Froome is still expected to race the Tour later this month, but it will be under very different conditions than when he raced to third overall in 2018 just weeks after winning the Giro d’Italia in his final Tour appearance.
Sport director Rik Verbrugghe, speaking to a Belgian daily last week, hinted that Froome will race the Tour despite the absence of a contractual guarantee that he will start, but with an eye on honing his form for a return to full flight in time for the Vuelta a España in August.
As of Monday, Woods is the only Israel Start-Up Nation rider confirmed for the Tour. Expectations are that Dan Martin, Alex Dowsett, and André Greipel will all start.
How Chris Froome recovered & got back to his best
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Froome irá a por todas en el Tour: La edad es un estado mental
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Chris Froome on comeback trail and targeting fifth Tour de France title
Chris Froome has spent the winter continuing his rehabilitation in California (Israel Start-Up Nation handout)
Chris Froome has laid bare the scale of the challenge he has faced as the goal of a record-equalling fifth Tour de France title drives his rehabilitation from a career-threatening crash in 2019.
As the 35-year-old prepares for his first season with Israel Start-Up Nation, Froome is still battling to overcome the catalogue of injuries he suffered when he came off his time-trial bike at the Criterium du Dauphine a little over 18 months ago.