Tour de France 2014: Chris Froome fears cobbles when he defends title

Tour de France winner Chris Froome has admitted his worries over rumours (Getty Images)

Tour de France winner Chris Froome has admitted his worries over rumours that next year's race could include sections of cobblestoned roads.

With the full route of the 2014 Tour – which starts in Yorkshire – due to be announced on Wednesday, speculation has been growing after reports emerged of Tour director Christian Prudhomme scouting cobbled roads in the north of France.

"Cobbles have been mentioned and that does ring alarm bells for me," Froome told Cycling News. "I know they will be ringing for others as well. The little climbers will hate the cobbles."