There’sstillFroomeatthetopwithoutSkymillions
FOUR-TIME Tour de France winner Chris Froome insists Team Sky have a long way to go – despite Sky TV announcing it would stop investing at the end of 2019.
The broadcaster, which is the majority owner and title sponsor of the team, will bring their involvement to an end after a decade, with the announcement plunging the future of the team and riders and staff into doubt. Sky’s decision has reportedly come as a shock to team principal Sir Dave Brailsford who has now set a deadline of next year’s Tour de France to seek new backing to continue.
Riders were told the news during their training camp in Mallorca and were all smiles on social media during yesterday’s ride with Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas showing off his new bike on Instagram.
Froome, who like Thomas joined Team Sky for their first season in 2010, used Twitter to thank Sky for their backing and to express confidence in the future.
He said: “We are not finished yet by any means. Everyone at Team Sky has big ambitions for 2019 and this news has made us more determined than ever.
“I can’t predict the future but this is a really special team.
“We plan to be together in 2020 if at all possible and we will all be doing everything we can to help make that happen – in different colours with a new partner but the same values, focus and desire.”