Chris Froome’s stance on riding the 2015 Tour de France could be softening after he initially hinted at a reluctance to ride the race yesterday.

The 2013 winner was absent when the route for next year’s race was announced last month and suggested he may skip the Tour to instead target May’s Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a Espana, which begins in August.

It seems inconceivable that Team Sky would allow its best rider to skip the sport’s most high-profile race next July and one in which Froome would be among the favourites, but his comments put his participation in doubt.

But, in an end of year interview with the Team Sky official website, Froome suggested he wanted to lead the Tour once more.

“Looking to next year, my key goal is just returning to good condition and being at the front of a race again,” the 29-year-old said.

“That’s a really big motivation for me. Whether it’s the Tour or any other race, it’s what I love doing.

“I love racing and being able to compete at the front — to be with a team of guys who you enjoy being with, and who you work together well with.

“That’s what gets me through the winter when I’m riding those long hours on my own.”

Froome abandoned the 2014 Tour with a broken hand and fractured wrist following three crashes in two days.

After a period of rest and recuperation in which he got married and was able to reflect on 2014, Froome is now keen to resume training for 2015.

“I’m actually really hungry to start training again and keen to get back going,” added Froome, who will once again spend the winter training in Keny, South Africa and Monaco.

“The Tour was a disappointment but I’ve still got a few victories I can be happy about this year.

“Also finishing the Vuelta off in such a decent way, after having all the setbacks — that for me was probably more important than anything else.”