Paris (AFP)
Back at the end of February: the Briton Chris Froome, seriously injured last June, will resume competition at the UAE Tour, which will take place from February 23 to 29 in the Emirates.
The four-time winner of the Tour de France has not raced since his fall during the recognition of the Dauphiné time trial on June 12.
Suffering from multiple fractures, Froome underwent several surgeries. He reappeared on a bicycle in the fall during an exhibition in Japan.
"I am really delighted to resume the race at the UAE Tour. I have just completed a good training block in the Canaries and I cannot wait to take the next stage of my recovery and regain my strength", declared the Briton who set himself the goal of the Tour de France next July.
The organizers of the UAE Tour, who welcomed the arrival of Froome, also announced the participation of the Spaniard Alejandro Valverde, 2018 world champion, the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar, third in the last Vuelta, and the Australian Rohan Dennis, reigning world champion in the time trial.
A set of sprinters (Ewan, Gaviria, Groenewegen, Ackermann, Démare, Cavendish) is also announced.
The UAE Tour, which is the only first division (WorldTour) event organized in the Middle East, was kidnapped last year by Slovenian Primoz Roglic in front of Valverde and young Frenchman David Gaudu. Seven stages long, the race will leave from the Marjan Island archipelago to conclude in Abu Dhabi.
© 2020 AFP