Froome’s ‘appointment’ with the Tour, Vos’s surgery: Daily News Digest
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Hello again, CyclingTips readers!
Another day, another video message from Ineos. After Thursday’s video from Dave Brailsford regarding Ineos’s 2020 plans, Friday brings us an update from Chris Froome on his current status as he trains with teammates in Gran Canaria.
Some seven months on from the crash that derailed his 2019 campaign, the four-time Tour de France winner says that he is “making that transition now from the rehab phase back into normal training.” His own posts on social media in the past few days have attested to that with multiple videos of him on the bike.
In other words, Froome fans who were discouraged by the recent reports that his recovery was not going well will be happy to see evidence to the contrary.
Enjoy the weekend, readers!
What’s News
| Froome focused on the Tour as he trains with teammates
Chris Froome has posted a video update on his status as he works his way back into form from a 2019 crash, noting that he is now in the transition phase between his rehab and a return to normal training. The 34-year-old Briton says that he expects the next few months to be a major challenge, but that he is fully focused on getting back to his best in time for a run at his fifth Tour title.
“The only appointment I’ve set myself is the Tour de France,” Froome said. “Until then, every week I’m just going to keep chipping away. I’m going to make the most of every camp, every race building up to that start line.”
“The only appointment I’ve set myself is the Tour de France. The prospect of going for a fifth yellow jersey is massive for me.”
In his first interview of 2020, @chrisfroome gives us the latest update on his training and recovery, his #TDF2020 focus, plus a message for the fans. pic.twitter.com/ebwMyhXODB
— Team INEOS (@TeamINEOS) January 17, 2020
| Vos recovering from successful surgery
Marianne Vos is out of the hospital following surgery to treat a groin issue.
“Surgery went well and left hospital with a smile,” she wrote on Instagram. Vos will miss cyclocross Worlds as she recovers, but is hoping to be back to form in time for her road season goals.
| Spratt wins stage 2 of the Women’s Tour Down Under
Amanda Spratt took stage 2 and the race lead at the Women’s Tour Down Under on Friday.
The 32-year-old Australian topped Ruth Winder and Liane Lippert to win in Birdwood, and now will look to defend her lead for the final two stages in pursuit of her fourth straight Women’s Tour Down Under overall win.
| Groupama-FDJ’s sponsorship to continue through 2024
French insurance company Groupama and national lottery FDJ will continue their sponsorship of the Groupama-FDJ squad through the 2024 season, the team has announced.
The former has been with the team since 2018, while the latter is one of the longest-running naming partners in the pro peloton, having sponsored the outfit since its inception as La Française des Jeux in 1997.
| Démare will race the Giro and the Vuelta
Speaking of Groupama-FDJ, the team’s marquee speedster Arnaud Démare will focus on the Giro d’Italia and a debut appearance at the Vuelta a España this season.
The 28-year-old Frenchman, who already counts stage wins at the Tour and Giro on his palmares, is hoping to “become part of the club of riders with stage wins at all three Grand Tours.”
| EF plans to send riders to Cape Epic, Dirty Kanza, and more
EF has announced some of the events that it will send riders to as part of its “alternative race program” in 2020, with the Cape Epic among the new entries on the list for this season.
The team will return to the Dirty Kanza in May and take on “Leadboat” challenge, the back-to-back days of racing at the Leadville Trail 100 and the STMBT GRVL Black, in August, with the Brasil Ride Maratona dos Descobrimentos mountain bike race on the calendar for October. Other events will be announced as the year progresses.
| L’Eroica creator calls for alternative calendar
In other alternative racing-related news, Adnkronos reports that Giancarlo Brocci, creator of L’Eroica, has met with UCI president David Lappartient and proposed a calendar of alternative events with more dirt, more kilometers, and no radios.
According to Adnkronos, Lappartient was interested in Brocci’s vision and open to evaluating further.
In case you missed it
| Why Strickland didn’t take EF up on Roubaix offer
VeloNews has the story on why Colin Strickland turned down an offer from Jonathan Vaughters to race Paris-Roubaix with EF.
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SUBSCRIBE TO THE DAILY NEWS DIGEST PODCASTToday’s featured image of Marianne Vos winning La Course comes from Cor Vos.
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