The Israel Emerging Classics team, led by Nils Pollitt and André Greipel in Belgium, is hard at work testing the Northern Classics route in preparation for the resumption of the season. But the biggest news surrounding the team in the past week has been the signing of Chris Froome.

The Englishman will join from Team Ineos for the 2021 season, the team announced earlier this month. Team directors Dirk Demol and Eric Van Lancker spoke about the big move between training camps.

According to Het Nieuwsblad (opens in new tab), Van Lanker said that Frum's presence will bring the entire team to a higher level, while Demol added that a big leader like the 35-year-old will always push his teammates.

"We're not just talking about Froome. Of course, everyone feels 'wow.' We're going to have a real big champion soon," DeMol said.

"He will take the team to a higher level. On the surface, of course, but with him, the other riders will perform better," added Van Lancker.

"That's what a leader at that level does," DeMolle continued. I've worked with Armstrong, Contador, Cancellara. I've worked with Armstrong, Contador, Cancellara. Guys like that 'push' everyone, not only with their performances, but also with their personalities. That would be the same with Froome."

The two are currently in Anzegem, halfway between Oudenaarde, Wevelgem, and the French border.

CCC rider Greg Van Avermaat, who won the latter two of these races, has been linked to the team for 2021, and team co-owner Sylvain Adams acknowledged his interest in the Belgian last week. Demol and Van Lancker said he would be welcome to join the team if a transfer were to take place.

"First of all, the team would be built around Frum. But we can always use a player like Greg," Van Lanker said.

"We are very happy to have Froome on board, but there can never be too many top riders. Van Avermaet is a top rider now and always has been," added DeMolle.

Although the peloton with Deceuninck-QuickStep has a strong core, including 2019 Paris-Roubaix runner-up Nils Pollitt, Greipel, and Le Samyn winner Hugo Hofstetter, the team as currently constituted is the rescheduled The team as currently constituted is not the leading contender for the rescheduled Spring Classic.

"We're not a top team, but we're definitely going to show ourselves," DeMol said. Last year, Nils finished sixth in the E3 Harelbeke and fifth in Flanders." Greipel and Rick Zabel always train together in Germany. I think this trio is very strong.

Van Lancker said that while this year's Classic is an important goal for the team, they must also plan for 2021. The riders will return to racing in January and February, just three months after Paris-Roubaix in 2020, and next year's Classics season comes just six months after this year.

"The program for the Classics athletes is quite mysterious. 'The races are only in October. At the same time, we have to think about the 2021 season." The Classic rider competing in the Tour Down Under is not taking this winter off. He will be back in February, but that was never the intention.

"Dirk and I really believe in the Classic team. Otherwise, we would not have organized this training camp."