Wout Poels: 'I haven't spoken much with Froome. He's got other things to do at the moment'
Key domestique says it's just a matter of waiting and hoping over Chris Froome case
One of Chris Froome's most valued domestiques at Team Sky says that he has had little contact with the Brit since news of his salbutamol test emerged in December, letting Froome concentrate on his own early season training and clearing his name.
Wout Poels was a key figure in Froome's victories in the 2015 and 2016 Tours de France and the 2017 Vuelta a España (missing out on selection for last year's Tour with a knee injury), but says that he has had little communication with Froome over the past two months.
"I have not seen Chris for a while," Poels told Dutch website Nu.nl. "I also have very little contact with him, he has enough other things to do at the moment. I occasionally send him a message to ask how things are going, but it's a difficult situation for him, so I'll leave him alone."
>>> Everything you need to know about Chris Froome's salbutamol case
Froome is currently training in South Africa while Poels is at one of the team's pre-season training camps in Mallorca, with the Dutchman saying that he hasn't heard much about the progress of the case.
"I must honestly say that we do not hear very much about it," Poels said. "Every once in a while we get a small update and behind the scenes Chris and his lawyers are working hard to solve the problem. For us it is a case of waiting and hopefully it will end well."
Watch: Giro d'Italia 2018 route guide
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWVoFpEyh_I
Froome has denied breaking anti-doping rules which allow athletes to take a maximum of 800mg of salbutamol per 12 hours, and, with Team Sky's backing, has vowed to clear his name.
To do this he must prove that the adverse analytical finding for having an abnormally high concentration of salbutamol in his urine after a stage of the Vuelta a España was not as a result of exceeding the maximum permitted dosage of the asthma drug, with his lawyers reportedly set to argue that the adverse test result was as a result of a malfunction in Froome's kidneys.
It is unclear when a conclusion will be reached in the case, but a ban for Froome could open the door for Poels to realise his own Grand Tour ambitions.
>>> It would be easier for everyone if Team Sky suspended Froome, says UCI boss
"I am now at an age where I'm running out of time," Poels joked. "I think I'm ready, and last season I finished sixth in the general classification of the Vuelta, which gave me a lot of confidence."
"With most teams, that would be a top performance, but with Team Sky, where you are riding a four times Tour winner, the cards are slightly different on the table."
Poels will begin his season at Challenge Mallorca, which starts on Thursday, before travelling to mainland Spain for the Vuelta a la Comunitat Valenciana and the Ruta del Sol, and racing either Paris-Nice or Tirreno-Adriatico ahead of the Ardennes Classics.
His Grand Tour schedule has yet to be decided, and may well depend on the outcome of the Froome case, although the Dutchman says that he hopes to ride the Giro d'Italia alongside Froome in May.
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
Henry Robertshaw began his time at Cycling Weekly working with the tech team, writing reviews, buying guides and appearing in videos advising on how to dress for the seasons. He later moved over to the news team, where his work focused on the professional peloton as well as legislation and provision for cycling. He's since moved his career in a new direction, with a role at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
-
Forget distance covered, these are the key stats to note in your Strava Year in Sport
We asked a coach how to best analyse our end of year Strava data
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'She should show a bit more respect' - Lotte Kopecky responds to Demi Vollering comments
The pair seemingly had one last fractious year together at SD Worx-Protime in 2024
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Tom Pidcock signs for Q36.5 Pro Cycling after Ineos Grenadiers departure
Olympic MTB champion hails 'start of something special' in three-year deal
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Steve Cummings takes sports director role at Jayco AIUla after Ineos Grenadiers departure
'It’s an opportunity to be part of a culture that celebrates growth, resilience, and meaningful results' says 43-year-old after joining new team
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'With a few changes, it'll be class' - Josh Tarling optimistic about Ineos Grenadiers future
'Everybody wants to get better and get back to winning,' 20-year-old tells audience at Rouleur Live
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'We've had a difficult year, I've had a difficult year' - Tom Pidcock hints at Ineos Grenadiers tension
Speaking at Rouleur Live, the 25-year-old also revealed that he hasn't enjoyed racing at the last two Tours de France
By Adam Becket Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers to partner with German development team for 2025
Ineos set to partner with German Continental squad Lotto Kern-Haus PSD Bank as an official development partner
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Where next for Ineos Grenadiers, now Steve Cummings has officially left?
After the Director of Racing's exit, the Tom Pidcock saga needs a final resolution before the team can move forward
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Ineos' Director of Racing, Steve Cummings, confirms he is leaving the team after not attending a race since June
Announcement comes after months of uncertainty surrounding Cummings' position
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'I never thought I'd really leave the team': Luke Rowe opens up on his reasons for departing Ineos Grenadiers
Welsh road captain is heading to Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale to become a sports director
By Adam Becket Published