Cycling: now it is! Chris Froome will no longer wear Ineos' shirt next season. The Brit is moving to Israel Start-Up Nation.
Chris Froome wants his 5th tour win
A bombshell announcement this Thursday! As Team Ineos announced on its website, Chris Froome 's contract, which expires at the end of this season, will not be renewed. Just minutes later, Team Israel Start-Up Nation announced that the Briton will be signed starting in 2021. This means the four-time Tour de France winner will leave the British team after eleven years. The now 35-year-old Chris Froome will, however, attempt to secure his fifth Tour de France victory with his current team at the race starting on August 29th.
Ineos Team Manager Dave Brailsford:
“Chris has been with us from the start. He's a great champion and we've shared many memorable moments together over the years. But I believe this is the right decision for the team and for Chris. Given his achievements in the sport, it's understandable that he wants to remain the sole leader of the team in the next chapter of his career - which we can't guarantee at the moment."
11 years Sky/Ineos
With the move from Chris Froome to the Israel Start-Up Nation, an era ends for Team Sky and Ineos. The Briton was part of the team from the start and won the Tour de France four times, the Giro d'Italia once and the Vuelta a Espana twice. There were also numerous stage victories and successes in one-week tours. This makes Chris Froome one of the most successful professional cyclists since the turn of the millennium.
Chris Froome:
“It's been a phenomenal decade with the team. We have achieved so much together and I will always remember that. I look forward to exciting new challenges as I move into the next phase of my career. But until then, my focus is on winning a fifth Tour de France with Team Ineos.”
How strong is Chris Froome?
Even though Chris Froome will still ride this year's Tour de France for Team Ineos, it's unclear what role he'll play. Within the team, the Briton faces enormous competition, which is why the management decided against extending his contract. Ineos already has last year's Tour de France winners, Geraint Thomas and Egan Bernal, and the reigning Giro d'Italia champion, Richard Carapaz. Furthermore, there's uncertainty about how well Chris Froome has recovered from his crash at the 2019 Critérium du Dauphiné . Since then, the Briton has only ridden the UAE Tour, which he used solely to build up his fitness. Nevertheless, his new employer seems to remain convinced of Chris Froome's capabilities.
Israel Start-Up Nation owner Sylvan Adams:
“With Chris, we will rise to new heights and reach the pinnacle of this sport. I would like to add that I admire Chris not only for his success as a professional cyclist, but also for how he otherwise behaves as a true gentleman. Chris will be a great role model for our team.”
Team INEOS confirms we will not be renewing @chrisfroome ’s contract – so after 10 great years this season will be Chris’s last with the team.
— Team INEOS (@TeamINEOS) July 9, 2020