Paris (AFP)
Chris Froome, who claims to be still a candidate for a fifth victory in the Tour de France, has no doubt "that all precautions will be taken" during the next edition postponed until the end of the summer due to the coronavirus pandemic.
"I'm sure there is a possibility that he won't run, but I'm going to prepare for this, I'm going to train as if it were happening," said the Briton in an interview with L'Equipe newspaper published on Tuesday.
"We now have dates (August 29 to September 20) and, for the moment, mentally, my mind is turned only to one thing: to be ready at that time."
"It would be a shame if the biggest race of the season did not take place, but in the current climate, there are much more important things than sport, everyone's health must take precedence," said Froome. .
"I have confidence in the fact that the government and ASO (organizer of the Tour) will not take risks for the riders, the staffs, the public, so I have no doubt that all the precautions will be taken," he said. he adds.
Confined to his house in Monaco, the Briton, seriously injured last June, was reassuring about his recovery: "Every morning, I go to the gym, to my garage. I continue to do rehabilitation and strengthening exercises of my right leg. I usually do 45 minutes to 1 hour of these exercises and then I follow with normal training, either split, or longer "outings", depending on the program. "
"I did several weeks over thirty hours on my home trainer," said the four-time winner of the Tour (2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017), "confident" about being "100%" on departure scheduled for Nice on August 29.
"My dream, when I retire, would be to have won more Tours de France than anyone. It would be the dream scenario, but I know there is still a lot of work to make it come true" , added team leader Ineos.
"It's an advantage to have more time to prepare for the Tour, to come back from an injury, but it's not something I'm going to celebrate," concluded Froome, referring to the difficulties encountered by people. in general "from a health but also an economic point of view."
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