Movistar one of the teams apparently interested in signing Chris Froome, according to reports
Rumours emerged yesterday that the four-time Tour champion could be considering a mid-season transfer
Following rumours that Chris Froome could be considering leaving Ineos as soon as this summer, Spanish media is reporting Movistar are one of the two teams currently talking to the four-time Tour de France champion.
With Froome's contract up at the end of the year, Cycling News revealed the 34-year-old could be considering bringing an end to his 11-year stint with Ineos, formerly Team Sky, with whom he has won four Tour titles.
As Froome seeks what would be a record-equalling fifth victory, competition for leadership at this year's Tour de France is tougher than ever. Recovery from his horror crash at last year's Dauphiné aside, reigning champion Egan Bernal has insisted he doesn't see himself riding for others in the team if he's on top form, while Geraint Thomas previously bested Froome to take yellow in 2018, following up with a second-place finish behind Bernal in 2019.
Two teams have apparently approached Froome about either a mid-season or end-of-season transfer, with all parties needing to agree if a deal were to go through this summer, which would see Froome receive top billing in a WorldTour team for the Tour de France with full support from the whole squad.
>>> ‘I’m not going to lie to you now’: New Lance Armstrong documentary to air
Froome and Ineos have remain tight-lipped about the situation, yet Cico21 report that Movistar are one of the two teams to have approached Froome about acquiring his services.
Movistar are sponsored by Spanish telecoms giant Telefónica, who recently merged their UK operations with Liberty Global, the owner of Virgin, and the joint venture is set to invest £10 billion in the UK over the next five years.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
This could provide the financial heft to sign the most decorated Grand Tour rider of the past decade, who would provide commercial opportunities to increase brand awareness in their new market.
Team boss Eusebio Unzué has previously indicated that Movistar are one of the more financially secure squads in the WorldTour, and last season parted with a number of top riders, including Nairo Quintana, Mikel Landa, Richard Carapaz and Andrey Amador. In the team's Netflix documentary, team staff also indicated they had the money to re-sign Richard Carapaz before the Giro d'Italia winner opted to transfer to Ineos.
Movistar rider Jose Joaquin Rojas fanned the flames of these rumours, tweeting: "Friend [Froome], you know that in Spain we have great food and you will have great support."
Froome turns 35 on May 20 and has said he is not considering retiring any time soon, having just come back from an injury that saw him miss the 2019 Tour.
Froome is determined to not only equal the record of five Tour de France wins, held by Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain, but surpass them, telling L’Equipe last month: "My dream, when I retire, would be to have won more Tours de France than anyone else. It would be the perfect scenario, but I know there is still a lot of work to make it come true."
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Hi. I'm Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor. I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
-
I'm about to turn 40 - how can I keep riding fast?
Approaching a landmark birthday, Charlie Graham-Dixon explores how ageing affects cycling performance and what can be done to stay ahead of the curve
By Charlie Graham-Dixon Published
-
Life Time Grand Prix to have fewer riders and wild cards in 2025
The flagship US gravel series has confirmed the six races that will be a part of the competition next year
By Adam Becket Published
-
British super-talent Cat Ferguson set for pro debut this weekend
Eighteen-year-old to race La Choralis Fourmies in first Movistar outing
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Chris Froome misses out on Tour de France selection
39-year-old absent from Israel-Premier Tech's eight-rider roster
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Nairo Quintana’s former doctor to face trial for doping offences
Fredy Alexander Gonzales Torres is accused of "possession of a substance or method prohibited for use by an athlete" during the 2020 Tour de France
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
A complete history of Ineos Grenadiers kits, from Adidas to Gobik, via Rapha
The British team switch to Gobik in 2024 after two years with Bioracer
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Chris Froome's boss rubbishes claims bike fit is behind lack of results
'He can talk about his bike position until the cows come home - that's still not going to earn him a position on a Grand Tour team' says Israel-Premier Tech team owner Sylvan Adams
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Chris Froome, rim brake evangelist, 'warms to' disc brakes
The Israel-Premier Tech rider, also an investor at Factor Bikes, says that he has "way less problems" with discs these days
By Adam Becket Published
-
Is Chris Froome - in 2023 - a professional cyclist, or an influencer?
The seven-time Grand Tour winner hasn't raced since July, but has taken to being interesting on social media
By Adam Becket Published
-
Opinion: There will never be another bike rider like Annemiek van Vleuten
The flying Dutchwoman could almost win it all, but now her era has almost ended, she should be remembered as the greatest
By Adam Becket Published