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Chris Froome aims to ride the Vuelta a España next month after being expelled from the Tour de France due to a positive for Covid-19.
The four-time Tour winner, one of 3 riders who was unable to start Thursday’s Stage 18 from Lourdes to Hautacam due to the virus, with Imanol Erviti and Damiano Caruso also testing positive.
For Froome, it’s an unwelcome end to a Tour that saw him achieve his most productive result in any case since his devastating crash in 2019 when he came third on Stage 12 last week at Alpe d’Huez, when fellow Briton Tom Pidcock took the win. . .
Froome’s Israel-Premier Tech team also celebrated their first level victories on the Tour with Simon Clarke winning the fifth tier against Arenberg and Hugo Houle taking an emotional victory at Foix on Tuesday. Clarke also had to abandon the race due to a Covid-19 test.
In a video message, Froome said he regretted missing out on the team’s celebrations in Paris this weekend as he laid out his goals for a comeback, with the Vuelta scheduled to begin in Utrecht on August 19.
“I’m disappointed not to be able to race in Paris and finish this Tour de France,” Froome said. “It was an incredibly special race for us as a team and for me personally, and I discovered my legs. “
“I have to thank everyone for all the help in this process. Step from home now, turn off for a few days and refocus to be fit for the Vuelta a España later this season.
After Wednesday’s level at Peyragudes, Froome was 26th overall, one hour and 27 minutes behind Jonas Vingaard in the yellow jersey.