Chris Froome said it will be “a huge relief” to return to the peloton when he lines up at the UAE Tour this Sunday.
The four-time Tour de France champion will be competing for the first time since his career-threatening crash at the Criterium du Dauphine last June.
“It’s all I’ve thought about for months now — being back racing,” Froome said. “It will be a huge relief just to be back in the peloton again. It feels like I’ve been given a second chance to come back to pro racing after a crash like that. I’m definitely not taking that for granted.”
“The year’s gone incredibly well so far but having said that I do still need to manage expectations,” Froome said. “I’m still quite a way off where I was at the Dauphine before the crash. It’s going to take me a while to get back to that shape.”
“I’m still doing some rehab and physio sessions off the bike, but that’s become secondary now”.
“It’s been great to be back doing the normal sessions with the guys and actually being able to get through the workload again. I’ve still got to work on the strength of the leg which was injured but that’s already improving quickly.”
Chris Froome is expected to ride in a support role at the week-long UAE Tour.
