Chris Froome has said he will not be contending for Volta Ciclista a Catalunya victory this week, adding Israel Start-Up Nation was instead backing Ireland’s Dan Martin or Canadian Michael Woods in the overall.
Froome is lining out in the race, which gets underway
today with a 178.4km stage starting and finishing in Calella, as
part of a strong team selection in what is his first race with his new team in
Europe.
The race is the first time that Dan
Martin is in the same selection as three of his team’s big new signings;
Froome, Woods and South African Daryl Impey.
Froome left Ineos Grenadiers last season in favour of Israel Start-Up Nation with a view to coming back from the bad crash he had warming up for a TT at the Dauphine in June, 2019.
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“It feels good to be here racing in Spain, I obviously always enjoy racing Volta Catalunya,” Froome said before the start of the stage today. “It’s probably my third or fourth time here. And it’s good to have a good team of guys here.
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“We’re hoping to be up there fighting for the victory this
week with Michael Woods, or Dan Martin also, and hopefully it’ going to be a
good week ahead.”
Asked about his own prospects in the race, now almost two
years on from his near career-ending crash, Froome said he was not yet in the
kind of shape he would required to challenge in the race.
“I’m just coming off an altitude training block now so it
will be a good test for me, just to see where my progression is,” he said.
“I know I’m not going to be personally fighting for the
victory here, I won’t be at that level yet. But I’m hoping to see some progression.”
In relation to his condition as his main season goal of
the Tour de France approaches, Froome said he was trying to improve incrementally.
“I’m just taking really one week at a time at the moment; building up, doing the best I can and seeing where we get to for the Tour.”
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