Chris Froome to leave Ineos at the end of 2020
Ineos has confirmed that four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome will leave the team at the end of 2020.
In a press release sent out Thursday morning European time, the British-registered team confirmed that Froome’s contract had not been renewed.
“Chris’s current contract comes to an end in December and we have taken the decision now not to renew it,” said team principal Dave Brailsford. “We are making this announcement earlier than would usually be the case to put an end to recent speculation and allow the team to focus on the season ahead.”
Froome has been linked with Israel Start-Up Nation in recent months with some rumours even suggesting the 35-year-old would leave mid-season. Cyclingnews reports that Froome has now signed a multi-year deal with Israel Start-Up Nation, but the team is yet to confirm as much.
“Chris has been with us from the start,” Brailsford said. “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. At the same time, it will also give other members of our team the leadership opportunities they too have earned and are rightly seeking.”
Froome joined the team (then known as Sky Procycling) in 2010 — its debut season. Since then he’s won four Tours de France, two Vueltas a España and a Giro d’Italia, among a bevy of other races.
“It has been a phenomenal decade with the team — we have achieved so much together and I will always treasure the memories,” Froome said. “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.”
More to come …
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