The team bus offers something of a sanctuary for Chris Froome ahead of another day at the Tour de France.
Once Froome pulls back the curtain and walks off the bus to take another step on his journey to become champion of cycling’s greatest race, the maillot jaune is confronted by team officials, sponsors, journalists, photographers and fans all wanting a piece of the man of the moment.
Froome’s thoughts, however, are fixed firmly on the day ahead, in this case stage 19: a 204.5km mountain stage from Bourg d’Oisans to Le Grand-Bornand which, even after Thursday’s double ascent of Alpe d’Huez, is perhaps the toughest parcours of the 2013 race.
The 28-year-old Froome, with his wingman, Richie Porte, ever-present at his side, warms up on the turbo trainer, focusing his mind on the task ahead before some final words of wisdom from Team Sky press officer Dario Cioni, who himself completed 19 Grand Tours before retiring in 2011.
These superb images from photographer Simon Wilkinson give us an insight into life as the leader of the Tour de France.
