How Chris Froome emerged from Bradley Wiggins’ shadow to become a Tour de France icon

Chris Froome has concluded a cycling career that cemented his status as Britain’s most decorated Grand Tour rider and one of the sport’s all-time greats.

>Froome secured an impressive seven Grand Tour victories, placing him joint fourth in history. His four Tour de France titles are surpassed only by legendary figures Eddy Merckx, Jacques Anquetil, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Indurain, and here is how his glittering career played out...

African beginningsBorn in Nairobi, Kenya, Froome spent part of his childhood in South Africa, training under Kenyan pro cyclist David Kinjah.

>He turned professional at 22, representing Kenya at the 2006 Commonwealth Games before switching allegiance to Great Britain in 2008.

>After stints with Konica Minolta and Barloworld, he joined Team Sky in 2010 alongside Geraint Thomas.

Froome signed with Sky in 2010 after spending most of his early years in South Africa (PA Wire)Rapid riseHis breakthrough came at the 2011 Vuelta a España, where he finished second, a result upgraded to victory in 2019 after Juan Jose Cobo's doping ban.

>This made Froome Britain’s first Grand Tour winner, predating Sir Bradley Wiggins’ 2012 Tour de France triumph.

>At that 2012 Tour, Froome supported Wiggins, finishing second, though many believed he could have won. The discovery and treatment of schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease, was later cited as an explanation for his rapid ascent.

Froome was chief support for Bradley Wiggins in the 2012 Tour de France (PA Wire)BreakoutFroome became team leader in 2013, securing his first Tour de France win. After crashing out in 2014, he returned to win again in 2015, 2016, and 2017, establishing himself as the era's pre-eminent Grand Tour rider.

>He achieved a Tour-Vuelta double in 2017 and targeted the Giro d’Italia-Tour double in 2018. His Giro victory, following a stunning 80km solo breakaway, made him the first man since Bernard Hinault in 1983 to hold all three Grand Tour jerseys simultaneously.

>However, this period was overshadowed by a salbutamol test from the previous year's Vuelta. Team Sky controversially did not suspend him, and he was cleared before the 2018 Tour, where he finished third, missing the double as Thomas won.

Horror crash and declineThe 2019 season saw Froome as favourite for a record-equalling fifth Tour de France.

>However, a horrific training crash at the Criterium du Dauphine in June, where he struck a wall at high speed, left him with severe injuries including a broken leg, elbow, and ribs.

Froome suffered a horror crash last year that effectively ended his career (PA Wire)This incident proved career-altering; he never regained his previous form. He left Ineos Grenadiers for Israel-Start Up Nation in late 2020 but struggled to return to his former heights.

>Another training crash last year effectively brought his illustrious career to an end.