Chris Froome has laid bare the scale of the challenge he has faced as the goal of a record-equalling fifth Tour de France title drives his rehabilitation from a career-threatening crash in 2019.
As the 35-year-old prepares for his first season with Israel Start-Up Nation, Froome is still battling to overcome the catalogue of injuries he suffered when he came off his time-trial bike at the Criterium du Dauphine a little over 18 months ago.
The process has already taken much longer than hoped, and after he missed selection for last year's Tour, Froome finished his time with the Ineos Grenadiers battling pain as he rode the season-ending Vuelta a Espana in a support role.
But what is not in question is Froome's number one goal – the Tour de France.
Success for Froome in 2021 would be recapturing his pre-crash form and, if he can, this year's Tour route and its 58 kilometres of individual time trials looks like one that would suit him to a tee.
"This year I think (the route) is fantastic," he said. "It's got a good balance between pretty exciting big mountain-top finishes and the two time trials.
"So on paper, it looks like a great race and a race I'm looking forward to getting my teeth stuck into."
Having spent two years away from the Tour, Froome will find much has changed while he away. The last two editions have been won by riders who rank second (Tadej Pogacar, 21) and fourth (Egan Bernal, 22 at the time) on the list of youngest ever winners.
If Froome is stood on the top step come Paris this summer he would be, at 36, the second oldest behind Firmin Lambot in 1922.
Age may be, as Froome suggested, "a state of mind", but it is also a hurdle he must overcome this year.
"As an athlete you're constantly questioning yourself," he said. "And there are no guarantees. But I don't see any reason why physically, I shouldn't be able to get there...
"Certainly at my age and coming back from this injury it is something that's very much driving me.
"To get to a record-equalling fifth Tour de France would just be incredible and especially on the back of the whole comeback story – that does give me extra motivation."
