Chris Froome signs with Israel Start-Up Nation cycling team

Israel Start-Up Nation (ISN), the Israeli profession cycling team, signed Britain’s most decorated road cyclist to their roster on Thursday, four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome.

Froome will be leaving Team Ineos at the end of the season. He intends to sign his long-term contract August 1, and from then on will be riding under the ISN’s blue and white until the end of his storied career.

“I’m really excited to be joining the ISN family,” said

Froome. “I look forward to challenging and being challenged by their talent and continuing to strive for the success that I’ve enjoyed up to now. ISN’s impact on the sport is rapidly expanding, and I’m energized to be along for the ride. I feel we can achieve great things together.”

With regard to leaving Team Ineos, Froome said, ”It has been a phenomenal decade with the team. I look forward to exciting new challenges as I move into the next phase of my career but in the meantime my focus is on winning a fifth Tour de France with Ineos.”

The ISN has made its way through the general classifications of cycling teams in just five years’ time – from continental, to pro-continental in 2017, to a world tour class team in 2019 – which earned it a spot in the Tour de France.

“This is an historic moment for ISN, Israel, Israeli sports, our many fans all around the world and, of course, for me personally – a moment of enormous pride,” said the team’s co-owner, Sylvan Adams.

“Chris is the best rider of his generation and will lead our Tour de France and Grand Tour squad. We hope to make history together as Chris pursues further Tour de France and Grand Tour victories.”