BERLIN – The four-time Tour de France champion Chris Froome is
on the road to recovery following a horror crash in June and is
targeting a return to the classic race next year.
"Week by week I set myself little goals in terms of allowing myself a
bit more movement, just small goals," the 34-year-old Briton said in
an interview released by his Team Ineos on Saturday.
"But for me, the underlying goal is to get to the start of the Tour
de France next year in 2020 and to be at a similar or better position
than I was this year. That's what's driving me at the moment."
Froome was considered a favourite to earn a record-equalling fifth
Tour victory until he crashed into a wall during a reconnaissance
ride during the Criterium du Dauphine in Roanne, France, at more than
50 kilometres per hour.
He was airlifted to St Etienne University Hospital having suffered
multiple serious injuries including a fractured right femur, a
fractured elbow and fractured ribs.
"I could barely even breathe after surgery," he said. "My lungs had
been damaged by my broken ribs and my broken sternum.
"It was scary when I came around the morning after the operation and
just felt how hopeless I was, lying in that bed."
Froome's mindset changed when told by doctors he could make a full
recovery.
"That's all I wanted to hear at that point," he said. "From that
point on, it felt like everyone was so positive."
Ineos managed to cope without him at the 106th Tour de France which
finished last weekend with their rider Egan Bernal claiming a
first-ever victory for Colombia.