Israel Startup Nation has completed its 32-rider roster for 2021, with Guillaume Boivin and Reto Hollenstein receiving contract extensions. The team plans its first winter training camp in January, with riders and staff heading to Israel at the beginning of the year.
Four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome will end his long relationship with Team Sky/Ineos Grenadier in 2020. [Michael Woods, Patrick Bevin, Alessandro De Marchi, Sepp Vanmarcke, and Daryl Impey will move to the team.
"Our lineup for next season is significantly strengthened, yet retains its core group. We plan to be competitive in the big races, including Grand Tours, Monuments and Classics. The pre-season training camp will be an opportunity to bring everyone together and strengthen our unity. Exciting times ahead," said team co-owner Sylvan Adams.
Froom signed with the Israeli startup nation after using the 2020 season to step up his recovery from a career-threatening crash at the 2019 Criterium du Dauphiné.
Froome missed out on a spot in this year's Tour de France Ineos Grenadiers, but he will use the winter to his advantage as he aims to win his fifth Tour de France, the most in history. [Daniel Martin had a great result at the Vuelta a España, winning a stage and finishing fourth overall.
Team manager Kjell Carlstrom said, "We are looking forward to seeing how well we can perform against the big teams."
"We have a balanced roster in the sense that we can get results in all types of races, but our strongest chances will be in the stage races. The overall win is still unlikely, but an overall podium finish is possible. In the next few weeks, we'll be working on a game plan for that."
Carlstrom revealed that the team's board meeting to discuss strategy, tactics, riders, and the race program will take place on December 12 in Girona, Spain, over several days.
In addition to signing new riders, the team retains a number of core riders, including those transferred from the old Katusha team and those developed in the early days of the Israel Cycling Academy.
Hollenstein, 35, spent three years with Katusha, and that experience has come in handy this year.
"It was a tough year as it stands, but I never lost focus and kept fighting. I am really happy to be a part of this team. I'm excited for next season, to race with a strong team and to get the experience of Chris Froome. The team will step up and I'm ready to do what it takes to make that happen," Horenstein said.
Boivin, 31, has been with the team since its Continental days and joined in 2016. He has seen the team move up two divisions and compete on the World Tour.
"I've been part of the team almost from the beginning. I'm amazed at the big steps I've taken each year and I'm very excited to be reunited with my good friend (fellow Canadian rider) Mike Woods. Hopefully I can race with him and help him succeed.
"We are adding a lot of real firepower to an already strong team for 2021. We will be strongly motivated for all the races. Of course, Chris Froome will take the team to another level for the Grand Tours. With Dan Martin and Chris, we can surely expect some great races. We have a true leader to compete with Sepp Vanmarcke. We have a lot of exciting things coming up next year, so we need to work hard in the off-season."
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