Chris Froome has described the prospect of racing at the 2020 Tour de France and a possible record-equalling fifth victory as "the light at the end of the tunnel" as he continues a long recovery from the horror crash he suffered in June.

The 34-year-old has resumed full training after an operation last month to remove the last of the metalwork inserted following his high-speed crash at the Criterium du Dauphine, where he suffered an open fracture to his femur and broken bones in his sternum and neck.

Froome competed in the short team time trial at the Saitama Tour de France Criterium in Japan in late October, essentially an exhibition event, but admitted he still faces a huge amount of work to recapture the sort of form which might deliver success in July.

Speaking to Team Ineos team-mates Geraint Thomas and Luke Rowe on their Watts Occurring podcast, Froome said. "I got back on the bike (on Monday) officially for the first time since my second operation to remove some of the metalwork, so hopefully there's no going back now and hopefully everything I do now will be towards the Tour next year.

"We'll see how it all goes step by step. The first thing is just getting back on the bike and then trying to work on some of the weaknesses. That right leg now hasn't been working properly for six months, so it's quite weak and needs a lot of work."

Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France Show all 80 1 /80 Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Germany's Team Sunweb cycling team rides through the Saint-Hubert Royal Galleries on their way to the team presentation ceremony in Brussels on July 4, 2019, two days prior to the start of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race. - On Saturday, July 6, the 106th edition of the Tour de France will start with a 194.5km stage in the region of Brussels, 100 years after the introduction of the yellow jersey and 50 years after Belgian legend Eddy Merckx won his first Tour. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/Getty Images ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - (FromL) Dutch teammate Dylan Van Baarle, French rider Julian Alaphilippe and Danish rider Kasper Asgreen cycle in the Wall of Grammont - Mur de Grammont in the first stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Brussels and Brussels, Belgium, on July 6, 2019. (Photo by JEFF PACHOUD / AFP)JEFF PACHOUD/AFP/Getty Images JEFF PACHOUD AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Danish rider Jakob Fuglsang rides as he bleeds after a fall in the first stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Brussels and Brussels, Belgium, on July 6, 2019. (Photo by JEFF PACHOUD / POOL / AFP)JEFF PACHOUD/AFP/Getty Images JEFF PACHOUD AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Dutch rider Mike Teunissen (R) sprints with Slovak rider Peter Sagan (2ndL) to win the first stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Brussels and Brussels, Belgium, on July 6, 2019. (Photo by Marco Bertorello / AFP)MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/Getty Images MARCO BERTORELLO AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Dutch rider Mike Teunissen wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey removes his helmet after winning with his teammates the second stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, a 27.6km team time-trial in Brussels, Belgium, on July 7, 2019. - Today's stage is a technically tricky team time trial with a 27.6km Brussels city-centre route, with Deceuninck and Ineos the favourites. (Photo by Marco Bertorello / AFP)MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/Getty Images MARCO BERTORELLO AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - French rider Julian Alaphilippe celebrates his victory as he crosses the finish line of the third stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Binche and Epernay, in Epernay on July 8, 2019. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/Getty Images ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Dutch rider Mike Teunissen wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey cools off after winning with his teammates the second stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, a 27.6km team time-trial in Brussels, Belgium, on July 7, 2019. - Today's stage is a technically tricky team time trial with a 27.6km Brussels city-centre route. (Photo by Marco Bertorello / AFP)MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/Getty Images MARCO BERTORELLO AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Dutch rider Mike Teunissen (2ndR) wearing his overall leader's yellow jersey and teammates of Netherlands' Jumbo-Visma cycling team sprint to win on the finish line of the second stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, a 27.6km team time-trial in Brussels, Belgium, on July 7, 2019. