Twelve months ago Chris Froome (Team Ineos) had just pulled off a miraculous comeback to win the 2018 Giro d`Italia. However, the effort of racing three weeks in Italy eventually took its toll and when the Tour de France came around he was unable to add to his four titles, eventually finishing third in Paris. This year the Tour de France favourite is in a different space - both physically and mentally - as he prepares for July at the Critérium du Dauphiné. Fresher legs and no undue pressure from the salbutamol case that dogged him in the build-up to last year`s Tour, the 34-year-old lined up at the start of stage 1 in Aurillac ready to race. `I`m definitely a lot fresher at this point in the season than I was at this point last season having done the Giro. At that point I was also on the back of three Grand Tours,` he told reporters in Aurillac.ADVERTISEMENT `I feel fresh, I feel motivated and I`m looking forward to racing. I feel a huge difference both mentally and physically. I feel like a different person. I guess the motivation is a bit different. I`m trying to fight for a fifth title.` Froome is a three-time Critérium du Dauphiné winner but success in this race is not necessarily a prerequisite for winning the Tour. In 2017, he was below his best and finished fourth overall in the Dauphiné before sealing a Tour win a few weeks later. He finds himself in a similar position this time around, without a victory at this point in the campaign, but with the Tour de France the only race that truly matters. That said, a good performance would certainly be a boost for his morale. The Tour de France`s defending champion, and Froome`s teammate, Geraint Thomas finished strongly at the Tour de Romandie in late April and will be racing the Tour de Suisse later this month. If Froome can win a fourth Dauphiné he will do his leadership credentials for the Tour no harm whatsoever.
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