CHRIS Froome still feels “quite young in cycling years” and will keep on pushing for a record number Tour de France titles until his body finally fails him.
Froome is now one shy of the all-time record of five Tour wins – jointly held by Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain – after beating his closest rival Rigoberto Uran to the Paris finish line by 54 seconds on Sunday.
He is already targeting a second Grand Tour of the season, with the Vuelta a Espana starting in less than four weeks, and glory there would bring another piece of history, even if Froome is not especially interested in breaking records.
No rider has won the Tour-Vuelta double since since Hinault in 1978, when the Spanish race was still raced in the first half of the season.
Beyond that challenge lies the opportunity to draw level with the handful of cyclists who have claimed five Tour crowns, or even surpassing their achievements.
Froome told Sky Sports News HQ: “I’m 32 at the moment and riders have gone into their late 30s still winning the Tour de France. I came into the sport fairly late so I do feel quite young in cycling years.
“Cycling’s one of those sports in which experience is so valuable, so I’d like to think I’m still learning and improving as a bike rider.
“Certainly for the next three or four years I’d like to come back to the Tour de France and, whatever number it is, I just want to lay it all on the line for as long I can until my body can’t do it anymore or until I say ‘OK, that’s it now’.”
On his upcoming attempt at the Vuelta, Froome added: “The whole history side of it isn’t something that drives me. I’m not out there to make history or set records but the Vuelta is a race I absolutely love and it’s a vicious race.
“It’s gruelling but the Spanish public are really into it and get fully involved with cheering on the riders. It’s three weeks that I fully enjoy.
“To do both the Tour and the Vuelta in one year would be absolutely incredible so I’ve got that opportunity now and I’m going to go for it.”
Sir Dave Brailsford insists Froome is “human after all”, with the Team Sky general manager keen to remind fans his leading rider has his weaknesses despite his dominant displays en route to the Champs-Elysees.
He said: “A three-week race is a long time to be fully concentrated and what tends to happen is that you have periods of intense focus, but then you have respite and can gather yourself for the key moments.
“This year he’s had to maintain that intense concentration and focus all the way through and I think that’s one of his greatest strengths.
“When his back’s against the wall, like all great champions, he’s come out and believed that he could win. I think that’s his greatest attribute.
“Physically he’s unquestionably one of the best riders in the world, but with all of the champions it’s the mental side that gives them an edge.
“Chris is a very resilient guy but he’s human after all and there’s a vulnerability in there somewhere. It’s the moment of the greatest vulnerability when you need to find the greatest mental strength and he does that so well.”
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