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 yr’s race and that sponsor strain might see Froome again on the 2024 Tour de France regardless of an absence of current outcomes.
L’Equipe quoted an unnamed rider agent who mentioned: “Michael Woods is not any match for Chris with the organisers. We are combating for [Froome] as a result of his identify stays related together 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 pissed off to not be chosen for final yr’s Tour however has since promised to race on no less than till the top of 2025.
Team proprietor Sylvan Adams was crucial 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. However, Cyclingnews understands this isn’t true, with such a big wage linked to the arrival of a sponsor that in the end failed to return on board.
Froome and Woods shortly dismissed the report however L’Equipe haven’t edited their story.
“This is information to me,” Froome wrote on X with a laughing emoji. “What about you, @rusty_woods (Michael Woods?)”
The Canadian replied: “Haha, identical right here mate.”
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“It appears to be an entire fabrication of his view on issues within the staff, particularly associated to myself and Woodsy, saying there’s some feud between us. We’re good mates,” Froome mentioned earlier than stage 2 of the Critérium du Dauphiné.
“It shall be robust to make the staff. I feel it very a lot is determined by what the staff’s targets 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 received alternatives right here at Critérium du Dauphiné and the Tour de Suisse to indicate how succesful they’re of fulfilling that staff goal. I’m going to attempt to stand up the street and present myself whereas constructing my kind and discovering some race depth.”
Israel-Premier Tech mentioned they had been shocked by the L’Equipe story. Sports supervisor Rik Verbrugge informed Cyclingnews that Froome’s presence at this yr’s Tour de France shall be determined by his performances and the sporting cohesion of the staff.
“It’s massive bullshit. I don’t know the place that data got here from,” Verbrugge informed Cyclingnews on the Critérium du Dauphiné.
“First of all, Chris Froome’s non-selection final yr was a efficiency resolution and a staff resolution to have a robust staff at the beginning of the Tour de France. Woodsy gained a stage and that was the objective of the Tour de France. The house owners of the staff had been tremendous pleased with that efficiency.
“There is not any stress between the 2 riders. There is not any strain from any of our sponsors to carry Chris Froome to the Tour de France, even for 2024.
Froome’s 2024 season was disrupted by a scaphoid wrist fracture at Tirreno-Adriatico and he solely returned to racing at this week’s Critérium du Dauphiné. Woods faces a race towards time to seek out his greatest kind for the Tour de France after crashing and struggling a light concussion throughout stage 5 of the Giro d’Italia.
Verbrugge didn’t exclude Froome’s choice within the last eight-rider Israel-Premier Tech Tour de France squad. However he faces competitors from the likes of Woods, Derek Gee, Hugo Houle, Dylan Teuns, Pascal Ackermann, George Bennett, Matthew Riccitello, Jake Stewart, Corbin Strong 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 informed Cyclingnews.
“Selection for the Tour is not going to solely be primarily based on Chris Froome’s efficiency, the sporting cohesion of the staff can also be essential.
“The choice shall be made after the Tour de Suisse when we now have all the data from the riders. The greatest staff that we will placed on the beginning line will go to the Tour de France.”