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With a 3rd Tour title coming up, Froome turns focus to Rio

MORZINE, France (AP) - Don't expect Chris Froome to indulge in big celebrations on the Champs Elysees. After effectively securing a third Tour de France title on Saturday, the Kenyan-born British rider has already turned his focus to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Froome, a bronze Olympic medalist in the time trial four years ago in London, will once again be among the favorites in the race against the clock in Brazil.

Froome even beat specialist Tom Dumoulin in his favorite discipline in Thursday's second time trial.

"I think it's a course (in Rio) that suits me well, there's almost a thousand meters of climbing and it's almost 60 kilometers in length," said Froome, who will also compete in the road race in Rio. "It's going to be an extremely tough event. I won a bronze medal in the last Olympics in London and it would be absolutely incredible to win another one this year."

The 54.5-kilometer (34-mile) men's time trial in Rio, which features four climbs, is on Aug. 10.

Froome traveled to Rio during the winter to preview the Olympic circuit and has changed his preparations this year to maintain peak form until the games.

Four years ago, Froome's former teammate Bradley Wiggins managed to secure a Tour-Olympics double, triumphing in the London 2012 Games' time trial ahead of German Tony Martin and Froome after posting the first British win at the Tour in July.

Froome's hopes of victory in Rio have been boosted by Dumoulin's injury at the Tour on Friday. The Dutchman pulled out of the Tour after fracturing his wrist and might not recover in time for the Olympics.

Froome said he will take some days off to recover before competing in a one-day race in London next weekend.

Then it's off to Rio.

"We'll be there about a week before the race to start training a bit more again," Froome said.

Britain's Chris Froome, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, climbs during the twentieth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 146.5 kilometers (90.7 miles) with start in Megeve and finish in Morzine-Avoriaz, France, Saturday, July 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong) The Associated Press
Britain's Chris Froome, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, and Colombia's Nairo Quintana, left of Froome, ride during the twentieth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 146.5 kilometers (90.7 miles) with start in Megeve and finish in Morzine-Avoriaz, France, Saturday, July 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong) The Associated Press
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