Chris Froome dampens Tour de France frenzy and switches focus to securing Olympic gold
Britain's Chris Froome attempted to douse the flames of expectation as the furore surrounding his third Tour de France win continued to sizzle.
The 31-year-old was crowned Tour champion in Paris on Sunday to become only the eighth rider in history, and the first Briton, to seal victory in the race three times.
Team Sky’s Froome is now only two titles behind the trailblazing tallies chalked up by French duo Jacques Anquetil and Bernard Hinault, Belgium’s Eddy Merckx and Miguel Indurain of Spain.
“We need to chill our boots a little bit. Three is incredible,” said Froome. “It gets a bit dangerous when you start putting a number: five, or six or seven.”
Froome is set to take part in Sunday’s RideLondon-Surrey Classic before flying out to Rio de Janeiro where he will compete in the Olympic road race on 6 August and time trial four days later. The time trial is of particular interest.
“It suits me well,” he added. “I hope that I can keep my form from the Tour, and if that’s the case, then I really hope to medal.”