Froome upbeat despite low-key Ruta del Sol TT performance

Chris Froome (Team Sky) ended his first week's racing in a mood of guarded optimism after he failed to make it into the top 10 of the last time trial stage at the Ruta del Sol, but nonetheless finished 10th overall.

Riding initially with intensified media scrutiny because of his AAF result from last year's Vuelta a España, in terms of racing, the Briton has had a week of mixed fortunes in Andalucia. He was up there with the other favourites on most of stage two crucial ascent to Allanadas, where he had won in 2015, before falling off the pace in the final kilometre.

Then on stage 4, Froome punctured at what the Briton pointed out was exactly the wrong moment, at the foot of an ultra-difficult final ascent to Alcala de los Gazules, effectively losing any chance of repeating his overall win from three years ago.

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When it came to the Sunday time trial, Froome had said he would "empty the tank" on the last day of racing. He was as good as his word, hammering away on the long, gravel path climb that opened up the time trial, and then hitting speeds of over 70 kmh on the technical, patchily surfaced, descent to Barbate.

"Obviously I was coming here as my first race of the season, so I didn't really know where my form was at and I guess I know now, "Froome said even as the last few riders were completing the course. "This is all part of my build-up to the Giro, and I'm pretty happy with this as my starting point."

As for the time trial itself, Froome's 11th place was, he said, somewhat worse than he had hoped for, but no disaster.

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