Chris Froome's confirmed Israel departure brings retirement closer

Chris Froome’s likely retirement drew a step nearer on Friday after Israel-Premier Tech confirmed that the four-time Tour de France winner will not be part of the team’s roster in 2026.

The 40-year-old has not raced since he suffered a life-threatening heart injury in a training crash in southern France in late August that saw him airlifted to hospital. He underwent surgery to repair a pericardial rupture, and he also sustained a collapsed lung, five broken ribs and a lumbar vertebral fracture in the crash.

Froome’s five-year contract with Israel-Premier Tech expires on December 31, and in a social media post on Friday, Israel-Premier Tech listed him among the riders who are departing the team at year’s end.

“We want to take the chance to thank our departing staff for all of their hard work and, of course, the departing riders: Pascal Ackermann, Chris Froome, Riley Pickrell, Matthew Riccitello, Michael Schwarzmann, and Mike Woods,” read the post. “Thanks for the memories over the last years, we look forward to seeing you in the peloton next year or wherever the next chapter takes you!”

It was widely expected that Froome would retire at the end of 2025, though when he spoke to reporters at the Tour de Pologne in August, he said that he had not yet made a final decision on whether to hang up his wheels.

Froome did, however, indicate that he would establish a foundation to help the development of cycling in Africa when he retires from racing.

“My contract is expiring, and I don’t know if I’ll continue or not,” Froome told BiciPro in August. “But certainly, when I stop, as I already said, I want to start a cycling school in Africa.”

Israel-Premier Tech owner Sylvan Adams raised eyebrows in the summer of 2020 when he offered Froome a five-year deal to tempt him away from Ineos. Froome had suffered a career-altering crash the previous summer and he would never return to his old level during his time at Adams’ team.

Froome’s best performance during his tenure came on the 2022 Tour de France, when he placed third at Alpe d’Huez behind the day’s winner Tom Pidcock. He was increasingly marginalised towards the end of his time at the team, and he didn’t ride a Grand Tour in his final three seasons.

In its social media post on Friday, Israel-Premier Tech also indicated that it would announce its new name and identity in the coming days.  

In October, the team stated it would change its name and move away from “its current Israeli identity” next season in the wake of repeated protests against its  participation in international cycling amid Israel’s invasion of Gaza.

Last week, Premier Tech confirmed that it would no longer sponsor the team, though general manager Kjell Carlstrom moved to reassure riders that the squad will continue into 2026.

The rebranding exercise will see Adams step back from his role as de-facto spokesperson, while La Gazzetta dello Sport journalist Ciro Scognamiglio has reported that the team will operate under a Swiss licence in 2026. The squad applied for its WorldTour licence under the moniker ‘Cycling Academy.’

Although the departure of Froome and others has been confirmed, the future of Derek Gee remains unclear. The Canadian has sought to terminate his contract with the team, citing “a safety and personal-belief standpoint that weighed heavily on [his] conscience.” The case is currently before the UCI’s Arbitral Board.

The team’s new signings for 2026 include Ryan Mullen and Alessandro Pinarello, and it has been heavily linked with a move for Biniam Girmay, who looks set to become available due to the merger of Lotto and Intermarché-Wanty.