Chris Froome on the winner’s podium at the 2006 Tour de Maurice in Mauritius. The 21-year-old sealed his first ever stage race victory after climbing to the Stage 2 win up the volcano in Curepipe.

Froome finished fourth overall at the GP Tell in Switzerland, the second last round of the 2007 UCI Nations Cup, in the colours of the UCI development squad.

A smiling Froome receives a massage at the Tour of Japan in May 2007, where he finished 6th overall after a terrific solo victory on Stage 6. John Robertson

Froome rode in the Under-23 individual time trial at the 2006 UCI World Championships in Salzburg where he collided spectacularly with a race official in the first 150m. Roberto Bettini

Froome races to sixteenth place in the 53km time trial from Cérilly to Saint Amand Montrond on Stage 20 of his debut Tour de France in 2008. He finished 84th overall. Roberto Bettini

Froome (right) was back in South Africa in March 2009 to race with Team Barloworld at the Giro del Capo where he won Race 2 to claim his first win as a professional. Raymond Cox

Froome points to Sky teammate Bradley Wiggins, in the race leader’s red jersey, as they cross the line together at the summit of La Farrapona Lagos de Somiedo on Stage 14 of the 2011 Vuelta a España.

Froome celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win Stage 7 of the 2012 Tour de France from Tomblaine to La Planche des Belles Filles. Getty Images.

Froome stands just below his teammate, Bradley Wiggins, at the end of the 2012 Tour de France, determined to win the following year. Getty Images

Froome prepares for the men’s individual time trial at the London 2012 Olympic Games, where he would win a bronze medal. Getty Images

The podium of the Tour de Romandie (left to right) second-placed Slovenian Simon Spilak, overall winner Chris Froome and third-placed Rui Costa of Portugal. Getty Images

Froome at the 2013 Critérium du Dauphiné: seen in action during the queen Stage 7 between Le Pont-de-Claix and Superdévoluy. Winning the Dauphiné was a crucial part of his preparations for the Tour de France. Getty Images

Froome approaches the summit of Mont Ventoux on Stage 15 of the 2013 Tour de France, breaking away from Colombia’s Nairo Quintana in thrilling style in the final kilometre to secure the stage. Getty Images

Froome wears the King of the Mountains jersey on the podium after Stage 19 of the 2013 Tour de France from Bourg-d’Oisans to Le Grand-Bornand. He held the famous polka dot jersey, awarded to the best climber, for five days of the race. Getty Images.

Winner of the 2013 Tour de France, Froome, in the maillot jaune, celebrates with Team Sky teammates as they cross the finish line together on the Champs-Elysées in Paris. Getty Images

Froome atop the podium in Paris, surrounded by former five-time Tour winners Miguel Indurain, Eddy Mercx and Bernard Hinault. Getty Images