The Israel-Premier Tech staff have refuted a report in French newspaper L’Equipe that claims a management feud between Chris Froome and Michel Woods meant the previous four-time Tour winner was not chosen for final 12 months’s race and that sponsor stress may see Froome again on the 2024 Tour de France regardless of an absence of latest outcomes.
L’Equipe quoted an unnamed rider agent who stated: “Michael Woods isn’t any match for Chris with the organisers. We’re preventing for [Froome] as a result of his title stays related along with his 4 victories on the Tour de France.”
The newspaper additionally claimed that Woods secured Froome’s exclusion from the 2023 Tour de France squad. Froome was annoyed to not be chosen for final 12 months’s Tour however has since promised to race on at the very least till the tip of 2025.
Group proprietor Sylvan Adams was essential of Froome final summer time, saying he wasn’t worth for cash. L’Equipe means that Froome was initially paid a wage of €4.5 million. Nevertheless, Cyclingnews understands this isn’t true, with such a big wage linked to the arrival of a sponsor that in the end failed to come back on board.
Froome and Woods shortly dismissed the report however L’Equipe haven’t edited their story.
“That is information to me,” Froome wrote on X with a laughing emoji. “What about you, @rusty_woods (Michael Woods?)”
The Canadian replied: “Haha, similar right here mate.”
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“It appears to be an entire fabrication of view on issues within the staff, particularly associated to myself and Woodsy, saying there’s some feud between us. We’re good mates,” Froome stated earlier than stage 2 of the Critérium du Dauphiné.
“It is going to be powerful to make the staff. I feel it very a lot is dependent upon what the staff’s aims are. At this level that appears to be stage looking and the way succesful riders are of having the ability to obtain that.”
“We’ve all bought alternatives right here at Critérium du Dauphiné and the Tour de Suisse to point out how succesful they’re of fulfilling that staff goal. I’m going to attempt to stand up the highway and present myself whereas constructing my kind and discovering some race depth.”
Israel-Premier Tech stated they have been stunned by the L’Equipe story. Sports activities supervisor Rik Verbrugge advised Cyclingnews that Froome’s presence at this 12 months’s Tour de France shall be determined by his performances and the sporting cohesion of the staff.
“It is huge bullshit. I don’t know the place that info got here from,” Verbrugge advised Cyclingnews on the Critérium du Dauphiné.
“To begin with, Chris Froome’s non-selection final 12 months was a efficiency choice and a staff choice to have a robust staff at the beginning of the Tour de France. Woodsy gained a stage and that was the aim of the Tour de France. The homeowners of the staff have been tremendous pleased with that efficiency.
“There isn’t any stress between the 2 riders. There isn’t any stress from any of our sponsors to convey Chris Froome to the Tour de France, even for 2024.
Froome’s 2024 season was disrupted by a scaphoid fracture in his wrist at Tirreno-Adriatico and he solely returned to racing at this week’s Critérium du Dauphiné. Woods crashed and suffered a light concussion throughout stage 5 of the Giro d’Italia. He is because of experience the Vuelta a Espana and never the Tour de France in 2024.
Verbrugge didn’t exclude Froome’s choice within the last eight-rider Israel-Premier Tech Tour de France squad. Nevertheless he faces competitors from the likes of Derek Gee, Hugo Houle, Dylan Teuns, Pascal Ackermann, George Bennett and Stevie Williams.
“Chris broke his wrist in Tirreno-Adriatico and that slowed his development. Now let’s examine how he progresses till the beginning of the Tour de France,” Verbrugge advised Cyclingnews.
“Choice for the Tour won’t solely be primarily based on Chris Froome’s efficiency, the sporting cohesion of the staff can be necessary.
“The choice shall be made after the Tour de Suisse when we have now all the knowledge from the riders. The most effective staff that we will placed on the beginning line will go to the Tour de France.”
