"The only goal I've set myself is to return to the Tour de France next year and be in a similar or better position than this year. That's what's driving me at the moment," said Froome in a video released by his team Ineos.
Froome, who was the Tour favourite this year, crashed into a wall at 55 km/h during a course inspection for the time trial at the Critérium du Dauphiné in Roanne in June. He suffered several broken bones, and his ribs and hip were also badly affected. After the operation, he spent some time in intensive care. "I could hardly breathe after the operation. It was scary when I woke up the morning after the operation and realised how hopeless I was lying in that bed."
But he is making good progress, said Froome, who is working up to six hours a day on his recovery in rehabilitation. "I think I'm ahead of all the predictions that were originally made," said the 34-year-old. He has no clear memories of the accident itself: "I was incredibly lucky not to have been more seriously injured."
Froome wanted to take his fifth overall victory at the 106th Tour. Instead of Froome, his 22-year-old Colombian team-mate Egan Bernal won ahead of Ineos pro Geraint Thomas, who had beaten Froome at the 2018 Tour.
