Friday 26 September 2014 17:20, UK
Chris Froome described Sir Bradley Wiggins’s world time trial victory as “very impressive” and has vowed to do all he can to help Britain’s men win a second rainbow jersey in Sunday’s road race.
Wiggins claimed his first world title on the road on Wednesday by beating defending champion Tony Martin by 26 seconds with an emphatic performance in Ponferrada, northern Spain.
Froome, who finished third behind Wiggins and Martin in the Olympic time trial in London two years ago, did not take part in the event but watched from afar and praised his compatriot on his display.
“That really was impressive, especially going up against someone like Tony Martin,” he said. “He is the benchmark in time-trialling, having won the world title for the past three years. That was very, very impressive by Brad and congratulations to him.”
Froome will go from protected rider with Team Sky to super-domestique for Great Britain on Sunday as he looks to support Ben Swift’s bid for the rainbow jersey.
The rolling 254.8km course ends with a flat finish and consequently does not suit Froome’s climbing style, but he believes he can play a key role and is confident Swift can challenge for the win.
“It’s a very open race,” he added. “It could end in a sprint, it could be a breakaway. We have got a lot of confidence in Ben Swift. We have got a really competitive team and I think Swifty is in really good form and he is certainly up for it.
“Helping out is the least I can do after all the work the guys put in for me. I’m happy to go there and do what is required from me on the day.”
Although he has emerged as one of the top Grand Tour riders in the world over the past three years, Froome has yet to prove himself as a one-day rider.
Recent course designs for both the world championship and Olympic Games road races have not favoured him, but should the right parcours be presented in future years, he would be keen to challenge for honours.
“One-day racing is always a bit of a lottery,” he added. “I’m yet to get a big result in a one-day race, but if the right course came around and it was a really hilly circuit, it is something I could attack and go for. I’m quietly hoping that the Rio [the 2016 Olympics] course would be a bit like that.”
Froome will once again come under the stewardship of Sir Dave Brailsford in Sunday’s world road race, after his Team Sky principal agreed to become acting head coach of British Cycling for this week’s UCI Road World Championships.
“Everyone would join me in saying it’s a pleasure to have Dave B back with British Cycling for the world championships,” Froome said. “Given all of his experience and given how much he has been able to achieve over the last few years through British Cycling – even this week with Wiggo in the TT – it can only be a good thing and hopefully we can set something up in the road race.”
Froome’s recognition of Wiggins’s achievement on Wednesday comes despite another turbulent year in relations between the pair.
While Froome was selected by Brailsford as Team Sky’s leader at the Tour de France, Wiggins was left out of the squad altogether, triggering speculation that the team’s two star riders had not reconciled differences dating back to 2012. However, Froome, who crashed out of the Tour on stage five, insisted he was not behind Wiggins’ omission from the team.
He added: "It is easy to look back now and suggest that things should have been done differently, but as Sir Dave said in June and even now, he made the decision on what he thought was the best, strongest team and he stands by his decision.
“We have a really strong team of riders. Richie Porte had been climbing better than anyone on the team before the Tour and was sitting second overall when he suffered a chest infection.
“Sometimes, despite your best efforts, things just don't work out and you can simply learn from it and move on. It wasn't our year this year, but we are already preparing for 2015 and know what we are capable of."
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