In a very frank interview with Radio Cycling's Chris Marshall-Bell, Israel-PremierTech team owner Sylvan Adams explains why four-time Tour de France champion Chris Froome didn't merit a place in their Tour de France line-up and says that the British rider hasn't fulfilled the hopes IPT had for him when he signed an extremely lucrative multi-year contract three years ago. "He’s supposed to be our leader at the Tour de France and he’s not even here, so no I couldn’t say he’s value for money, no," Adams declares.
While stating that he has the utmost respect for Froome and his racing achievements, Adams compares the seven-time Grand Tour victor to basketball all-time great Michael Jordan during his final season in the NBA, stating, "Father Time spares no athlete." Adams goes on to admit, "My idea was, ‘Wow, we’re going to have somebody to be relevant for the GC at the Tour de France,’ and that hasn’t happened.”
We have the full audio of Adams on Froome.
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Movistar boss Eusebio Unzue tells us that the Spanish team is aiming to rekindle its great days of the past by partnering with a new secondary sponsor from 2024, which will boost their budget to the extent that they should be able to compete on a more level footing with the dominant Grand Tour teams. Unzue also touches on the heavily rumoured signing of Ineos Grenadier Carlos Rodríguez, saying he'd love to have the hugely talented young Spaniard in Movistar's ranks. Could there be a new "tridente"?
We get a Danish perspective on Tour de France yellow jersey and defending champion Jonas Vingegaard from former racer Michael Rasmussen. Now a member of the Tour's press pack, Rasmussen offers an insight into Vingegaard's personality and roots. He also says that this Tour is threatening to swing away from the Jumbo-Visma rider because there appears to be no terrain ahead where he can gain time on arch-rival Tadej Pogačar, and that the pendulum is swinging the Slovene's way.
We also get an insight into the Jumbo-Visma team from their former star Tom Dumoulin. He tells us that that the Dutch outfit must keep faith in their tactical approach and suggests too that they would struggle to win the Tour if Wout van Aert did actually have to leave the race to attend the birth of his second child, as the Belgian was incorrectly rumoured to be doing just a couple of days ago.
And finally, in our Coffee Beans round-up of news and gossip...
- Tom Pidcock can podium, Ellingworth tells us
- Bora heavily linked with a sprinter - but it's not Wout van Aert!
- Mark Renshaw says it's too early to know whether Cav will return
- ASO staff unhappy with the Tour mascot
In a very frank interview with Radio Cycling's Chris Marshall-Bell, Israel-PremierTech team owner Sylvan Adams explains why four-time Tour de France champion Chris Froome didn't merit a place in their Tour de France line-up and says that the British rider hasn't fulfilled the hopes IPT had for him when he signed an extremely lucrative multi-year contract three years ago. "He’s supposed to be our leader at the Tour de France and he’s not even here, so no I couldn’t say he’s value for money, no," Adams declares.
While stating that he has the utmost respect for Froome and his racing achievements, Adams compares the seven-time Grand Tour victor to basketball all-time great Michael Jordan during his final season in the NBA, stating, "Father Time spares no athlete." Adams goes on to admit, "My idea was, ‘Wow, we’re going to have somebody to be relevant for the GC at the Tour de France,’ and that hasn’t happened.”
We have the full audio of Adams on Froome.
ALSO...
Movistar boss Eusebio Unzue tells us that the Spanish team is aiming to rekindle its great days of the past by partnering with a new secondary sponsor from 2024, which will boost their budget to the extent that they should be able to compete on a more level footing with the dominant Grand Tour teams. Unzue also touches on the heavily rumoured signing of Ineos Grenadier Carlos Rodríguez, saying he'd love to have the hugely talented young Spaniard in Movistar's ranks. Could there be a new "tridente"?
We get a Danish perspective on Tour de France yellow jersey and defending champion Jonas Vingegaard from former racer Michael Rasmussen. Now a member of the Tour's press pack, Rasmussen offers an insight into Vingegaard's personality and roots. He also says that this Tour is threatening to swing away from the Jumbo-Visma rider because there appears to be no terrain ahead where he can gain time on arch-rival Tadej Pogačar, and that the pendulum is swinging the Slovene's way.
We also get an insight into the Jumbo-Visma team from their former star Tom Dumoulin. He tells us that that the Dutch outfit must keep faith in their tactical approach and suggests too that they would struggle to win the Tour if Wout van Aert did actually have to leave the race to attend the birth of his second child, as the Belgian was incorrectly rumoured to be doing just a couple of days ago.
And finally, in our Coffee Beans round-up of news and gossip...
- Tom Pidcock can podium, Ellingworth tells us
- Bora heavily linked with a sprinter - but it's not Wout van Aert!
- Mark Renshaw says it's too early to know whether Cav will return
- ASO staff unhappy with the Tour mascot