Chris Froome
Encyclopedia
Chris Froome is a professional road racing cyclist who rides for UCI ProTour
team .
Born in Kenya, Froome moved with his family to South Africa as a teenager, and although he began his career registered with the Kenyan cycling federation, since spring 2008 has ridden under a British licence on the basis of his passport and father's and grandparents' country of birth,. He made his major breakthrough as a Grand Tour
contender during the 2011 Vuelta a España
where he finished second overall, equalling Robert Millar's
second place in the 1987 Giro d'Italia as the highest placed British rider in a Grand Tour.
, he started road racing in South Africa, specialising as a climber. In 2006, whilst representing Kenya at the Time Trial World Championships
, Froome hit a UCI official just after the start, causing both men to go down, although neither were injured. He turned professional in 2007 with the South African Team Konica Minolta, and was introduced to Team Barloworld by Robbie Hunter
, joining them for the 2008 season, and was named in their team for the 2008 Tour de France
, in which he finished 84th overall and 12th among the young riders' category. He also completed the 2009 Giro d'Italia
, in which he came 36th overall, and 7th among the young riders.
, in 2010. During his first season with Sky, his best result was at the Tour du Haut Var
, where he finished 9th in the overall standings. He also finished 2nd at the 2010 British National Time Trial Championships
, showing his ability in the time-trial.
The early highlights of Froome's 2011 season were top 15 finishes in the Vuelta a Castilla y León
and the Tour de Romandie
. Froome had a mixed Tour de Suisse
, riding with the lead group on some mountain stages, whilst losing time on others, and finishing ninth in the final time trial.
Froome entered the 2011 Vuelta a España
as the main domestique for Bradley Wiggins
in the mountains. After being inseparable from Wiggins throughout the first week, he gained credit for his ride in stage 9, helping close down an attack on the final climb and finishing in fifth place, three seconds behind Bradley Wiggins
, leaving both in the top 20 overall. The following day in stage 10, however, Froome out-rode Wiggins to finish second in the time-trial behind Tony Martin
and to take an unexpected lead in the race. During stage 11 he helped his team to neutralise some attacks, but soon found himself unable to follow the main group. However, he managed to hang on second overall in the General Classification
. After losing the jersey to Wiggins on stage 11, Froome continued to ride in support of his leader, and on stage 14 helped to drop rivals including Vincenzo Nibali
and Joaquim Rodríguez
on the final climb. Wiggins credited his lead to Froome, in a stage which also saw Froome rise back up to second in the standings. The tough stage 15 which ended on the Alto de L'Angliru saw Froome lead the chase to stage winner Juan José Cobo
, who took the overall lead at the end of the day. Froome proved stronger than Wiggins, finishing ahead of him in fourth place but 48 seconds behind Cobo, to retain second place in the overall classification. On stage 17, Froome attacked Cobo 1 km from the summit finish, but Cobo fought back, catching Froome in the final 300 metres, only for Froome to attack again to win the stage and arrive 1 second in front of Cobo. As a result of time bonuses, Froome reduced Cobo's lead to 13 seconds. Froome was unable to reduce Cobo's lead any further and finished second overall in the Vuelta, equalling Robert Millar
's 2nd place in the 1987 Giro d'Italia as the highest finish by a British rider in a Grand Tour. After the Vuelta it was revealed Froome had suffered throughout the year from the tropical bug Bilharzia, having been diagnosed in 2010.
On 16 September 2011 Froome signed a new three year contract with Sky. He was part of the Great Britain
team that helped Mark Cavendish
win the 2011 UCI World Road Race Championship
. In October, Froome finished third overall in the first edition of the Tour of Beijing
.
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
WD = withdrew
UCI ProTour
The UCI ProTour was a series of road bicycle races in Europe, Australia and Canada organised by the UCI . Created by Hein Verbruggen, former president of the UCI, it comprises a number of 'ProTour' cycling teams, each of whom are required to compete in every round of the series...
team .
Born in Kenya, Froome moved with his family to South Africa as a teenager, and although he began his career registered with the Kenyan cycling federation, since spring 2008 has ridden under a British licence on the basis of his passport and father's and grandparents' country of birth,. He made his major breakthrough as a Grand Tour
Grand Tour (cycling)
In road bicycle racing, a Grand Tour refers to one of the three major European professional cycling stage races:* Tour de France – Tour of France , held in July* Giro d'Italia – Tour of Italy , held in May...
contender during the 2011 Vuelta a España
2011 Vuelta a España
The 2011 Vuelta a España was held from 20 August to 11 September. The race began in Benidorm with a team time trial and ended, as is traditional, in Madrid. The 2011 Vuelta was the 66th edition of the race and was the first Vuelta in 33 years that visited the Basque Country...
where he finished second overall, equalling Robert Millar's
Robert Millar
Robert Millar is a former Scottish professional cyclist who won the “King of the Mountains” competition in the 1984 Tour de France and finished fourth overall – sharing the highest Tour position for a British cyclist with Bradley Wiggins, and the first time a Briton had won a major Tour...
second place in the 1987 Giro d'Italia as the highest placed British rider in a Grand Tour.
