Chris Froome: 'I actually enjoy these long Tour de France days'
The defending champion said he enjoyed a relaxing day in the sunshine on a relatively uneventful stage six of the Tour de France

A relaxed Chris Froome rides alongside two spectators during the opening week of the Tour de France

Tour de France race leader and Team Sky captain Chris Froome says that he "enjoys the long days" of 200-plus kilometres suited to the sprinters.
A parasol blowing into the road ahead of the favourites and a sprint win by Marcel Kittel (Quick-Step Floors) highlighted the hot and sticky 216-kilometre stage six into the Champagne territory of Troyes.
>>> Marcel Kittel ‘won’t chase green jersey at all costs’ after Peter Sagan disqualification
"I think they are part of a Grand Tour, I have no issue with them," Froome said. "You might get a same result if you have a 50-kilometre shorter stage with a sprint at the end.
"I'm not complaining, I actually enjoy these long days. Being a bit more relaxed, you get a little bit more time to speak with the riders than if the race is full-on and time to take in the atmosphere.
"And on that, there's been a great ambiance on the road so far."
The Tour rolled east from Vesoul on mostly flat roads into Champagne land. An escape fought for the stage win, but most believed that a sprint would settle the day and attention turned to the final 20 kilometres.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"It was a great stage for us climbers, these stages don't come along often. This is one of the most relaxed stages we've ever done in the Tour de France," Froome said.
"For us, getting the breakaway right is important so we don't have that much work to do behind. On sprint days like today, we can defend and let the sprint teams do the lion’s share of the work.
"For us, it's about staying out of trouble. It was very enjoyable. You can just relax a little bit more. It was very welcome."
After a classification battle on stage five, nothing happened between yellow jersey Froome and his rivals today. So quiet was the day, questions centred on a parasol that drifted into the road mid-way through the stage.
"It did just pop up from nowhere. There was a little gust of wind at that point, I think it blew from a spectator in the road," Froome added.
"It's quite scary, you just racing a long and one moment there's a parasol. That's the nature of the Tour, things do happen at a drop of a hat, you have to be ready for everything."
Critics argued recently that shorter stages make for better racing and television. Fans were treated to a show last year when Froome, Alberto Contador and Nairo Quintana battled for the entire 100 kilometres to Formigal in the Vuelta a España.
A similar stage in the Critérium du Dauphiné in June had viewers on the edge of their seats.
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.
-
Tadej Pogačar must attack from range at the Tour of Flanders - taking Mathieu van der Poel to the line is not an option
Slovenian must look to replicate his Oude Kwaremont attack from 2023 if he wants to guarantee being first across the line in Oudenaarde
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
108 Days, 18,125 miles: Lael Wilcox’s record-breaking ride hits the big screen with full-length documentary
'Lael Rides Around the World' premieres at Sea Otter Classic and goes on an international tour
By James Shrubsall Published
-
'An unprecedented opportunity for brands to be part of the evolution' - Ineos Grenadiers sponsor hunt steps up with sales agency partnership
Sportfive have been employed to find "non-endemic global partners for the team"
By Adam Becket Published
-
'We've all got a little bit extra in us this year' - Ineos Grenadiers recapture 'fighting spirit' with aggressive Paris-Nice display
British team continue to put tumultuous 2024 behind them with momentum and a new found mentality
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Could a TotalEnergies deal be the end of Ineos Grenadiers as we know them?
Reports suggested this week that Ineos could be close to signing a deal with the French petrochemical firm
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'They’re racing with their hearts again' - Robbie McEwen on Ineos Grenadiers' bright start to 2025
The British squad have already won four times in 2025
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers are entertaining so far this year, but how long will it last?
The British WorldTour squad have won four times already in 2025, but more than that, they have been fun. Is this the new dawn?
By Adam Becket Published
-
Caleb Ewan says he was put in a 'bad situation' by Jayco AlUla before he joined Ineos Grenadiers
Ewan joined Ineos Grenadiers in January after spending just one year with Jayco AlUla
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'There's no bull****, that's what I've always liked' - Geraint Thomas's first BC coach Rod Ellingworth on the retiring Welshman
The 2018 Tour de France winner will step away from professional cycling at the end of the season
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'It is time to change goals' - Egan Bernal's coach confirms Ineos Grenadiers exit
'I want to thank all the cyclists I have had the opportunity to coach over the past ten years' Xabier Artetxe says in LinkedIn post
By Tom Thewlis Published