Chris Froome rode to eighth place in the stage four time trial at the Criterium du Dauphine.
The Team Sky rider clocked a time of 28 minutes and 44 seconds across the largely flat 23.5-kilometre course to Bourgoin-Jallieu. That marker put Froome 37 seconds back on stage victor Richie Porte (BMC).
“It was a tough time trial. Not my best performance,” said Froome. “But I think if anything it shows what great shape some of my other Tour de France rivals are in. Richie…Valverde did a very impressive time trial as well, Contador. I knew the level was going to be high coming here, but I think this time trial just proves it.
He said it meant he needs to do more to be ready for the race against the clock in the Tour. “It is tough. It is tough. I have got my work cut out for me, that’s for sure. I’ve still got obviously three weeks now, after Dauphiné, in terms of time trial work. It is obviously something I am going to have to do a bit more work on.”
“It is racing,” he said, speaking of the day’s result plus the bigger picture. “You can’t win all the time. I didn’t know where I was, to be honest. That is why I am here, to see exactly where I am. It was a good test, but we have got three big days of climbing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Again that will be a good test to see where everybody is at.”
