Chris Froome’s hunger for a fifth or even sixth Tour de France victory remains undiminished although he is unsure the race can go ahead in 2020 due to coronavirus.
The Tour’s postponement until late August suits the four-time winner who has been fighting to regain fitness from severe injuries sustained in a training crash last June.
“It’s an advantage for me, the race being put back, but it’s not something to celebrate,” said Froome.
“I’m confident I’ll be 100 percent fit at the starting line. Maybe it won’t take place, but I’m training as if it will go ahead,” he told L’Equipe. “We have the new date and mentally I’m focussed on being ready.”
The Tour has been rescheduled to embark from Nice on August 29 from its original June start date in an attempt to make sure the sport’s central financial pillar can be staged this season.
“It would be a pity if the biggest race of the season didn’t go ahead, but people’s health comes first,” he said.
“I’m sure that neither the (French) government nor the (organisers) ASO will take risks with the riders, their teams and the public,” added Froome who won the Tour in 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
Ater winning the Vuelta a Espana in 2017 and the Giro d’Italia in 2018 to hold all three Grand Tours his star has waned.
“My dream is to retire having won more Tour de Frances than any other rider,” said Froome.
He needs one more to equal Eddy Merckx, Jacques Anquetil, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain, who have all won it five times.
