Around three weeks before the start, cycling star Chris Froome suffered a setback for a possible start at the 109th Tour de France.
The 37-year-old Briton and four-time Tour winner did not compete in the seventh stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné in south-eastern France on Saturday. This was announced by Froome’s Israeli team Israel-PremierTech.
“It’s disappointing, but my progress has been good so far and I don’t want to risk a setback at this important stage of the season,” said Froome, adding: “I was looking forward to the last two stages of the Dauphiné, but then I wasn’t looking forward to it anymore Felt 100 percent fit.” The eight-day tour through the south-east of France traditionally serves many drivers as a dress rehearsal for the Tour of France.
“I did my best to get through yesterday but it was clear I wasn’t doing any better,” Froome tweeted. He will now take a short break and then “get on with it”. Since his serious training crash at the Dauphiné 2019, Froome has been looking for the form of the old days. A nomination for the Tour of France 2022, which starts on July 1 in Denmark’s capital, is still open.