After having the team work for him last year in Florence, Chris Froome will give his all this year in Ponferrada to help Ben Swift to chase success.

“One-day races aren’t my forte but I definitely want to play a role to set things up for [Ben] Swift,” Froome said. “I’m here to do my job and set him up for the win.”

“I still lack big results in one-day races, it is just not my forte,” Froome continued. “I want to do well in a one-day race, maybe in the Rio Olympic Games, if it is hilly, I’ll have a chance. If am going to do well, I need a very hilly or mountainous one-day race. If the Olympics or Worlds are that way I could do well, or even a race like Liège-Bastogne-Liège in the future.”

The Worlds could become even harder if the rain forecasted on Sunday strikes, making the race a real war of attrition.

“If it like last year, that’s different than just a few showers. If it does rain, it will affect the race on a circuit like in Ponferrada, where you’re going up or down,” Froome said.

“I want to be there the entire race. If it is raining, it’s going to change the dynamics and make the race more selective. Everyone will be in the same situation, but we are going to have to play it by ear and see how the race pans out.”

Ben Swift showed this spring that he can handle both the rain and the distance to finish third in Milan-Sanremo after battling through 294 kilometers of rain. This is why he is Team GB’s protected rider.

“Ideally, we’d want to see ‘Swifty’ get into the rainbow jersey, we have a team here that’s pretty much based around him,” Froome said.

“We have quite a mixed team here because the Worlds is an event that’s different and unpredictable. The way we are reading it, it could come down to a more selective sprint. That’s good for ‘Swifty’, and I’ll support him for that win.”