No Grand Tour for Chris Froome in 2025 | Israel - Premier Tech go on the attack at La Vuelta with Riccitello, Frigo, Vernon & Stewart

Israel – Premier Tech will line up for the 2025 Vuelta a Espana on Saturday with a squad built around attacking racing and stage-hunting ambitions rather than general classification goals, confirming there will be no Grand Tour for Chris Froome in what is likely his final pro season.

After notching up seven victories since the start of July, the team arrives in Torino buoyed by strong form and with clear intent to replicate the success of Mike Woods, whose memorable win at Puerto de Ancares was one of the highlights of last year’s race.

Sports Director Daryl Impey made no secret of the team’s objectives. “I think the theme of the race will be to take and make opportunities,” Impey said in a team press release. “We’ve got an attacking team, with riders like Marco Frigo and Jake Stewart who can make the race exciting, and knowing that we don’t have a GC rider, we want to present ourselves on those days where we see that a stage win is possible.”

The eight-man line-up features a blend of experience, raw talent, and debutants. George Bennett brings endurance and nous with seven Vueltas already under his belt, while Czech climber Jan Hirt and American prospect Matthew Riccitello add depth for the high mountains. Canadian Pier-André Côte, a former national time trial champion, makes his Grand Tour debut, while Israel’s Nadav Raisberg returns for his second Vuelta determined to take another step forward.

Perhaps the most motivated rider will be Marco Frigo, who starts his home Grand Tour on Italian soil. The 25-year-old from Bassano del Grappa has shown steady progression this season, capped by seventh overall at the recent Tour de Pologne, his best WorldTour GC result to date.

Frigo went agonisingly close to a stage victory in last year’s Vuelta at Yunquera, and his love affair with the Spanish race only deepens with this year’s Italian Grand Départ. “Grand Tours are the races I like to do the most, and I really enjoy the atmosphere, the adventure, and even the fatigue over the three weeks that the Vuelta creates,” Frigo said. “To start this year’s race in Italy is something really special. My family and friends will be coming to the first stages, so that will make it even more special for me.”

British sprinter Ethan Vernon will make his Vuelta debut after an impressive first half of the season, which included a stage win at the Volta a Catalunya and ten top-10 sprint finishes. With Jake Stewart acting as lead-out, Vernon will be eyeing the opening stage into Novara as an early opportunity. “I’m super excited to be starting my first Vuelta,” Vernon said. “It’s going to be a tough edition for sprinters, but four stages have caught my eye. The race starts with a potential sprint and jerseys up for grabs, so I’m motivated to start strong.”

Impey underlined the importance of the sprints for IPT: “The sprint days are super important for us, as we have Ethan to lead us, backed by his trusted lead-out man Jake, and Nadav and Pier-André can also play a role there.”

George Bennett
Pier-André Côte
Marco Frigo
Jan Hirt
Nadav Raisberg
Matthew Riccitello
Jake Stewart
Ethan Vernon