Team boss Adams sharply criticises big earner Froome
DPA
· 14.07.2023
The owner of the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team has harshly criticised his big earner Chris Froome, who is not being considered for the 2023 Tour de France.
Sylvan Adams with clear criticism of Chris Froome
When asked whether the four-time winner of the Tour of France was worth his money, Sylvan Adams replied in an interview with Cycling Weekly: "Absolutely not. We signed Chris as the leader of our Tour de France team and he's not even here yet."
Billionaire Adams had signed Froome under contract in 2021. According to reports, the cycling star will receive around five million euros per year. At the time the contract was signed, Froome had recovered from the serious crash he suffered shortly before the 2019 Tour. However, it was unclear whether the Brit would ever be able to reach his former level of performance.
Froome not present for performance reasons
Froome was not considered for the current Tour for performance reasons. "This is not a PR move. Chris is not a symbol, he's supposed to be our captain in the Tour de France and he's not even there, so I can't say he's worth the money," Adams emphasised. The entrepreneur is convinced that Froome's performance has nothing to do with the injuries he suffered four years ago.
Opaque contract situation with Froome
The contract situation appears nebulous. Officially, Froome's contract expires at the end of the season after three years. However, it appears that Froome is holding the reins. "It can be extended to five years if Chris so decides," said Adams, who once gave Froome the assurance that he would be able to end his career with the team. Froome would be 40 years old in two years' time.
Adams described Froome as the greatest Grand Tour champion of his generation of riders. The Kenyan-born rider won the Tour of France in 2013 and from 2015 to 2017. Last year, Froome made positive headlines when he finished third on the stage to Alpe d'Huez.
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