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/Getty Images ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Riders of Bahrain's Bahrain-Merida cycling team compete in the second stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, a 27.6km team time-trial in Brussels, Belgium, on July 7, 2019. - Today's stage is a technically tricky team time trial with a 27.6km Brussels city-centre route. (Photo by Marco Bertorello / AFP)MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/Getty Images MARCO BERTORELLO AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Riders of Netherlands' Jumbo-Visma cycling team compete in the second stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, a 27.6km team time-trial in Brussels, Belgium, on July 7, 2019. - Today's stage is a technically tricky team time trial with a 27.6km Brussels city-centre route. (Photo by Marco Bertorello / AFP)MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/Getty Images MARCO BERTORELLO AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - A French national flag flies ste on a convertible car as rider pass by during the third stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Binche and Epernay, on July 8, 2019. (Photo by Marco Bertorello / AFP)MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/Getty Images MARCO BERTORELLO AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Dutch rider Mike Teunissen (L) wearing his overall leader's yellow jersey celebrates their victory with a teammate of Netherlands' Jumbo-Visma cycling team on the finish line of the second stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, a 27.6km team time-trial in Brussels, Belgium, on July 7, 2019. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/Getty Images ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Riders of Switzerland's Team Katusha Alpecin cycling team compete in the second stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, a 27.6km team time-trial in Brussels, Belgium, on July 7, 2019. - Today's stage is a technically tricky team time trial with a 27.6km Brussels city-centre route. (Photo by JEFF PACHOUD / AFP)JEFF PACHOUD/AFP/Getty Images JEFF PACHOUD AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - The pack rides in the first stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Brussels and Brussels, Belgium, on July 6, 2019. (Photo by Marco Bertorello / AFP)MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/Getty Images MARCO BERTORELLO AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Riders of France's Groupama-FDJ cycling team compete with the triple arches of the Arcades du Cinquantenaire in background in the second stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, a 27.6km team time-trial in Brussels, Belgium, on July 7, 2019. - Today's stage is a technically tricky team time trial with a 27.6km Brussels city-centre route. (Photo by Marco Bertorello / AFP)MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/Getty Images MARCO BERTORELLO AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - The pack rides with the Cathedral of reims in background during the third stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Binche and Epernay, in Reims, on July 8, 2019. (Photo by JEFF PACHOUD / AFP)JEFF PACHOUD/AFP/Getty Images JEFF PACHOUD AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - The pack rides with wind turbines in background during the third stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Binche and Epernay, on July 8, 2019. (Photo by Marco Bertorello / AFP)MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/Getty Images MARCO BERTORELLO AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - France's Yoann Offredo (L), Switzerland's Michael Schar (C) and Belgium's Frederik Backaert (R) ride as the breakaway group during the fourth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Reims and Nancy, eastern France, on July 9, 2019. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/Getty Images ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - A woman cheers with pompoms from a car as the pack rides past during the fourth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Reims and Nancy, eastern France, on July 9, 2019. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/Getty Images ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - The pack rides during the fourth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Reims and Nancy, eastern France, on July 9, 2019. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/Getty Images ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Spectators refresh themselves in a swimming pool as they watch cyclists riding during the fourth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Reims and Nancy, eastern France, on July 9, 2019. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/Getty Images ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - This photo taken with a tilt and shift lens shows the pack riding in the countryside during the third stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Binche and Epernay, on July 8, 2019. (Photo by Marco Bertorello / AFP)MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/Getty Images MARCO BERTORELLO AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Slovakia's Peter Sagan (2ndL), wearing the best sprinter's green jersey sprints with Belgium's Wout van Aert (L), wearing the best young's white jersey (L), to win few metres before the finish line of the fifth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Saint-Die-des-Vosges and Colmar, eastern France, in Colmar on July 10, 2019. (Photo by JEFF PACHOUD / AFP)JEFF PACHOUD/AFP/Getty Images JEFF PACHOUD AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Slovakia's Peter Sagan, wearing the best sprinter's green jersey celebrates as he wins on the finish line of the fifth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Saint-Die-des-Vosges and Colmar, eastern France, in Colmar on July 10, 2019. (Photo by JEFF PACHOUD / AFP)JEFF PACHOUD/AFP/Getty Images JEFF PACHOUD AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - France's Julian Alaphilippe, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey reacts after crossing the finish line of the sixth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Mulhouse and La Planche des Belles Filles, in La Planche des Belles Filles on July 11, 2019. (Photo by Marco Bertorello / AFP)MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/Getty Images MARCO BERTORELLO AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Netherlands' Dylan Groenewegen (C) sprints with Slovakia's Peter Sagan (2ndL), wearing the best sprinter's green jersey,and Australia's Caleb Ewan (L) to win on the finish line of the seventh stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Belfort and Chalon-sur-Saone, in Chalon-sur-Saone, eastern France, on July 12, 2019. (Photo by Marco Bertorello / AFP)MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/Getty Images MARCO BERTORELLO AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Netherlands' Dylan Groenewegen (3rdR) sprints with Slovakia's Peter Sagan (3rdL), wearing the best sprinter's green jersey, and Australia's Caleb Ewan (L) to win on the finish line of the seventh stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Belfort and Chalon-sur-Saone, in Chalon-sur-Saone, eastern France, on July 12, 2019. (Photo by Marco Bertorello / AFP)MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/Getty Images MARCO BERTORELLO AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Cyclists ride on a square of Arbois, eastern France, during the seventh stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Belfort and Chalon-sur-Saone, on July 12, 2019. (Photo by Marco Bertorello / AFP)MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/Getty Images MARCO BERTORELLO AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Cyclists cross a forest during the seventh stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Belfort and Chalon-sur-Saone, on July 12, 2019. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/Getty Images ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Belgium's Thomas De Gendt celebrates as he wins on the finish line of the eighth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Macon and Saint-Etienne, in Saint-Etienne, eastern France, on July 13, 2019. (Photo by Marco Bertorello / AFP)MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/Getty Images MARCO BERTORELLO AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Cyclism enthusiasts react as one waves a French national flag in the Mur d'Aurec-sur-Loire during the ninth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Saint-Etienne and Brioude, on July 14, 2019. (Photo by JEFF PACHOUD / AFP)JEFF PACHOUD/AFP/Getty Images JEFF PACHOUD AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Cyclism enthusiasts wave French national flags as their cheer riders of a breakaway in the Mur d'Aurec-sur-Loire during the ninth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Saint-Etienne and Brioude, on July 14, 2019. (Photo by JEFF PACHOUD / AFP)JEFF PACHOUD/AFP/Getty Images JEFF PACHOUD AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - The pack crosses a city during the ninth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Saint-Etienne and Brioude, on July 14, 2019. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/Getty Images ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Cyclists of the pack cross a bridge near the Viaduc de Garabit (Bridge of Garabit) in background during the tenth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Saint-Flour and Albi, on July 15, 2019. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/Getty Images ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Cyclism enthusiasts wait for riders near a pass during the eighth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Macon and Saint-Etienne, on July 13, 2019. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/Getty Images ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Belgium's Wout van Aert is congratulated by a teammate after winning the tenth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Saint-Flour and Albi, on July 15, 2019. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/Getty Images ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Belgium's Wout van Aert (2ndR) sprints to win on the finish line of the tenth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Saint-Flour and Albi, on July 15, 2019. (Photo by Marco Bertorello / AFP)MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/Getty Images MARCO BERTORELLO AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Belgium's Wout van Aert (2ndR) celebrates, past Australia's Caleb Ewan (L) and Italy's Elia Viviani (R), as he wins on the finish line of the tenth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Saint-Flour and Albi, on July 15, 2019. (Photo by Marco Bertorello / AFP)MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/Getty Images MARCO BERTORELLO AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Australia's Caleb Ewan (frontL) wins past Netherlands' Dylan Groenewegen on the finish line of the eleventh stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Albi and Toulouse, in Toulouse on July 17, 2019. