Chris Froome says Olympic time trial bronze is 'incredible achievement'
Briton also hints he will race Vuelta a Espana
By Matt Westby and Orla Chennaoui
Last Updated: 10/08/16 8:40pm
Chris Froome described winning bronze in the men’s Olympic Games time trial as an "amazing feeling" and an "incredible achievement".
The 31-year-old Briton finished 1min 2sec down on winner Fabian Cancellara, of Switzerland, and 15 seconds behind silver-medallist Tom Dumoulin, of the Netherlands, on a hilly, 54.6km course just outside Rio.
Froome, who also won time trial bronze at London 2012, had been co-favourite for gold with Dumoulin but was not disheartened by another third place.
He told Sky Sports News HQ: "It's an amazing feeling. Of course, I would have wanted to be up there fighting for the gold medal, but at the end of the day, I gave it everything I had and I have got no regrets.
"I knew the competition was going to be really tough here. Fabian is going extremely well. I'm happy. Another medal is an incredible achievement.
"It was a tough circuit, a tricky circuit, with all the steep climbs and wet corners. I'm just relieved it all over.
"I knew coming into the second lap that I had a bit of time to make up, which was playing to my tactic. I was trying to hold something back for that second lap, but I didn't have the legs. I didn't have the same legs as Fabian. He was definitely the strongest guy out there."
Froome also all but confirmed he will take part in the Vuelta a Espana, which starts on August 20, by revealing he would be going on a six-hour training ride on Thursday before flying back to Europe.
Team Sky principal Sir Dave Brailsford last month said Froome would ride the season's third and final Grand Tour if he survived the Olympics unscathed and it now appears he will press ahead with the plan.
Froome added: "I haven't done much training. Since the end of the Tour de France I have been sort of tapering and trying to look after myself to come into these Olympic races the best I can.
"It will be good to do a good long ride tomorrow before heading home to see the family. Obviously, I have been on the road a lot this year and I haven't spent much time with the family, so it will be nice to be home for a few days and see the little one a little bit."