Career
Having started in mountain bikingMountain biking
Mountain biking is a sport which consists of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, using specially adapted mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain.Mountain biking can...
, he started road racing in South Africa, specialising as a climber. In 2006, whilst representing Kenya at the Time Trial World Championships
2006 UCI Road World Championships
The 2006 UCI Road World Championships took place in Salzburg, Austria, between September 19 and September 24, 2006. The event consisted of a road race and a time trial for men, women and men under 23....
, Froome hit a UCI official just after the start, causing both men to go down, although neither were injured. He turned professional in 2007 with the South African Team Konica Minolta, and was introduced to Team Barloworld by Robbie Hunter
Robert Hunter (cyclist)
Robert Hunter is a South African professional road cyclist, for UCI ProTour team . He became in 2001 the first South African to compete in the Tour de France. In 2006 he rode for the Phonak Hearing Systems team on the UCI ProTour, but after their disbandment he signed for UCI Continental Circuits...
, joining them for the 2008 season, and was named in their team for the 2008 Tour de France
2008 Tour de France
The 2008 Tour de France was the 95th Tour de France. The event took place from 5–27 July 2008. Starting in the French city of Brest, the tour entered Italy on the 15th stage and returned to France during the 16th, heading for Paris, its regular final destination, which was reached in the 21st stage...
, in which he finished 84th overall and 12th among the young riders' category. He also completed the 2009 Giro d'Italia
2009 Giro d'Italia
The 2009 Giro d'Italia was the 92nd running of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It was held from 9 to 31 May 2009, and marked the 100th year since the first edition of the race...
, in which he came 36th overall, and 7th among the young riders.
Team Sky
In September 2009, it was announced that he was to join British cycling team, Team SkyTeam Sky
Team Sky is a British professional road bicycle racing team that competes in international road bicycle races. The creation of the team was announced on 26 February 2009 and the team began competition in January 2010....
, in 2010. During his first season with Sky, his best result was at the Tour du Haut Var
Tour du Haut Var
The Tour du Haut Var is an early-season two-day road bicycle race in the Provence region of France. From 2005 to 2008, it was organised as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour. In 2009, the race was changed to a two-day 2.1 event.-Palmarès:...
, where he finished 9th in the overall standings. He also finished 2nd at the 2010 British National Time Trial Championships
British National Time Trial Championships
The British National Time Trial Championships are held annually. The winners of each event are awarded with a symbolic white cycling jersey featuring blue and red stripes, which can be worn by the rider at other time trial events in the country to show their status as national champion...
, showing his ability in the time-trial.
The early highlights of Froome's 2011 season were top 15 finishes in the Vuelta a Castilla y León
Vuelta a Castilla y León
The Vuelta Ciclista a Castilla y León is a professional road bicycle stage race held in Castile and León, Spain. Since 2005, Vuelta a Castilla y León has been a part of the UCI Europe Tour.-Past winners:-External links:*...
and the Tour de Romandie
2011 Tour de Romandie
The 2011 Tour de Romandie, was the 65th running of the Tour de Romandie cycling stage race. It started on 26 April in Martigny and ended on 1 May in Geneva and consisted of six stages, including a race-commencing prologue stage and also a penultimate day individual time trial...
. Froome had a mixed Tour de Suisse
2011 Tour de Suisse
The 2011 Tour de Suisse was the 75th running of the Tour de Suisse cycling stage race. It started on 11 June with an individual time trial in Lugano and ended with another individual time trial on 19 June, in Schaffhausen...
, riding with the lead group on some mountain stages, whilst losing time on others, and finishing ninth in the final time trial.
Froome entered the 2011 Vuelta a España
2011 Vuelta a España
The 2011 Vuelta a España was held from 20 August to 11 September. The race began in Benidorm with a team time trial and ended, as is traditional, in Madrid. The 2011 Vuelta was the 66th edition of the race and was the first Vuelta in 33 years that visited the Basque Country...
as the main domestique for Bradley Wiggins
Bradley Wiggins
Bradley Marc Wiggins, CBE is a British professional track and road bicycle racer, currently riding for Team Sky. Wiggins' career began on the track, where he specialised in the pursuit and madison disciplines....
in the mountains. After being inseparable from Wiggins throughout the first week, he gained credit for his ride in stage 9, helping close down an attack on the final climb and finishing in fifth place, three seconds behind Bradley Wiggins
Bradley Wiggins
Bradley Marc Wiggins, CBE is a British professional track and road bicycle racer, currently riding for Team Sky. Wiggins' career began on the track, where he specialised in the pursuit and madison disciplines....
