Chris Froome (Israel Premier Tec) continues to believe that his main goal is to finish at the top of the Tour de France.

In an interview with French specialist website DirectVelo on the Route d'Occitanie, which was won by teammate Mike Woods, Froome said that he had minor physical problems in the first months of the year, with one tendon going into serious trouble in April.

However, after consequently opting to skip the Volta a Catalunya and the Tour of the Alps, Froome returned to racing at the Tour de Romandie.

"I'm getting a little bit better," he said. For the last six or seven weeks my training has been good, I've been able to work without any problems," he said. Things seem to be moving in the right direction."

On the Route d'Occitanie, Froome finished 40th overall after working for teammate and repeat winner Mike Woods. He said, "The first stage was stressful. I had to do everything I could to help the leaders and especially Corbin [Strong], who I was hoping would win the stage."

"I was very happy with the result.

"It was a really great group performance with five guys in the lead group of 25.

As for the Tour de France, Israel Premier Tech will announce its lineup later this week.

However, the Englishman seems confident in his chances of being named one of the eight riders, telling DirectVelo, "I'm going to the Tour to try to win a stage."

"The Tour remains the ultimate goal," Froome continued. With the best riders in the world competing in the best form, this race is one of my fondest memories."

"I'm going to go for the Tour because I want to win the Tour," he said.

"Of course, I'm not going to the Tour to fight for the overall, but it would be great to try for a stage win."

Froom cited as an example the case of last year's Alpe d'Huez, where he took part in a breakaway and finished third.

The 2023 Tour de France will start on July 1 in Bilbao.