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/Getty Images ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - The pack rides during the twelfth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Toulouse and Bagneres-de-Bigorre, on July 18, 2019. (Photo by JEFF PACHOUD / AFP)JEFF PACHOUD/AFP/Getty Images JEFF PACHOUD AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Breakaway group rides up to the Col de Peyresourde (Peyresourde Pass) during the twelfth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Toulouse and Bagneres-de-Bigorre, on July 18, 2019. (Photo by Marco Bertorello / AFP)MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/Getty Images MARCO BERTORELLO AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Fans cheer as Italy's Matteo Trentin chases the leader of the breakaway during the twelfth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Toulouse and Bagneres-de-Bigorre, on July 18, 2019. (Photo by Marco Bertorello / AFP)MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/Getty Images MARCO BERTORELLO AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Great Britain's Simon Yates celebrates as he wins on the finish line of the twelfth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Toulouse and Bagneres-de-Bigorre, in Bagneres-de-Bigorre on July 18, 2019. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/Getty Images ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - A cycling fan dressed with a costume of a pink rabbit with a sign reading "Little Rabbit" waves on the roadside as a cycling team car pass by during the twelfth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Toulouse and Bagneres-de-Bigorre, on July 18, 2019. (Photo by JEFF PACHOUD / AFP) (Photo credit should read JEFF PACHOUD/AFP/Getty Images) ***BESTPIX*** AFP Contributor#AFP AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - France's Thibaut Pinot crosses the finish line of the thirteenth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, a 27,2-kilometer individual time-trial in Pau, on July 19, 2019. (Photo by JEFF PACHOUD / AFP)JEFF PACHOUD/AFP/Getty Images JEFF PACHOUD AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - France's Thibaut Pinot rides past fans during the thirteenth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, a 27,2-kilometer individual time-trial in Pau, on July 19, 2019. (Photo by Marco Bertorello / AFP)MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/Getty Images MARCO BERTORELLO AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - France's Julian Alaphilippe, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey crosses the finish line of the thirteenth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, a 27,2-kilometer individual time-trial in Pau, on July 19, 2019. (Photo by JEFF PACHOUD / AFP)JEFF PACHOUD/AFP/Getty Images JEFF PACHOUD Getty Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - France's Julian Alaphilippe, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey reacts after winning the thirteenth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, a 27,2-kilometer individual time-trial in Pau, on July 19, 2019. (Photo by Marco Bertorello / AFP)MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/Getty Images MARCO BERTORELLO Getty Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Cycling enthusiasts hold a placard reading "Go Julian Alaphilippe" as they react on the roadside during the fourteenth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Tarbes and Tourmalet Bareges, on July 20, 2019. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/Getty Images ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Cycling enthusiasts takes pictures of riders during the fourteenth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Tarbes and Tourmalet Bareges, on July 20, 2019. (Photo by Marco Bertorello / AFP)MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/Getty Images MARCO BERTORELLO AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - France's Thibaut Pinot celebrates as he wins on the finish line of the fourteenth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Tarbes and Tourmalet Bareges, in Tourmalet Bareges on July 20, 2019. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/Getty Images ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - French President Emmanuel Macron (C) applauds France's Julian Alaphilippe, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey crossing the finish line of the fourteenth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Tarbes and Tourmalet Bareges, in Tourmalet Bareges on July 20, 2019. (Photo by JEFF PACHOUD / POOL / AFP)JEFF PACHOUD/AFP/Getty Images JEFF PACHOUD AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Cycling enthusiasts wait for riders in the Tourmalet during the fourteenth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Tarbes and Tourmalet Bareges, on July 20, 2019. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/Getty Images ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - France's Julian Alaphilippe (C), wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey and Great Britain's Geraint Thomas (R) ride during the fifteen stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Limoux and Foix Prat d'Albi, in Foix Prat d'Albi on July 21, 2019. (Photo by Marco Bertorello / AFP)MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/Getty Images MARCO BERTORELLO AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Cycling enthusiasts wearing dresses with the Union Jack gesture on the roadside as they wait for riders during the fifteen stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Limoux and Foix Prat d'Albis, in Foix Prat d'Albis on July 21, 2019. