FROOME DITCHED
Tour king leaves after losing No1 status
CHRIS FROOME will leave Team Ineos at the end of the season after losing his status as their lead rider. The four-time Tour de France winner (left), who will join the Israel Start-Up Nation (ISN) team when his Ineos deal expires in December, has won seven Grand Tours under Sir Dave Brailsford in the past decade.
But the emergence of his Ineos team-mates Geraint Thomas and Egan Bernal, who between them have won the past two Tours de France, has undermined his claim to be No 1.
Brailsford said: ‘Chris’s contract comes to an end in December and we have taken the decision not to renew it.
‘We are making this announcement earlier than would usually be the case to put an end to speculation and allow the team to focus on the season ahead.
‘Chris has been with us from the start. He is a great champion and we have shared many memorable moments over the years, but I do believe this is the right decision for the team and for Chris. Given his achievements in the sport, Chris is understandably keen to have sole team leadership in the next chapter of his career, which is not something we are able to guarantee him at this point.
‘A move away from Team Ineos can give him that certainty. Like everyone across the sport, we are all looking forward to the start of racing next month.’
Froome will be part of the team in France in August and September as he pushes for a record-equalling fifth Tour victory. It remains to be seen if he will be a contender after career-threatening injuries in a training crash 13 months ago.
‘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.
‘It has been a phenomenal decade with the team. We have achieved so much together and I will always treasure the memories. 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 Team Ineos.’