"It simply has to be the worst cycling signing in history" - Chris Froome's time at Israel - Premier Tech given brutal assessment by Michael Rasmussen

The career of Chris Froome can probably best be split into three different sections. The early Barloworld years where few would have guessed what was to come, the Grand Tour dominance of the 2010s at Team Sky and then a disappointing career swansong at Israel - Premier Tech.

Although Froome's results have diminished greatly since making the switch to Israel - Premier Tech back in 2021, the now 39-year-old remains one of the peloton's best paid riders. As such, you'd be hard pushed to say that the signing for Froome has been a success for Sylvan Adams' team, despite the added boost in profile a seven-time Grand Tour winner gives.

"He has almost become a half-time clown who tours around to all kinds of small races. It simply has to be the worst cycling signing in world history for a cycling team," analyses ex-pro Michael Rasmussen in a brutally scathing assessment of Froome's time at Israel - Premier Tech for Viaplay. "Not for Froome. Because it is a fantastic pension scheme that he has started there."

A telling fact of Froome's quickly collapsing level is the fact that the four-time Tour de France winner is yet to score a single UCI point in 2024, with his best result being a 21st placed finish on a stage in the Tour du Rwanda. “It is undignified to look at," Rasmussen concludes, not easing up on the brutality of his assessment. "The wild thing is that it is his own decision. You can say that for five million euros a year you can probably take a few defeats along the way. Sportingly, it's pretty meagre. It is an undignified end to a career like his."

Froome does still have one year left on his Israel - Premier Tech deal, and with no sign of the Brit calling an early end to his career, it seems the disappointing end of his unquestionably legendary career is still at least 12 months away.