Dan Martin believes that Chris Froome's signing with Israel Startup Nation will not only bring a wealth to the team, but that the addition of the four-time Tour de France winner will help all the players on the team and improve the overall level of the registered players

"He will be a great asset to the team.

"What he brings to the team is really underrated," Martin told Cycling News in a podcast interview. 'But the aura and professionalism that he has will help everyone look in the mirror and better themselves. That's something that has been underrated by people outside the team, and that's why he signed on."[3

Froome arrives in the Land of Israeli Startups after 11 years with Team Sky/Ineos, winning every Grand Tour at least once. in 2019, he suffered a career-threatening crash at the Criterium du Dauphiné, but after a long rehabilitation He returned to competition at the Tour of the UAE in February this year.

He missed selection for the Tour de France due to a lack of top-level form, but completed his first Grand Tour in over two years at the Vuelta a España this fall. While Froome's results and form have not returned to their former state, he has signed up for a fifth Tour de France title next year, and the 35-year-old is confident that consistent winter training will help him rediscover his past conditioning.

Martín's career-best fourth place overall and stage win in this year's Vuelta have boosted his confidence as a Grand Tour rider.

"He is the best Grand Tour rider of this generation, perhaps of all time.

"Let's see what we can do together. We are mature and we will ride with the best riders who can deliver results."

Of the three Grand Tours, only the Tour de France has announced its route for 2021, while the organizers of the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta are still formulating the course. The Tour's route includes many mountain stages, but more time trial distances than in recent years. However, the 2020 Vuelta is an important benchmark in Martin's career in terms of results.

"I don't know. I'll talk to the team and see what their goals are for the Tour. It's an incredible mountainous route, but there are also two time trials.

"It's not all about going for the GC, and since I missed out on a stage win this year, it would be great to win next year. The second stage, Mules de Bretagne (where Martin won a stage in 2018 - ed.), has the possibility of a yellow jersey. We'll have to see when the time gets closer and we'll talk about the calendar in a few weeks, but I'll leave it up to the team to decide where to place me."

"I don't know how long my body will last, I've never completed two Grand Tours in one season before, so that might have a big impact, but I'm not feeling any pressure. I just race on my own bike. Next year we have a great group of riders and I am sure I will enjoy it. I usually get the best results when I'm having fun, and I hope that will rub off on everyone around me."