Chris Froome returns to racing! Ahead of Tour de France, Briton headlines Mercan'Tour Classic
Cycling
Israel - Premier Tech have confirmed their lineup for the Mercan'Tour Classic this upcoming Wednesday and it includes Chris Froome, who will be headlining the race. This is the Briton's return to competition in a season that has not gone his way.
The team features Jesse Maris and Pau Marti Soriano from the development project. The team comes with several options for a result in a race that includes climbers such as Lenny Martínez and David Gaudu of Groupama-FDJ and Guillaume Martin of Cofidis. Stephen Williams, winner of Flèche Wallone, is one of them but he should not be well suited to the high mountains where the race will be decided.
Climbers Mason Hollyman, Matthew Riccitello and Matthew Riccitello make up the bulk of the climber's block. Bennett, most likely, will lead the team's ambitions for a result after having shown good form at the Giro d'Abruzzo in April, finishing third in the overall classification only behind Alexey Lutsenko and Pavel Sivakov.
But the team's main figure will be Froome, who also raced here for the past two seasons finishing 11th and 14th respectively. Last year he was the team's highest finisher, but that was not enough to then earn him a presence at the Tour de France. Hence, this will be an important challenge for his current form after an altitude training camp, but will in no way decide what is to happen within a month.
Froome suffered a scaphoid fracture at Tirreno-Adriatico back in March and was forced to be in a cast for four weeks. Ultimately, this ended his spring, before he could even reach the form he was training towards. The veteran finished the Tour du Rwanda earlier in the season but has effectively not raced in two and a half months.
Israel - Premier Tech for Mercan'Tour Classic:
George Bennett
Chris Froome
Mason Hollyman
Jesse Maris
Pau Marti Soriano
Matthew Riccitello
Stephen Williams
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Froome headlining a race seems like an oxymoron these days! He won't have any influence on it plain and simple.
Is Froome already confirmed for the Tour, or will he have to prove himself here first?
Wonder were he'll finish...grupetto or dnf. His natural position, pre the "transformation".
Wonder why Geraint never discusses this on his “friendly” podcast, would make an interesting subject, depending on their position.
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- No one cares what Armstrong says. Please stop giving him oxygen.Al17-03-2025
- Is that we including Ratcliffe or not?Mistermaumau16-03-2025
- Interesting idea, probably need some more conditions like age in order to stop certain teams filling the rosters with fake development riders.Mistermaumau16-03-2025
- But it wouldn't be a terrible idea IF you were only allowed to put in a rider from development team for the last stage of the stage race. Extra experience for them, real racing, pro peloton and very unlikely they will make any actual differencevappaxbipmv16-03-2025
- You don't have domestique, Tom. It's a problem. Without Del Toro, for sure Ayuso would not be in front of you.
maria2024202416-03-2025 - yesEvan16-03-2025
- He’s not unlike SK, people just don’t want to accept their decisionsMistermaumau16-03-2025
- Really happy for Matteo, especially despite not having much team support over the last couple of days. He's strong and in great form. He'll be a strong teammate for Jonas in the Tour. Also happy for Magnus—he's had a tough two years, and this is a well-earned reward for his dedication. Ineos have really come out fighting this year and I'm really liking this from them.Pedalmasher16-03-2025
- Is this a joke?Jkolner12316-03-2025
- He has declined leadership though in the past? Lack of confidence? Hedging your bets works sometimes, at other times it is better to commit and go in big.Cyclingsbestfan16-03-2025