, leaving both in the top 20 overall. The following day in stage 10, however, Froome out-rode Wiggins to finish second in the time-trial behind Tony Martin
Tony Martin (cyclist)
Tony Martin is a German professional road bicycle racer riding for the UCI ProTeam . Martin is known as a time trial specialist: in 2011, he won a time trial stage in the Tour de France and in the Vuelta a España, and became world champion...
and to take an unexpected lead in the race. During stage 11 he helped his team to neutralise some attacks, but soon found himself unable to follow the main group. However, he managed to hang on second overall in the General Classification
General Classification
The general classification in bicycle racing is the category that tracks overall times for bicycle riders in multi-stage bicycle races...
. After losing the jersey to Wiggins on stage 11, Froome continued to ride in support of his leader, and on stage 14 helped to drop rivals including Vincenzo Nibali
Vincenzo Nibali
Vincenzo Nibali is an Italian professional road bicycle racer who rides UCI ProTeam . Born near the Strait of Messina, Nibali's nickname is the "shark of the strait" or simply "the shark." His first major win came at the 2006 GP Ouest-France, where he beat an impressive field on a tough course...
and Joaquim Rodríguez
Joaquim Rodríguez
Joaquim Rodríguez Oliver is a Spanish professional road racing cyclist. He has been competing since 2001, and currently rides for the UCI ProTour team .- Palmarès :2001...
on the final climb. Wiggins credited his lead to Froome, in a stage which also saw Froome rise back up to second in the standings. The tough stage 15 which ended on the Alto de L'Angliru saw Froome lead the chase to stage winner Juan José Cobo
Juan José Cobo
Juan José Cobo Acebo is a Spanish professional road racing cyclist who currently races for . He won the 2011 Vuelta a España, his first major title.He is considered a climber who also is able to time trial....
, who took the overall lead at the end of the day. Froome proved stronger than Wiggins, finishing ahead of him in fourth place but 48 seconds behind Cobo, to retain second place in the overall classification. On stage 17, Froome attacked Cobo 1 km from the summit finish, but Cobo fought back, catching Froome in the final 300 metres, only for Froome to attack again to win the stage and arrive 1 second in front of Cobo. As a result of time bonuses, Froome reduced Cobo's lead to 13 seconds. Froome was unable to reduce Cobo's lead any further and finished second overall in the Vuelta, equalling Robert Millar
Robert Millar
Robert Millar is a former Scottish professional cyclist who won the “King of the Mountains” competition in the 1984 Tour de France and finished fourth overall – sharing the highest Tour position for a British cyclist with Bradley Wiggins, and the first time a Briton had won a major Tour...
's 2nd place in the 1987 Giro d'Italia as the highest finish by a British rider in a Grand Tour. After the Vuelta it was revealed Froome had suffered throughout the year from the tropical bug Bilharzia, having been diagnosed in 2010.
On 16 September 2011 Froome signed a new three year contract with Sky. He was part of the Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
team that helped Mark Cavendish
Mark Cavendish
Mark Cavendish MBE is a Manx professional road racing cyclist who rides for UCI ProTeam until the end of this season when the team is dissolved. He will join Team Sky at the start of the 2012 season...
win the 2011 UCI World Road Race Championship
2011 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race
The Men's Individual Road Race of the 2011 UCI Road World Championships cycling event took place on 25 September 2011 in Copenhagen, Denmark.In a sprint to the finish line, Great Britain's Mark Cavendish became world champion after making his move down the right-hand side of the course, and just...
. In October, Froome finished third overall in the first edition of the Tour of Beijing
2011 Tour of Beijing
The 2011 Tour of Beijing was the inaugural running of the Tour of Beijing cycling stage race. It started with an individual time trial around the Beijing Olympic Village on 5 October and finished at the Bird's Nest on 9 October....
.
Main achievements
2005- 1st Stage 2 Tour of Mauritius
2006
- 1st Overall Tour of Mauritius
- 1st Stage 2
- 1st Stage 3
- 2nd Anatomic Jock Race
2007
- 1st Overall Mi-Août BretonneMi-Août BretonneMi-Août Bretonne is a French cycling road race that was established in 1960. It is held in the region of Brittany, France. It is rated 2.2 on the UCI Europe Tour. The original race ran from 1960-1966. It was then re-established in 1978 by Louis Bihannic...
