Israel Start-Up Nation have confirmed that Chris Froome will ride the 2021 Tour de France.
The four-time winner will be the team's road captain and will ride in support of Michael Woods who will lead the team in the second Grand Tour of the season.
Since finishing third at the 2018 edition, Froome hasn't raced the Tour after a career-threatening injury in June 2019 ruled him out of that year's race and his condition wasn't deemed good enough to participate in the delayed 2020 race.
However, despite indifferent form during the 2021 season, the Briton will be part of Israel Start-Up Nation's eight-man squad.
Froome's selection was uncertain given his performances following his comeback from injury, but his employers clearly see the benefits he can provide the team simply with his presence.
His best results in 2021 have been two 47th places on GC at the Dauphiné and UAE Tour, while at the Tour of the Alps he featured in one stage's breakaway.
Having won seven Grand Tours in all, his know-how and experience will be a valuable aid to Woods who is targeting both stage wins and a high-placing on the GC.
The team's sports manager Rik Verbrugghe said: "As a four-time winner of the Tour, the value of his experience cannot be underestimated. It will be extremely useful for the team during the race.
"On a performance level, I believe that we see another improvement from the Dauphiné to the Tour after our recent training camp in the Alps.
"We hope to see Chris progress stage by stage throughout the race."
It is thought that should Froome's condition further improve during the Tour, he may then be given a leadership role at the Vuelta a España, a Grand Tour that he has won twice.
He will not be going to the Tokyo Olympics as part of the Great Britain squad.
-
-
Tokyo 2020 Olympics time trial men's start list
The confirmed start order from the 44.2km course around the Fuji International Speedway
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Anna van der Breggen crashes after being pulled off bike by official during TT recon
The world champion was on a final recon lap of the Fuji International Speedway when the incident happened
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
Chris Froome and Philippe Gilbert save fan who fell down ravine on Tour de France stage 17
The incident occurred on the descent of the Col du Portet as the riders made their way back to the buses
By Jonny Long •
-
Chris Froome: 'I've got my running shoes in the car so I'm ready for Ventoux'
The four-time Tour de France champion looks back on the last time the race went up Mont Ventoux
By Jonny Long •
-
Mark Cavendish says ‘people will not understand mindset’ of Chris Froome as he chases Tour de France comeback
‘I can talk from personal experience, you can’t write somebody off’
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Chris Froome 'heading in the right direction' despite dark bruising on hip and chest
The four-time champion says he can never remember seeing so many injured riders in the peloton
By Jonny Long •
-
Tour de France bikes: Chris Froome’s custom Factor Ostro VAM
Magura disc-brake calipers feature alongside old favourites such as Osymetric chainrings and Lightweight Meilenstein wheels
By Stefan Abram •
-
Israel sports director questions whether the best-ever Chris Froome could compete with young stars of today
Israel Start-Up Nation say Froome didn't come into the Tour 100 per cent, but will improve by the third week, and will hopefully be the 'real Chris Froome' at this year's Vuelta a España
By Jonny Long •
-
Chris Froome finishes stage two of Tour de France despite injuries, Ineos Grenadiers riders lose more time
Tao Geoghegan Hart lost a big chunk of time for the second day running
By Chris Marshall-Bell •
-
Chris Froome passed fit to start stage two of Tour de France after evening in hospital
The Israel Start-Up Nation rider was caught up in the second of stage one's massive crashes
By Chris Marshall-Bell •
