The Netherlands cyclistWoutPoelshas asked his teammate Chris Clive Froome to leave out the Giro d’Italia and focus on winning the next Tour de France next year. The July 2018 event could make Froome join an elite list of five time winners.

The Teak Sky cyclist picked up his fourth title win last July before adding the VueltaaEspana title. This made him the first person to win the Tour/Vuelta double since the 1990s. Moving the race to the late summer made it difficult for a double until Froome.

Poels, who participated in the Guangxi Tour in China, advised Froome to solely focus on the Tour for now.

“I don’t know, but if I was Chris I’d go for the Tour because if you can win the Tour five times… He’s already a legend, but he’ll be in a really elite group if he wins five,” Poels advised.

Four legends in Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurian have five Tour titles apiece. Lance Armstrong was the exception as he won seven straight titles but he has been stripped since he confessed to doping.

Froome is the only pro now with four titles. Greg LeMond, Philippe Thys and LouisonBobet all have three titles so another win would take Froome to legendary status.

Poels opines that it is very difficult to win the Tour but after doing a double this season, Froome should try to claim another Tour. He adds that Froome does not talk about winning the fifth title but that it was normal to do so if you were close.

Poels helped his teammate to the 2015 and 2016 Tour titles, while winning the Liege-Bastogne-Liege and the Volta a Valenciana.