Chris Froome Left Out of the Israel-Premier Tech Team Selection for the Tour de France

Chris Froome, 38, who has won the Tour de France four times (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017), has not been chosen as part of the Israel Premier Tech’s team for the tour this year. After suffering extensive injuries from a horrible crash during the Critérium du Dauphiné in June 2019, Froome has struggled to get back to his highest level of racing.

According to the Guardian, there was no mention of Froome in the press release announcing the team’s Tour lineup. Israel Premier Tech did announce that their tour team will be led by Canadian climber Michael Woods, the recent winner of the Route d’Occitanie in the French Pyrenees.

In a statement, Froome said, “I respect the team’s decision and will take some time before refocusing on objectives later in the season and returning to the Tour de France in 2024.” But he also blamed mechanical issues on his recent lack of results. Froome was forced to make a number of bike changes at the CIC-Mont Ventoux earlier this month.

Besides multiple wins at the Tour de France, Froome also won the Vuelta a España in 2011 and 2017, and the Giro d’Italia in 2018. Before Israel Premier Tech he rode for Team Sky and Team Ineos.

But his incredible track record of wins was a bit tarnished in 2018 when his use of salbutamol—a breathing agent—became public knowledge. Froome aggressively denied any wrongdoing and the case against him was eventually dropped by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).

Froome hasn’t yet spoken about future races or how he will shift his focus this year. And while it might seem late to be deciding teams for the Tour de France, which starts on July 1 in Bilbao, Spain, it’s actually quite common for start lists to be left to the last minute. Why not add to the already off-the-charts drama of it all?

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