Tour de France: Sir Dave Brailsford can't wait for 2017 title defence
Monday 25 July 2016 16:35, UK
Sir Dave Brailsford said he is already excited about the 2017 Tour de France after Chris Froome sealed victory in the 2016 edition on Sunday.
Froome finished just behind the peloton on the final stage in Paris to complete a 4min 5sec triumph over runner-up Romain Bardet and hand Team Sky their fourth yellow jersey in five years.
Team Sky rode the Tour more aggressively than any of their previous wins and team principal Brailsford enjoyed it so much he is already looking forward to next year's race.
He told Sky Sports News HQ: "It's very satisfying and I'm very happy. This is by far the most enjoyable Tour we have done. We raced differently, we used more offensive tactics and it was fun; it was racing.
"You get to Paris, you see the Union Jacks and you feel proud. It's a British success story, I would like to think, and the team was perfect.
"Chris was brilliant, so overall it's been a great three weeks and we will come back and do it again next year. Just in general it's been a great race and we look forward to some more."
Froome's victory was arguably the easiest of his three so far, after the riders who had been expected to push him the hardest all fell out of contention early as a result of either injury, illness, poor form or bad luck.
Team Sky still had to work hard to retain the yellow jersey after Froome had first claimed it on stage eight, but Brailsford said his riders leave the race feeling fresh.
He added: "I'm happy, the team is happy, we are not tired, we have got plenty of energy, all the guys have finished well, the Olympics are coming up and a lot of riding the Olympics, they are going to enjoy that, and then it's on to the Tour of Spain."
