British Chris Froome, four-time winner of the Tour de France by bicycle, was left out of the Israel-Premier Tech team today for the 2023 edition of the French race, which will take place between July 1 and 23.
The 38-year-old Froome, winner of the race in 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017, was left out of the ‘options’ after completing a training camp at altitude ahead of his Tour appearance after recovering from a hamstring injury. of the hamstring
“Obviously I am disappointed with this decision. The Tour occupies an incredibly special place in my heart,” lamented the Briton, in statements reproduced by the GCN website, announcing his intention to “return to the Tour in 2024.”
Froome, since the accident suffered in the Dauphiné Criterion in 2019, when he fractured a femur, right elbow and several ribs, has never returned to his previous competitive level.
The Briton has 10 participations in the Tour, with a 133rd place in 2021 and the drop last year, due to the covid-19 diagnosis, after third place in Alpe d’Huez, having climbed the podium twice, with second in 2012 and third in 2018, in addition to winning four times.
He has had a modest season this year, with discreet participations in the Tour Down Under, the Tour de Rwanda, the Tour de Romandy and, most recently, La Route d’Occitanie.
Canadian Michael Woods won that race, which ended on the 18th, and is one of eight chosen by the Israeli team for the Tour, along with his compatriots Guillaume Boivin and Hugo Houle.
Australians Simon Clarke and Nick Schultz, New Zealander Corbin Strong, Belgian Dylan Teuns and Latvian Krists Neilands complete the eight-rider Israel-Premier Tech team.
“It was a difficult decision regarding our team for this year’s Tour de France, but we feel we have chosen the eight riders who are best prepared to meet our performance goals,” said Isael-Premier Tech sporting director, Kjell Carlstrom.
The official continued with the explanations, without mentioning, however, the name of Froome, the only active cyclist with victories in the three big events, with victories in the 2011 and 2017 Vuelta and in the 2018 Giro.
“The fact that we had to make a difficult decision looking at our long list shows the strength and importance of our rider group and unfortunately we cannot take them all,” concluded Kjell Carlström.
Source: TSF
