As the Italian cycling website "Tuttobiciweb" reports, the Israel Start Up Nation team wants to offer the Brit a three-year contract. Froome's contract with the super racing team Ineos expires at the end of the year.
However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the UCI has set up another transfer window from 1 to 15 August, i.e. before the start of the Tour of France on 29 August. However, Froome would have to agree an early cancellation of his contract with Ineos.
A change seems quite possible, as the last two Tour winners - Egan Bernal (Colombia/2019) and Geraint Thomas (Great Britain/2018) - are also under contract with Ineos. The British team had previously planned to start the Tour with three captains, which the 35-year-old Froome believes is hardly feasible.
He had missed the 2019 Tour due to a serious crash a year ago, when he suffered fractures to his thigh, hip, elbow, ribs and neck. Froome only made his comeback at the UAE Tour in February.
At the Israeli team, which took over the licence of the former Russian team Katusha at the start of the season, Froome would be joined by Greipel, Paris-Roubaix runner-up Nils Politt and Rick Zabel. The racing team would also have the financial means for such a deal, as it is backed by billionaire investor Sylvan Adams. Froome's annual salary is estimated at around five million euros.
