Chris Froome admits breaking foot has given him 'hunger' for 2016
Friday 2 October 2015 11:14, UK
Chris Froome says the frustration of breaking his foot at the Vuelta a Espana last month has given him renewed "hunger" for 2016.
The 30-year-old Briton was within touching distance of the overall lead when he crashed innocuously on stage 11 and had to abandon the race the following day.
He was forced to spend the next four weeks off the bike, but having been told by doctors that the fracture has now healed, he began his comeback with a ride on Thursday and admitted motivation was high.
In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports News HQ on Wednesday, he said: "It has been a really good recovery as far as fractures go. I just saw the doctor this morning, who has given me the all-clear to get back on to the bike again and to start preparing for next year.
"I have really been missing it. I haven't touched a bike since I crashed out and fractured that bone in my foot. I've been pulling my hair out these last few weeks, but that's really good news that I can start getting back into it.
"There is always the danger after things go well - so this season, obviously the Tour de France was a massive highlight of the year - to get a little bit complacent.
"I think this injury, crashing out of the Vuelta as I did and fracturing my foot, it really has given me that hunger to come back into next season fighting hard. I'm ready now and can't wait to start training again."
The Tour de France in July will be Froome's main goal for 2016, but he has revealed that he will also target both the road race and time trial at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in August.
Given that the crucial part of his season will stretch further into the summer than usual, he will not start racing as early as he did in 2015, when his first outing was at the Ruta del Sol in Spain in mid-February.
He added: "I would like to start my season a little bit later. It's not something I have worked out with my coach, with the team, just yet, of when I am going to start racing, but I would imagine late-winter, early spring building towards the Tour de France."
Meanwhile, Froome has expressed his regret that the Tour de France will not be visiting Britain in 2017, after it emerged this week that London had turned down the opportunity to host the Grand Depart.
He said: "I hope it hasn't done any damage long-term, in terms of getting the Tour de France back to Britain. I think it's plain to see for the Tour de France organisers and for everyone that cycling really has exploded over the last few years in Britain and it really would be special if the Tour de France could come back again.
"I know for myself personally and for Team Sky, we still really treasure the memories we have from Yorkshire [the 2014 Grand Depart] - I don't think any rider has experienced crowds like that at the Tour de France. That really was amazing."
When asked where in Britain he would like to see the Tour de France visit in the future, Froome replied: "I wouldn't mind seeing a bit more of Wales. Geraint [Thomas] and Luke Rowe are always telling me about the training over there and I think it would be pretty cool to see Luke and G happy for once and not complaining."
