Chris Froome

Unfailing calm off the bike, explosive on it, the contradiction that is Chris Froome would be a fascinating one to try and unravel as trifle replaces turkey. The Tour de France winner has enjoyed an unforgettable 2013, with victories at the Tour of Oman, the Criterium International, the Tour de Romandie, the Criterium du Dauphine, and, of course, the Tour de France.

Froome’s incredible run of success would provide plenty of moments to savour in preference to the Queen’s speech. How important was it to win in Oman and set down an early marker to Contador and co.? Did stage four of Tirenno-Adriatico, and the detonation of the world’s best climbers, offer the first real confirmation that the Tour was ‘on’? And just how does a boy who learned to ride in Kenya’s Rift Valley feel when stood on a podium at the end of the Champs Elysees?

With his signature mix of diffidence and raging competitive instinct, Froome told the Times that he planned to target the Tour de France for the next six or seven years. There’ll be no better place to start than Yorkshire, and no better way than with a successful defence of the title he won this year. Talking over Froome’s plans for 2014 should provide sufficiently gripping conversation to last until New Year’s Day.