Chris Froome plans to return to racing much sooner than expected, with the four-time Tour de France winner hoping to be back in the peloton in October.
“It would be great to be able to do some of those post-season events that I typically do in the off-season,” Froome said. “Just to get back into the pro scene again. It would great if I could do something before January.”
“I’m grateful to be alive. I’m grateful to be on the road to recovery, I’m grateful that I’m able to recover,” Froome said. “Now I’ve got to give it everything.”
Froome crashed into a wall at 54km/h during a recon at the Criterium du Dauphine in June and missed the Tour de France.
Speaking to the Telegraph, the Briton admitted there is a period of five minutes he cannot remember, but conceded that is perhaps not a bad thing as he continues his recovery.
“There’s probably a five-minute window where I can’t remember anything – and it drives me crazy,” he said.
“I’ve ridden my TT bike in windy conditions before and never had an issue. I can’t understand it. Apparently, we went through a town after the descent. I don’t remember. It was in that town, when there was a long straight, slightly downhill section, that it happened.
“Wout said I signalled to him to get out from behind me because I was going to clear my nose. And it was just after that that a gust of wind, apparently, caught me.”
“As soon as I was woken up the next morning after surgery, I mean, I knew it was serious. I woke up in ICU, but I needed to know that it was all reparable, that I would be able to make a full recovery. And the doctor told me that within minutes. From that point on, I accepted what happened and everything was about moving forward.”
The 34-year-old wants to target a record-equalling fifth Tour de France title in 2020. He also plans to compete in the Tokyo Olympics, which are scheduled immediately after the Tour.
“I think the Olympic road race has over 5000m of climbing. Temperatures should be close to 40C. Humidity through the roof…it should be an extremely grueling race,” Froome added. “And coming a week after doing the Tour – assuming I’m doing the Tour – it’s almost perfect. I’d like to throw my hat in the ring for both.”
