Sylvan Adams, co-owner of the Israeli Startup Nation (open in new tab) team, said he was neither surprised nor disappointed that Chris Froome (open in new tab), who will join the team in 2021, was not selected by his current team, Ineos Grenadiers, for the Tour de France (open in new tab Chris Froome (open in new tab), who will join the team in 2021, was neither surprised nor disappointed that he was not selected for the Tour de France (open in new tab) by his current team, Ineos Grenadiers.

Four-time Tour winner Froome had hoped to make a return to the Grand Tour at this Tour de France after recovering from a career-threatening injury suffered at the 2019 Criterium du Dauphiné.

He and 2018 Tour winner Geraint Thomas were out of the squad after being underdogs in this year's Criterium du Dauphiné.

"I wasn't surprised, I wasn't disappointed," Adams said at Israel Startup Nation's pre-Tour de France press conference on Wednesday.

"I wasn't surprised because I have very close communication with Chris. He was injured very badly last year in the Dauphiné. He is recovering well, but in cycling, missing the last one or two percent can be the difference between being a champion and being fit enough to win."

The team confirmed in early July (opens in new tab) that Froome's move to the Israeli Startup Nation, which had been rumored since May, had been completed. Since the season restarted later that month, Froome has finished 37th in La Route d'Occitanie, 41st in the Tour de l'Ain, and 71st in the Criterium du Dauphiné.

He will target the Vuelta a España in late October, the Grand Tour that concludes his 11 years in Ineos.

"I'm not surprised he needs a little more time," Adams said. Adams said, "I'm not surprised he needs a little more time. His team, Ineos, has decided to race the Vuelta and give him a few weeks to recuperate and regain his racing sharpness in order to aim for his eighth Grand Tour win, which would put him three Grand Tour wins ahead of the great Eddy Merckx."

"I can't say I'm disappointed. He was talking to the team but Chris is missing just a little bit right now"

.

"I hope he comes into his own in the Vuelta, and even more so if he makes history by winning his record-tying fifth and then record-breaking sixth Tour de France, and by challenging the all-time Grand Tour record of 11 times."

At the 2020 Tour, however, Israel Startup Nation will be led by Dan Martin (opens in new tab) and Andre Greipel, who will be looking for a stage victory. On Saturday in Nice, they will be the first Israeli team to run the Tour, and Guy Niv will be the first Israeli to compete in cycling's biggest race.

"I'm very proud to be here with the Israeli team," Adams said. "This is a first for me. The first Israeli team in the Tour de France. It's the first time there's an Israeli rider in the Tour de France."

"We have a mission. On the one hand, we promote cycling in Israel. Our other goal is to promote our country and show the real face of Israel, which is misunderstood and portrayed one way in the media. We are a beautiful, interesting, diverse, open, tolerant, democratic, and most importantly, very safe country."