Chris Froome has the tools to go down as one of the Tour de France’s greatest ever riders, according to teammate Geraint Thomas.
The Team Sky man secured his second Tour crown earlier in the year after first taking victory back in 2013 – Thomas instrumental in his most recent triumph.
It’s set to be a huge 2016 for Froome with the Brit already targeting another Tour title as well as gold in the Olympic road race and also the time trial – an event he finished third in at London 2012.
But Thomas sees Froome’s future as being even brighter with multiple Tour crowns a real possibility for the 30-year-old.
“Froomey can’t do anything more to prove himself. He’s not in the UK too often I guess and people don’t really get to see the real Froomey,” said Thomas, who will compete at this weekend’s Revolution Series – the first time he has competed back at the London 2012 velodrome since winning his second Olympic team pursuit gold there three years ago. “He just wants to go and win as many tours as he can.
“It’s hard to say how many Tour de France titles he can win. It could be anything, from two to five to six. That’s the thing with cycling, you can be the best in the race and have a silly little crash and you’ll be out.
“I’ve got no issues with riding for Froomey, especially this year when he was certainly the better rider.
“And next year if it is the same again, then for sure I’ll do it no question. That’s what cycling is about, it’s riding for that one guy and trying to win for the team rather than two people going for it themselves and ending up second or third which is worse than first and tenth.”
While 2016 will be huge on the road for Froome it will also be a monumental year at home with his wife expecting a child in December.
But Thomas believes the Olympic bronze medallist has the right mindset to handle anything that comes his way.
“Froomey is going to be a dad in December but I don’t think it will affect him too much. He’s so dedicated,” Thomas added.
“He goes away on training camps and things, but he has Michelle back at home who will do everything to help him out really.
“He’ll still obviously want to be a dad as well, he won’t just want to go away for a year.
"Froomey is certainly a determined character. When he wants something, he’ll work hard to get it. For sure his life is going to change.”
Sportsbeat 2015