Chris Froome, four-time Tour de France winner (2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017), has not been selected for the 2023 edition by his team: Israel Premier Tech today announced its eight-rider squad for the Grande Boucle and the Briton is not there. It will be the first time since 2011 that Froome will not participate in the Grande Boucle which will start on Saturday 1st July from Bilbao, in the Basque Country.

While Froome's 38-year-old results aren't what they used to be, his absence from the 2023 Tour still comes as a surprise.

After the serious accident he suffered in June 2019 (in reconnaissance during the time trial of the Tour du Dauphiné), Froome had never returned to his previous levels. Last year he took third place on Alpe d'Huez after a escape, before surrendering a few days later, positive for Covid-19.

"Choosing a team has been difficult this year, but we think we have picked the eight riders most likely to achieve our goals," commented team boss Kjell Carlström. Israel PT will start with Canadian Michael Woods as leader, along with Guillaume Boivin, Simon Clarke, Hugo Houle, Krists Neilands, Nick Schultz, Corbin Strong and Dylan Teuns.

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