Why Chris Froome is so good at winning the Tour de France, according to his boss

“Chris is he’s highly intrinsically driven. He’s very, very driven. For all the right reasons,” says his boss, Sir Dave Brailsford.REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/Shutterstock/Business Insider

When Chris Froome won the Tour de France on Sunday, he made history by becoming only the fifth rider to win at least four Tours.

Froome is now one behind the other four riders — Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Indurain — who all won the Tour five times. Froome is just 32 years old, and it looks likely that he’ll be joining that club in the next year or two, and perhaps become the first rider to win six Tours.

What makes Froome so good? He’s one of the most naturally talented riders. He trains hard. He lost 20 pounds and transformed his body. His Sky team has the biggest budget and can afford to bring the deepest squad to the Tour. But besides being No. 1 at pedaling bikes fast, Froome has also matured, both as a rider and as a team leader, and that’s made some difference, so his boss, Sir Dave Brailsford, told Business Insider. According to Brailsford, it’s in moments of chaos that Froome shines, leading his troops coolly under pressure.

“It’s been fun to watch over time,” Brailsford said. “He knows when he needs to step in and make a decision, and he knows when others can make a decision. He’s got that very well tuned in now, and that gives him the confidence, so he’s not on edge all the time. He’s focused but not intense. The people who are around a leader who is intense, they agitate, and it’s not a pleasant experience.”

Here are six reasons Froome is the world’s best stage racer, according to his boss: