Chris Froome will start 2018 season at Ruta del Sol despite salbutamol case

Despite the urging of race organizers, fellow pro cyclists and the UCI president not to begin racing until the ongoing anti-doping investigation is resolved, Chris Froome of Team Sky will begin his 2018 season mid-February at the Ruta del Sol running from Feb. 14 to 18. Froome won the five-stage race in Andalucia during his last participating in 2015.

The ongoing case is reportedly on the verge of going in front of the UCI anti-doping tribunal but opportunities for both sides to appeal will still be possible. Details have only emerged through the press on the ongoing case. Team Sky first revealed they were providing information to the UCI regarding the use of the asthma medication in December.

“I’’m confident that we will be able to get to the bottom of what has happened and I’m working hard with the team to do that,” Froome commented about the ongoing case. “No one is keener than me to move things forward as quickly as possible.”

To prepare for the coming season, Froome has been logging a huge block of training in South Africa which was public thanks to the four-time Tour de France winners return to Strava.

“I have put in a hard training block in January. It’s been good to be out on my bike and to get the miles under my belt,” Froome said in a Team Sky press release. “It’s been a couple of years now since I was last at Ruta del Sol. It’s a race I’ve enjoyed in the past and so I’m looking forward to going back there.”

With Froome lining up to race, his results will remain in question until the salbutamol case is resolved. He didn’t directly address the growing number of voices calling for him to stop racing until a verdict is reached.

“Obviously I understand that this situation has created a lot of uncertainty. I completely get why there has been so much interest and speculation,” Froome said.

“I hope that people will appreciate there are limits to what I can say whilst the process is still ongoing but no one is keener than me to move things forward as quickly as possible,” he said.

Team principal Dave Brailsford also said that the public will just have to wait for a decision during the mean time it looks like Sky are comfortable racing him.

“We all recognise that these are difficult circumstances but it’s important for all sides that this process is conducted fairly before a final conclusion is reached,” Brailsford said. “It is a complex situation but we’re working as hard as we can with Chris to resolve things as soon as possible.”

Froome’s last competition of 2017 was the individual time trial at the world championships in Bergen, Norway. Froome was informed of the adverse analytical finding before earning a bronze medal in that race, and has stated his intention to target the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France in 2018.

In recent years, Alejandro Valverde has dominated the Ruta del Sol winning five of the last six editions.