Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/558086
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 19 AUGUST 2015 20 FROOME on Monday posted a vid- eo on Twitter showing him taking tests at the GlaxoSmithKline Hu- man Performance Lab in London, fulfilling a promise made during the Tour at the height of specula- tion and innuendo about his per- formances. The video came on the same day that Team Sky named Froome as their leader for a second Grand Tour of the season, the Vuelta a Espana which begins on Saturday. "Kicking off physiological testing at @GSK-HPL today" Froome wrote alongside the video. "Plenty more testing & analysis to be done, I will be sharing results later in the year!" He also offered a hint of his plans for next season as he posted a pic- ture of him tackling a simulation of the Olympic road race course for next year. "Replicating possible conditions for @Rio2016-en road race & TT. #RoadtoRio starts here!" he wrote. Froome promised to take the tests during the Tour as Team Sky sought a way to prove that his performances are not chemically- enhanced, with the hope being that he can show he has a naturally low heart rate. During the Tour, Froome faced constant questioning from sec- tions of the media and some fans, and at one point he was doused in urine by a spectator while his Sky team-mates also faced attacks, with Richie Porte being punched. Later this week, Froome will re- turn to the Vuelta, in which he finished second last year, bidding to become the first British winner and only the third man in history to win the Tour and Vuelta in the same season. He will once again have Geraint Thomas riding in support after the Welshman, who proved invaluable in helping Froome to his second Tour de France crown, was named in the squad alongside Ireland's Nicolas Roche. The trio were named in the nine- man squad along with Sergio Hen- ao, Mikel Nieve, Vasil Kiryienka, Christian Knees, Ian Boswell and Salvatore Puccio. When Froome rode to second place in last year's Vuelta, won by Alberto Contador, he was using the race as a comeback event after crashing out of the 2014 Tour on stage five. This year the race presents an all together different challenge after an already gruelling summer and with a strong field, which includes 2014 Giro d'Italia winner Nairo Quin- tana, 2014 Tour de France champi- on Vincenzo Nibali and 2009 Vuel- ta winner Alejandro Valverde - all of whom also rode this year's Tour. "I have great memories from this race so I'm pleased to be back," Froome said. "I've had a good rest after the Tour and now I'm ready for my next challenge. "It will certainly be a very com- petitive race given the strong field - which will be great for the fans to watch. The competition will be tough and this is bike racing so any- thing can happen, but we have an excellent team and we're ready to get the race started." Team Sky principal Sir Dave Brailsford added: "It's been an un- forgettable summer for us after win- ning the Tour de France for the third time, but it's important to move on quickly, realign our goals and focus on the new challenges ahead. "We've selected a strong squad for the Vuelta that has the right blend of talent and experience to support Chris Froome through the tough three weeks ahead." The Vuelta begins on Saturday in Puerto Banus, and will finish in Ma- drid on September 13. Sport SPORTTODAY FOOTBALL CYCLING THE Croatia international, who was a reported target of Liverpool, moves to the Bernabeu stadium in a reported £25million transfer deal and becomes Real's fifth summer signing. A statement from Real Madrid read: "Real Madrid FC and Inter Milan have reached an agreement for the transfer of Mateo Kovacic, who has joined the club for the next six seasons. "The player will be unveiled to the media on Wednesday after under- going a medical." The 21-year-old Kovacic signed for Inter in the summer of 2013 from Dinamo Zagreb and has made 80 appearances for the Nerazzurri. Kovacic signed a new contract with Inter until June 2019 last season and attracted the attention of top Euro- pean clubs after scoring five goals and setting up three more in 35 Serie A appearances for the Neraz- zurri in the 2014-15 campaign. Real, coached by former Napoli manager Rafa Benitez, begin the La Liga season at Sporting Gijon on Sunday. Real Madrid complete Mateo Kovacic signing Real Madrid have signed midfielder Mateo Kovacic from Inter Milan on a six-year contract for an undisclosed fee, the Spanish giants announced yesterday afternoon Chris Froome's physiological testing Tour de France winner Chris Froome has begun a series of physiological tests he hopes can silence those who doubt he is racing clean Chris Froome