Chris Froome has not yet retired, but is currently a free agent without a team. The 40-year-old rider confirmed on Friday that he will be leaving Israel – Premier Tech, with the team holding a farewell ceremony for departing riders.
In a post on its Instagram account, the team stated: “We would like to take this opportunity to thank the departing staff for their hard work; and of course, the departing riders: Pascal Ackermann, Chris Froome, Riley Pickerell, Matthew Rissettolo, Michael Schwartzman, and Mike Woods. Thank you for the memories we’ve created together over the past years. We look forward to seeing you in the peloton next season and wish you all the best in your next chapter!”
Froome is currently recovering from a life-threatening training accident that occurred in late August, resulting in a ruptured pericardium. He also suffered a collapsed lung, five broken ribs, and a fractured lumbar vertebra.
However, Froome has not yet formally announced his retirement and has hinted he may continue riding until 2026. In an earlier interview with Never Strays Far this year, he stated: “I’m not 100% certain I’ll retire at the end of this year. It’s highly likely I will end my career, but I want to leave some room for flexibility. I’ll see how this year goes and make a decision based on how I feel at the end of the season.”
Froome last competed in August’s Tour de Pologne, finishing 68th overall. He joined Israel-Techniol in 2021 after spending 11 years with Team Sky and Ineos Grenadiers, during which he won four Tour de France titles, two Vuelta a España victories, and one Giro d’Italia.
Froome’s time with Israel-TechniSharp has fallen short of his own ambitions, largely due to a serious crash he suffered at age 34 in 2019. In his five years with the team, he has only managed six top-20 finishes in major races. In 2023, Israel-Techniol Prime Minister Team owner Sylvain Adams stated that signing the Tour de France champion was “absolutely” not worth it.
If this truly marks the end of Froome’s career, it is undoubtedly regrettable that he failed to bid farewell in the manner he had hoped. However, the possibility of him continuing to ride for some time cannot be ruled out at this stage. Furthermore, Israel-Premier Tech has shut down its social media accounts and official website over the weekend, with a rebranding expected. Additionally, Premier Tech has announced its withdrawal as a sponsor, meaning the team name will no longer include the brand in the future.
