Chris Froome is relishing the challenge ahead in the Tour de France after a successful Grand Depart for the Team Sky leader.
The defending champion is currently fifth overall ahead of the 163.km fourth stage from Le Touquet-Paris-Plage to Lille on Tuesday.
Froome believes it will provide a similar test to Monday, where he finished amongst the pack as Giant-Shimano’s Marcel Kittel continued his sprint dominance on The Mall before the Tour crossed over into France.
“We can expect a day pretty similar to [Monday] – another case of just getting through it,” Froome told teamsky.com
“But on stage five [a 155km route from Ypres to Arenberg Porte du Hinaut in northern France] we hit the cobbles and that’s definitely going to be quite a shake-up. Literally.”
Froome’s team-mate Richie Porte was delighted by the reception the Team Sky riders received at the Grand Depart in Yorkshire but he feels the French crowd could potentially be hostile.
“The very vocal home support has been absolutely unbelievable,” the Australian added. “I don’t expect that in France. It’s going to be a little more hostile there.
“Yorkshire was probably something that us guys will never experience again but for a working day London was absolutely incredible too.”
Froome is 1.87 to be the General Classification winner, while The Field can be backed at 1.95.
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