Chris Froome: 7 Years On from His Last Victory
Renowned cycling journalist website, Cycling Up To Date, takes a look back at the illustrious career of Chris Froome, a man who once dominated the Tour de France and other Grand Tours, but has since struggled to recapture his former glory.
According to Cycling Up To Date, Froome ruled the Tour de France from 2013 to 2017, winning four editions with his trademark control, searing climbing ability, and unmatched capacity to eke out time at every possible opportunity. In 2017, he added a long-sought Vuelta a España to his haul, completing the rare Tour–Vuelta double. As Cycling Up To Date notes, “He ruled the Tour de France from 2013 to 2017, winning four editions with control, searing climbing ability, and an unmatched capacity to eek out time at every possible opportunity.”
Cycling Up To Date reports that it was the 2018 Giro d’Italia, the final Grand Tour he would win, that truly turned Froome into a legend. That Giro was already slipping away from him when, on Stage 19, he launched one of the most audacious solo attacks in cycling history. With over 80 kilometres to go, Froome tore away from the Maglia Rosa group on the Colle delle Finestre, riding alone across three climbs to not only win the stage but seize the pink jersey. As Cycling Up To Date comments, “We will never forget that stage, and Simon Yates certainly won’t either. It was a long range solo attack that even Tadej Pogacar would be proud of!”
However, Cycling Up To Date notes that the years that followed were cruel. In June 2019, just as Froome prepared to chase a fifth Tour de France title, he crashed at high speed during reconnaissance for the Critérium du Dauphiné time trial. The injuries were extensive: a fractured femur, elbow, ribs, and a collapsed lung. The crash was not just career-threatening, it was nearly life-ending. Froome later described being unable to walk unassisted for months. The comeback was long and uncertain, and in truth, he has never been the same since.
Cycling Up To Date states that while Froome did return to the peloton in 2020, he was never the same. His high-profile move to Israel Start-Up Nation (now Israel–Premier Tech) in 2021 was framed as a fresh chapter, a team built around him for a final Tour push. In reality, it has been a disastrous move that has soured the legacy of Froome, who has struggled to keep pace in even mid-level stage races. Critics pointed to his age, his injuries, and the lucrative contract that failed to yield results. But what often gets lost in that conversation is just how rare Froome’s achievements were, and somehow we seem to have forgotten this.
As Cycling Up To Date observes, “It’s tempting to remember Froome’s final years and forget the prime that preceded them. But that would be a mistake. His ability to win three straight Grand Tours, Tour, Vuelta, and Giro, across the 2017–2018 span was a feat unmatched in decades. His win at La Pierre-Saint-Martin in 2015, and moments like running up Mont Ventoux without his bike, should be what we remember as the real Chris Froome.” Froome’s achievements are a testament to his hard work and dedication, and it’s clear that his legacy will be remembered for years to come.
In conclusion, Chris Froome’s career has been a remarkable one, marked by incredible highs and unfortunate lows. As Cycling Up To Date notes, Froome’s achievements should not be forgotten, and his legacy should be celebrated. As we look back on his career, it’s clear that Froome will always be remembered as one of the greatest cyclists of our time.
Source: Cycling Up To Date
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