Chris Froome returning to competition at Walloon Arrow

PARIS (AP) Former Tour de France champion Chris Froome will resume his preparations for the prestigious race at the Walloon Arrow one-day classic.

Froome, who won the 2013 Tour and retired because of injury last year, has been confirmed in Team Sky's lineup for Wednesday's race that finishes with the ascent of the iconic Mur de Huy.

After winning the Ruta del Sol in February, Froome withdrew from Tirreno-Adriatico because of a chest infection. In March, he competed at the Tour of Catalunya, where he struggled in the mountains.

One of the reasons Froome is riding in Belgium this week is because the Mur de Huy has been included in the third stage of this year's Tour de France.

The Tour de France starts on July 4 in Utrecht, Netherlands.