'I've never seen an athlete with the same mental strength as Chris Froome', says Israel Start-Up Nation Sports Director

Israel Start Up Nation's Sports Director, Cherie Pridham said she has never seen another athlete with the same mental strength as Chris Froome, in the fourth road.cc Drink at Your Desk Friday episode.

Pridham, the first female Sports Director of a World Tour team, also said however that the team did not expect Froome to be wearing the yellow jersey on the Champs-Élysées this year. 

She said:  "That was a horrific crash that Chris had and as a team we've seen the trials and tribulations that Chris has had to face. The injuries were so horrific, just for him to be on a bike is amazing.

"It has arguably taken a lot longer than everybody, if not Chris himself, anticipated.

"But this is a long term project if we win the tour as Israel Start Up Nation it might not happen in year two or year three it might happen in year six...

"So yeah, it's not everybody's first reaction that 'yeah Chris is going to win the Tour de France'".

She added: "His strength within is just something... I've never seen it in any other athlete.. Chris's ability to train is outstanding, he's just a machine.

"I genuinely believe that Chris will deliver, if not this year, he will deliver at some point."

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Pridham also spoke about the teams other prospects at the Tour and said she would be 'surprised' if they didn't at least win a stage or two. 

Pridham started bike racing in South Africa and rode her first Tour de l'Aude Cycliste Féminin when she was 19 years old.

Her pro cycling career spanned eight Tour de l'Aude Cycliste Féminins and two Giro  Rosa, until she was forced to retire due to injuries sustained in a hit and run accident in 2006.

She continued:  "We have other riders on the team, Mike Woods for instance, he's growing in confidence. He's such a genuine lovely guy. He will go and lead that Tour de France. 

"I believe we have put a great team together for stage victories and I would be surprised if we don't win a stage, if not two with the team that we've got."

We also spoke to GCN and Eurosport commentator Rob Hatch, who as well as giving us an insight into what it takes to narrate the world's biggest bike race, also confessed to, occasionally, half wheeling his illustrious colleagues. 

Looking at picture of himself out riding, he said: "[That's me] Half wheeling Sean Kelly there.

"I'm guilty of that far too much, again because I'm not a particularly good bike rider, and anybody who has ridden with me probably gets really annoyed.

"Poor old Sean, he's asked me how big my bike is quite a few times. I think he thinks it's half a wheel bigger than his.

"He must be sick of it by now."