Following what should be openly called a disastrous Tour de France for once or twice almost invincible Team Sky, squad’s principal Dave Brailsford revealed that it is very likely that Chris Froome will appear in this year’s Vuelta a Espana and that he turned his focus into planning their 2015 campaign, with slightly more diversified targets.

 

Differently than in case of Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo), who confessed last week that he won’t participate in his home grand Tour, Froome’s recovery apparently went as planned and Team Sky leader is already back on his bike after he fractured his wrist and suffered several other injuries as a result of three crashes which eventually forced him out of the 101st edition of the Tour de France on stage five.

 

Despite receiving positive signals about improving health condition of Team Sky leader, Brailsford remained cautious about gauging his chances to appear in this season’s edition of the Vuelta while speaking to Italian media.

 

"It is more likely than unlikely," Gazzetta dello Sport reported Brailsford as saying.

 

"He’s been on the bike but we want to make sure that he’s properly healed before pushing too much and have a risk of something going wrong. His health comes first and then we’ll go from there. If everything is ok, it would be good to have Chris ride a grand Tour this season."

 

In the interview for the NBC Sport, however, Team Sky manager was more optimistic about Froome’s plans for the latter part of 2014 season…

 

“Froome will ride the Vuelta, it’s certain. His recovery progresses and he will give his maximum to be there, so it won’t be too difficult,” Brailsford said, according to Spanish media.

 

Appearance of the 29-year old Briton at the Spanish three-week event would be Team Sky’s last chance to save the season, as they failed to make any serious impact in the remaining grand tour events or any other important races in 2014. However, a competition at the Vuelta is expected to be exceptionally stiff this year.

 

Still trying to remain graceful in their undeniable defeat, Brailsford acknowledged that even though a Tour de France-focused approach is unavoidable while having as serious title contender as Froome in the squad, they have to diversify their priorities along the whole season and define several other significant goals not to be left empty handed again.

 

"I think the big question is how focused you become on the Tour and when you’ve won it twice it’s very hard not to focus on it," Brailsford explained.

 

"When you’ve got a guy like Froome, he’s obviously a contender. It’s difficult and probably a little bit dangerous to get so focused on the Tour that you prioritise it more – not intentionally, it just kind of creeps up on you and happens. I think we’ve recognised that and it’s important to have a balanced approach to the whole season and win over the whole season. As part of our recruitment we’ll be looking at that."

 

"Maybe dangerous is too strong a word, let me take that back. It’s natural that you get drawn towards the Tour if you have someone who can win it. We need to remind ourselves that it’s good to be a winning team as well as a Tour-focused team and I think ultimately when you’ve got someone who can win the Tour, you have a bunch of guys who become very expert at doing a specific role in the team. They understand their role and they do their role but of course then if the leader disappears, it’s all of a sudden, 'Okay, we need to change our approach'.”