Brailsford backs Froome Tour de France-Olympics double

Chris Froome's dream of winning the Tour de France and Olympic gold in 2016 is realistic, according to Team Sky boss Dave Brailsford.

Froome claimed the Tour title by over one minute in 2015 after powering away from his rivals on the tough climbs along the 21-stage race, his second triumph in three years.

The 30-year-old has stated his desire to join an elite list of riders to have won on three occasions, but also is desperate to win Olympic gold for Great Britain in August in Brazil.

Brailsford will be the man tasked with guiding Froome through the challenges ahead of him and believes they can achieve their goals – albeit with a lot of hard work.

"It's a challenge," he told Sky Sports. "It's certainly possible. We saw that Bradley [Wiggins] did that in 2012 by winning the individual time trial.

"It's a different continent and a different time zone, and it's a different course, as well. Is it doable? Yes, but it's a big challenge."

One thing that could work in Froome's favour is the hilly course planned for the Games, with Brailsford suggesting the Tour could the perfect warm up for his lead rider.

He added: "It all fits. It's not as if you need one type of fitness or skill to win the Tour and then something totally different for the Olympics.

"The trick would be to focus on the Tour first, and not think about the Olympics.

"Do the Tour, and then come up and do the Olympics. If you start having one eye on the Olympics while you're still in the Tour, I don't think that will work."