Chris Froome expects closer 2027 Tour battle but backs Pogacar for sixth title

The route for the 114th Tour de France, which was unveiled in Paris on Thursday, features two time trials with a combined distance of 71km, the highest since the 2012 edition, when Bradley Wiggins won the Tour ahead of his teammate Chris Froome. 

The inclusion of two lengthy races against the clock will be music to the ears of four-time reigning time trial world champion Remco Evenepoel, who finished runner-up behind Pogačar in July. 

The Belgian has won three time trials across his three appearances at La Grande Boucle and will naturally be the favourite for the two stages in the 2027 edition.

Speaking to Eurosport at the route presentation, Froome highlighted the importance of the time trial kilometres in the 2027 raceand its possible impact on the fight for the yellow jersey.

"It’s definitely an interesting parcours. It’s been a while since we’ve seen so many time trial kilometres. I think the most since 2012 that we’ve seen,” Froome told Eurosport. 

“My first impression is that, of course, there are some really big mountain days, but what stood out was the time trial kilometres.”

“I think that’s partly because Tadej [Pogačar] has been so dominant in the mountains, so maybe now bringing more time trial kilometres maybe keeps the GC battle more alive for a bit longer.”

The first time trial comes before any major mountain test on stage 7 with a 38km course from Blois to Chambord which could give Evenepoel the opportunity to steal an early march. 

The second time trial kicks off the third and final week on stage 16, with a 33km test around Toulouse. 

Despite the significant number of time trial kilometres, Froome still believes that Pogačar is the overwhelming favourite to win a sixth yellow jersey next summer. 

“For me, Tadej is still obviously the clear favourite to go and challenge for number six next year, but I think certainly with those increased time trial kilometres, that’s going to change how the main rivals are going to have to prepare for next year’s Tour,” he added. 

Froome won four editions of the Tour from 2013 to 2017, with the 2014 edition being his only absence from the top step during this spell.

He abandoned the race after crashing twice on stage 5’s chaotic cobbled affair won by Lars Boom, where Vincenzo Nibali asserted his early dominance en route to overall victory.

Despite the disappointment of the abrupt ending to his 2014 race, Froome still treasures the Grand Départ from that edition, and believes that it serves as a good indication of what to expect when the race kicks off in Edinburgh next year on July 2.

“If it's anything like it was in 2014, the start over in Scotland is going to be amazing,” he said. “The first three stages of the Tour de France on UK soil are going to be really special.”