Just one day after taking victory in his third Tour de France, Chris Froome was back in action as he lined up in a criterium in Belgium.
The Team Sky rider was first across the line in the Natourcriterium in Aalst, after breaking clear of the leading group towards the end of the 75-kilometre race.
Froome finished a few seconds clear of Greg van Avermaet (BMC Racing) with Tour King of the Mountains winner Rafal Majka (Tinkoff) taking third. Amongst the other World Tour riders who raced in Aalst were Thomas de Gendt (Lotto-Soudal), Oscar Gatto (Tinkoff) and Iljo Keisse (Etixx-Quick Step).
The Natourcriterium is the first of a series of traditional post-Tour criteriums which take place throughout Belgium, France and the Netherlands in the weeks following the Tour, where the result is usually decided prior to the race.
A criterium also took place in Boxmeer in the Netherlands last evening where Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) took the win ahead of Wout Poels (Sky) and Stef Clement (IAM Cycling).
The riders are offered contracts to appear at the various races, with a figure of €50,000 being reported as Froome’s appearance fee.
Next up for Froome is the Profronde van Surhuisterveen in the Netherlands this evening where he will line up alongside Mollema, Tom Jelte-Slagter and Lieuwe Westra amongst others.
Victory @chrisfroome ! #natourcriterium #Aalst pic.twitter.com/RjzhMDB5Wx
— Napoleon Games (@napoleongames) July 25, 2016
Dara O’Neill we’re going to have to watch this to see if Tony’s chicken dinner is still running around the town square