome, he would not be here racing due to the stricter rules that his team follows.
Others, like the UCI president Davide Lappartient have called for Froome to sit out until the UCI anti-doping tribunal decides on his case. If it rules that he was guilty, he could lose the Vuelta a España title and risk losing any possible Giro d'Italia result.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"I understand everyone is entitled to an opinion," Froome said. "I know it's frustrating, but this was also meant to be confidential. I am confident people will see it from my point of view when the details are out there."
Retired rider Alberto Contador won the 2011 Giro d'Italia, but due to a case from the 2010 Tour de France, he had the title stripped.
"It's a very different situation [than Contador's]. That is not something that I am even thinking of. I am not entertaining that idea because I am coming from the starting point that I have done nothing wrong," added Froome.
"There is nothing that says I shouldn't be here racing. In that sense, it's not something I am going to entertain."
Team boss David Brailsford joined the eight-man team in the press conference. "It's not to answer now," he said when asked if he would fire Froome if is suspended due to the team's zero-tolerance rules.
"We are here to respect to the race, we are here to talk about the race," Brailsford added. "To talk about the fantastic start in Jerusalem and to enjoy being here. For us, we should be concentrated on the race now."
The three-week races starts with a short time trial in Jerusalem on Friday and stays in Israel for the next two stages as well.
"Starting with the prologue, the time trial, it's a big opportunity for the GC guys," continued Froome. "The road condition is also very different than what we are used to here. The road markings and furniture. We are going to have to active over the next few days.
"Racing the Giro was a decision that I came to with the team over the winter, preparing for the season ahead. I am glad to be back. It's been almost a decade since I raced and the first time I've come to try to win the event.
"With Dumoulin here, I'm certainly not going to be only relying just on my time trial to win the Giro. It's a balanced race, there are time trials, but also a lot of mountains. So it balances out.
"There's not going to one terrain that decides this Giro. It's the entire package."
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
'I never thought I'd really leave the team': Luke Rowe opens up on his reasons for departing Ineos Grenadiers
Welsh road captain is heading to Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale to become a sports director
By Adam Becket Published
-
Demi Vollering officially joins FDJ-Suez from SD Worx-Protime
27-year-old signs for French squad from 2025
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'I never thought I'd really leave the team': Luke Rowe opens up on his reasons for departing Ineos Grenadiers
Welsh road captain is heading to Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale to become a sports director
By Adam Becket Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers announce 'highly motivated, hungry and ambitious' new performance structure for 2025
New sports directors, lead performance coach and head of performance support announced, among other changes
By Adam Becket Published
-
'I can help get the team back to where it was' - 20-year-old Artem Shmidt looks to the future after Ineos Grenadiers' disappointing season
Shmidt hoping to help revitalise team backed by Jim Ratcliffe after season of woes and as star rider Tom Pidcock gets set to move on
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'I don’t think the people around Tom help' - Geraint Thomas on the Tom Pidcock and Ineos Grenadiers situation
Pidcock was "deselected" from Il Lombardia on Saturday, with the rider taking to Instagram to discuss decision
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tom Pidcock 'deselected' from Ineos Grenadiers squad for Il Lombardia
British rider says 'I guess off season starts early' in Instagram post
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers have had their worst season ever, and the woes appear not to be over. What’s next for the super-team of a bygone era?
With Tom Pidcock possibly off to Q36.5 and Luke Rowe leaving, the news is not quiet around the British WorldTour squad
By Adam Becket Published
-
Remco Evenepoel puts transfer speculation to bed ahead of World Championships road race
'I'll stay where I am' says Double Olympic champion as he confirms he will remain at Soudal Quick-Step next season
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'You can't sugarcoat it' - Luke Rowe says Ineos Grenadiers are 'underperforming'
British squad's experienced road captain believes his team has been "overtaken" by others
By Tom Davidson Published