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/Getty Images ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Fans cheer Great Britain's Simon Yates leadinf the race in the last kilometers during the fifteen stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Limoux and Foix Prat d'Albis, in Foix Prat d'Albis on July 21, 2019. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/Getty Images ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Cycling enthusiasts wearing polka dot jerseys takes pictures of Great Britain's Simon Yates during the fifteen stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Limoux and Foix Prat d'Albis, in Foix Prat d'Albis on July 21, 2019. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/Getty Images ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - France's Julian Alaphilippe (frontC), wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey and cyclists cross the Pont du Gard during the sixteenth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Nimes and Nimes, in Nimes, on July 23, 2019. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/Getty Images ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Australia's Caleb Ewan (2ndL) celebrates, past Slovakia's Peter Sagan (2ndR), wearing the best sprinter's green jersey as he wins on the finish line of the sixteenth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Nimes and Nimes, in Nimes, on July 23, 2019. (Photo by Marco Bertorello / AFP)MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/Getty Images MARCO BERTORELLO AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - A French national flag flies past two fans as the pack pastses by during the sixteenth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Nimes and Nimes, in Nimes, on July 23, 2019. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/Getty Images ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - France's Julian Alaphilippe (frontR), wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey reacts with a teammate past Great Britain's Geraint Thomas (frontL), as he crosses the finish line of the seventeenth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Pont du Gard and Gap, in Gap, on July 24, 2019. (Photo by Marco Bertorello / AFP)MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/Getty Images MARCO BERTORELLO AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Slovakia's Peter Sagan, wearing the best sprinter's green jersey leads the race during the eighteenth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Embrun and Valloire, in Valloire, on July 25, 2019. (Photo by JEFF PACHOUD / AFP)JEFF PACHOUD/AFP/Getty Images JEFF PACHOUD AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - The pack rides past the Lac of Serre-Poncon (Serre-Poncon lake) during the eighteenth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Embrun and Valloire, in Valloire, on July 25, 2019. (Photo by JEFF PACHOUD / AFP)JEFF PACHOUD/AFP/Getty Images JEFF PACHOUD AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Colombia's Nairo Quintana celebrates as he wins on the finish line of the eighteenth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Embrun and Valloire, in Valloire, on July 25, 2019. (Photo by Marco Bertorello / AFP)MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/Getty Images MARCO BERTORELLO AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Stage winner Colombia's Nairo Quintana (C) celebrates his victory on the podium of the eighteenth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Embrun and Valloire, in Valloire, on July 25, 2019. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/Getty Images ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - British fans cheer as France's Romain Bardet (L) and Canada's Michael Woods ride up during the eighteenth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Embrun and Valloire, in Valloire, on July 25, 2019. (Photo by JEFF PACHOUD / AFP)JEFF PACHOUD/AFP/Getty Images JEFF PACHOUD AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Fans look at New Zealand's George Bennett after a fall during the eighteenth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Embrun and Valloire, in Valloire, on July 25, 2019. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/Getty Images ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - France's Thibaut Pinot, in his team car, reacts after quitting the Tour during the nineteenth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne and Tignes, in Tignes, on July 26, 2019. (Photo by Marco Bertorello / AFP)MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/Getty Images MARCO BERTORELLO AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - France's Thibaut Pinot, in his team car, reacts after quitting the Tour de France due to a thigh problem during the nineteenth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne and Tignes, in Tignes, on July 26, 2019. (Photo by Marco Bertorello / AFP)MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/Getty Images MARCO BERTORELLO AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - France's Julian Alaphilippe, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey reacts after the race was stopped due to bad weather conditions in the last 20 kilometers during the nineteenth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne and Tignes, in Tignes, on July 26, 2019. (Photo by JEFF PACHOUD / AFP)JEFF PACHOUD/AFP/Getty Images JEFF PACHOUD AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - France's Julian Alaphilippe, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey reacts after he has lost his yellow jersey and the race was abandoned due to a massive hail storm that hit the last kilometres during the nineteenth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne and Tignes, in Tignes, on July 26, 2019. (Photo by Marco Bertorello / AFP)MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/Getty Images MARCO BERTORELLO AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Team Deceuninck rider France's Julian Alaphilippe (C) reacts after crossing the finish line of the twentieth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Albertville and Val Thorens, in Val Thorens, on July 27, 2019. