Chris Froome has 'unfinished business' at the Vuelta a España
With two second place finishes, Chris Froome is still looking to go all the way at the Vuelta a España
Chris Froome, off the back of his Tour de France victory and Olympic bronze medal, says that he has "unfinished business" in the Vuelta a España.
Team Sky's leader, who twice placed second overall in the Spanish tour, aims to correct that in this edition, starting Staurday with a team time trial in Ourense.
Froome returned from the Rio de Janeiro Games where he placed third behind Fabian Cancellara (Trek-Segafredo) in the time trial. After the Tour de France victory on July 24 and two second places in 2011 and 2014, a Vuelta win could be on the cards.
>>> Vuelta a España 2016 start list
"I've twice finished second, and I still haven't won it, and in that sense," he said, "I've definitely got unfinished business here."
Froome's Grand Tour career took off in Spain in 2011 when he started the Vuelta to support Bradley Wiggins. He out-climbed most and shined, placing second overall after three weeks behind winner Juan José Cobo and ahead of Wiggins in third.
Sky took him took him to the Tour in 2012, again to support Wiggins, where history was made. Wiggins became the first British winner and Froome placed second.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Since then, Froome has given the Tour primary focus. In 2012, after a bronze medal in the London Olympics, he placed fourth in the Vuelta.
He won the 2013 Tour and skipped the Vuelta, pulled out of the 2014 Tour after crashing to return in the Vuelta to place second behind Alberto Contador (Tinkoff).
>>> Vuelta a España 2016 preview: The contenders
He took his second Tour title in 2015, but crashed and quit with a broken foot bone in the Vuelta. After his third Tour title this year, he wants to takwe the top step this year in Spain.
Pressed about expanding his palmarès during the Tour, Froome said. "Times have changed. With [cycling] being so much more competitive, it's harder to stay at the top for the duration of the season when you have guys targeting and training for specific events."
Froome again will face Contador, who abandoned the Tour early due to a crash and could be fresher. Also, rivals like Colombian Esteban Chaves (Orica-BikeExchange), second in the Giro d'Italia, who skipped the Tour to rest and focus specifically on the Vuelta.
Colombian Nairo Quintana (Movistar), winner of the Giro d'Italia in 2014 and third behind Froome this year in the Tour, will also start in Ourense.
"It's no secret my condition is not the same as it was in the Tour, but I have the view of trying to get that good condition back by the second half of the Vuelta," Froome said.
"My focus for the season was the Tour, then the Olympics and I'm here on the back, of that, so I haven't trained specifically for the Vuelta. But I'm motivated."
If he wins, he would become only the third cyclist in history to win the Tour/Vuelta double and the first to do so after it moved to its late-summer date. He would join a short list that includes Jacques Anquetil, winner in 1963, and Bernard Hinault, 1978.
The Vuelta starts on Saturday with a 27.8km team time trial in Ourense.
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.
-
‘There's no point to race for 50th place’: Peter Sagan explains why he’s a cycling esports ambassador but won’t compete
As a MyWhoosh ambassador, Sagan admires the sport’s evolution, but does he have the watts to compete with today’s virtual cycling stars?
By Christopher Schwenker Published
-
Rapha's loss, your gain: prices slashed sitewide amid profitability concerns
The British clothing brand unveils an almost unheard-of 25% discount across its entire product range
By Hannah Bussey Published
-
'With a few changes, it'll be class' - Josh Tarling optimistic about Ineos Grenadiers future
'Everybody wants to get better and get back to winning,' 20-year-old tells audience at Rouleur Live
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'We've had a difficult year, I've had a difficult year' - Tom Pidcock hints at Ineos Grenadiers tension
Speaking at Rouleur Live, the 25-year-old also revealed that he hasn't enjoyed racing at the last two Tours de France
By Adam Becket Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers to partner with German development team for 2025
Ineos set to partner with German Continental squad Lotto Kern-Haus PSD Bank as an official development partner
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Where next for Ineos Grenadiers, now Steve Cummings has officially left?
After the Director of Racing's exit, the Tom Pidcock saga needs a final resolution before the team can move forward
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Ineos' Director of Racing, Steve Cummings, confirms he is leaving the team after not attending a race since June
Announcement comes after months of uncertainty surrounding Cummings' position
By Tom Thewlis 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