- 1st Stage 5 Giro delle Regione (Under 23s)
- 1st Stage 6 Tour of JapanTour of JapanTour of Japan is a cycling competition in Japan and part of the UCI Asia Tour and sponsored by Asahi Shimbun.- Past winners :- External links :* from the Cycling Website...
- 2nd Berg en Dale Classic
- 2nd World Championship Time Trial (Elite group B)UCI B World Championship CyclingThe UCI B World Championships is the annual world championship for Level B bicycle road racing and bicycle time trials organized by the Union Cycliste Internationale for nations with developing competitive pro cycling. The UCI B World Championships includes events for both elite men's and women's...
- 3rd All-Africa Games – 150 km road raceCycling at the 2007 All-Africa Games- Men's 150 km Road Race :- Women's 80 km Road Race :-Medal table:- References :*Sport 123: *Sport 123:...
2008
- 2nd Overall Giro del Capo
2009
- 1st Day 2 Giro del Capo
- 1st Anatomic Jock Race
2010
- 2nd British National Time Trial ChampionshipsBritish National Time Trial ChampionshipsThe British National Time Trial Championships are held annually. The winners of each event are awarded with a symbolic white cycling jersey featuring blue and red stripes, which can be worn by the rider at other time trial events in the country to show their status as national champion...
- 5th Commonwealth Games – Road Time TrialCycling at the 2010 Commonwealth Games – Men's road time trialThe Men's time trial took place at 13 October, 2010 at the Noida Expressway. The race started at 13:00 and covered 40km.-Final classification:61 riders competed:-External links:*...
- 9th Overall Tour du Haut VarTour du Haut VarThe Tour du Haut Var is an early-season two-day road bicycle race in the Provence region of France. From 2005 to 2008, it was organised as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour. In 2009, the race was changed to a two-day 2.1 event.-Palmarès:...
2011
- 2nd Overall Vuelta a España2011 Vuelta a EspañaThe 2011 Vuelta a España was held from 20 August to 11 September. The race began in Benidorm with a team time trial and ended, as is traditional, in Madrid. The 2011 Vuelta was the 66th edition of the race and was the first Vuelta in 33 years that visited the Basque Country...
- 1st Stage 17
- 2nd Stage 10 (TT)
- Held Red Jersey
on Stage 11
- 3rd Overall Tour of Beijing2011 Tour of BeijingThe 2011 Tour of Beijing was the inaugural running of the Tour of Beijing cycling stage race. It started with an individual time trial around the Beijing Olympic Village on 5 October and finished at the Bird's Nest on 9 October....
- 14th Overall Vuelta a Castilla y LeónVuelta a Castilla y LeónThe Vuelta Ciclista a Castilla y León is a professional road bicycle stage race held in Castile and León, Spain. Since 2005, Vuelta a Castilla y León has been a part of the UCI Europe Tour.-Past winners:-External links:*...
- 15th Overall Tour de Romandie2011 Tour de RomandieThe 2011 Tour de Romandie, was the 65th running of the Tour de Romandie cycling stage race. It started on 26 April in Martigny and ended on 1 May in Geneva and consisted of six stages, including a race-commencing prologue stage and also a penultimate day individual time trial...
Grand Tour General Classification results timeline
| Grand Tour | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Giro d'Italia The Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. The Giro is one of the three Grand Tours , and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar... |
- | 36 2009 Giro d'Italia The 2009 Giro d'Italia was the 92nd running of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It was held from 9 to 31 May 2009, and marked the 100th year since the first edition of the race... |
WD 2010 Giro d'Italia The 2010 Giro d'Italia was the 93rd edition of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Giro started off in Amsterdam on 8 May and stayed in the Netherlands for three stages, before leaving the country... |
- |
 Tour de France The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The... |
84 2008 Tour de France The 2008 Tour de France was the 95th Tour de France. The event took place from 5–27 July 2008. Starting in the French city of Brest, the tour entered Italy on the 15th stage and returned to France during the 16th, heading for Paris, its regular final destination, which was reached in the 21st stage... |
- | - | - |
Vuelta a España The Vuelta a España is a three-week road bicycle racing stage race that is one of the three "Grand Tours" of Europe and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar. The race lasts three weeks and attracts cyclists from around the world. The race is broken into day-long segments, called stages... |
- | - | - | 2 2011 Vuelta a España The 2011 Vuelta a España was held from 20 August to 11 September. The race began in Benidorm with a team time trial and ended, as is traditional, in Madrid. The 2011 Vuelta was the 66th edition of the race and was the first Vuelta in 33 years that visited the Basque Country... |
WD = withdrew
External links
- Chris Froome profile at Team Sky