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/Getty Images ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Italy's Vincenzo Nibali celebrates as he wins on the finish line of the twentieth stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Albertville and Val Thorens, in Val Thorens, on July 27, 2019. (Photo by Marco Bertorello / AFP)MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/Getty Images MARCO BERTORELLO AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Colombia's Egan Bernal (L) of Team Ineos wears the overall leader's yellow jersey as he passes with the pack past the pyramid of The Louvre Museum designed by Ieoh Ming Pei during the twenty-first and final stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Rambouillet and Paris Champs-Elysses in Paris on July 28, 2019. (Photo by Julien DE ROSA / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY MENTION OF THE ARTIST UPON PUBLICATION - TO ILLUSTRATE THE EVENT AS SPECIFIED IN THE CAPTIONJULIEN DE ROSA/AFP/Getty Images JULIEN DE ROSA AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Colombia's Egan Bernal (L), wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey is congratulated by teammate Great Britain's Geraint Thomas as he celebrates his victory on the finish line of the 21st and last stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Rambouillet and Paris Champs-Elysees, in Paris, in Paris on July 28, 2019. (Photo by JEFF PACHOUD / AFP)JEFF PACHOUD/AFP/Getty Images JEFF PACHOUD AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Colombia's Egan Bernal (R), wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey is congratulated by his girlfriend Xiomy Guerrero as he celebrates his victory after crossing the finish line of the 21st and last stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Rambouillet and Paris Champs-Elysees, in Paris, in Paris on July 28, 2019. (Photo by Martin BUREAU / AFP)MARTIN BUREAU/AFP/Getty Images MARTIN BUREAU AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Colombian fans cheer prior to the 21st and last stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Rambouillet and Paris Champs-Elysees, in Paris on July 28, 2019. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/Getty Images ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Colombia's Egan Bernal (C) celebrates his overall leader's yellow jersey reacts as he poses with second-placed Great Britain's Geraint Thomas (L) and third-placed Netherlands' Steven Kruijswijk on the podium of the 21st and last stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Rambouillet and Paris Champs-Elysees, in Paris on July 28, 2019. (Photo by Marco Bertorello / AFP)MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/Getty Images MARCO BERTORELLO AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Colombia's Egan Bernal (R) is congratulated by second-placed Great Britain's Geraint Thomas as he celebrates his overall leader's yellow jersey on the podium of the 21st and last stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Rambouillet and Paris Champs-Elysees, in Paris on July 28, 2019. (Photo by Marco Bertorello / AFP)MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/Getty Images MARCO BERTORELLO AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2019 Tour de France TOPSHOT - Colombia's Egan Bernal (C) celebrates his overall leader's yellow jersey on the podium of the 21st and last stage of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Rambouillet and Paris Champs-Elysees, in Paris on July 28, 2019. (Photo by JEFF PACHOUD / AFP)JEFF PACHOUD/AFP/Getty Images JEFF PACHOUD AFP/Getty Images

Froome hopes to return to racing early next season with an eye on challenging at the Tour, where victory would see him match the record held by Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Jacques Anquetil and Miguel Indurain.

"I definitely won't be ready to take on the Giro (d'Italia in May) 100 per cent so I think logically the Tour makes a lot of sense and obviously for my own ambitions, trying to go for number five, the record is a big goal," Froome added.

"That's the driving force for me, that's the light at the end of the tunnel, to get to the Tour in my best shape again. That's definitely helped in the tough times, the times in the wheelchair, I've got to get to that point.

"But having said that, it's also been quite daunting having that as a goal. Getting back on the bike for the first time was amazing, it was really cool to be out on the road again but it also highlighted to me just how far away from Tour de France-winning shape I am.

"I've lost six months and it's going to take me a good few months to get back there."