 As defending champion for the first time, Froome started his 2014 season by again winning the Tour of Oman.After some minor illnesses and back problems, which meant he missed Tirreno–Adriatico, his next stage race was the Tour de Romandie, again as defending champion, which he won by 28 seconds ahead of Špilak, with the two riders placing first and second in that race for the second consecutive year.He also won the final stage of the race, an individual time trial, finishing a second faster than three-time time trial world champion Martin.