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Tour de France: Chris Froome admits Sir Bradley Wiggins's absence is a blow

Image: Chris Froome believes he could win the Tour de France 'for the next, six, seven years'

Chris Froome has admitted Sir Bradley Wiggins's absence is a blow to his chances of winning the Tour de France but remains confident of claiming the yellow jersey in Paris.

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Froome also admitted that not having Mark Cavendish in the Team Sky squad will be a benefit. Cavendish, the then world champion, rode for Team Sky last year and was keen to be supported in sprints, adding extra demands on support riders already geared towards helping Wiggins in the mountains. This year, all eight team-mates will be riding solely for their leader.
Tour domination
"We do have a very clear objective this year to go for the yellow jersey and we won't be thinking of the element of having Cavendish there anymore," Froome explained. "I guess in that way it is a good thing." The Tour starts in Corsica on June 29 and ends in Paris three weeks later, on July 21. Froome admitted he is nervous, but feels he is entering his best years as a rider and hopes a maiden Tour win can trigger a period of domination at the race. "As a career goal, I would like to try and target the Tour for the next six, seven years, which I believe to be my peak years," he added. "I believe I am coming into my prime right now. "If I can win one Tour, I would be ecstatic with that, I'd be really happy. For now we're going to focus on this one coming up and hopefully give that one everything."

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