Dave Brailsford said Chris Froome is leaving Team Ineos at the end of this season because the team could not guarantee him "sole team leadership" at this point in his career.

Ineos acknowledged Thursday morning that Froome's contract expires at the end of the season and he will be leaving the team. The four-time Tour de France winner, who will join the Israeli startup nation in 2021, reiterated his intention to compete in the 2020 Tour with Ineos, which features defending champion Egan Bernal and 2018 winner Geraint Thomas.

"Chris' current contract expires in December, but we have made the decision not to renew it. We make this announcement earlier than usual to put an end to recent speculation and allow the team to focus on the upcoming season," said Brailsford in a statement released by Team Ineos.

Cyclingnews revealed in May that Froome had discussed a mid-season move earlier this year, with Bahrain McLaren and Israel Startup Nation among the potential destinations. Instead, he will finish the season as an Ineos rider before partnering with Israel Startup Nation in 2021.

"Given his accomplishments in the sport, it is no surprise that Chris would like to lead the team alone in the next chapter of his career. The move from Team Ineos will give him certainty," Brailsford said. [At the same time, it can provide leadership opportunities for other members of the team.

In an interview with Eurosport in May, Bernal said that the Tour, which was changed from August 29 to September 20, would determine Ineos's hierarchy, but he admitted that by sacrificing himself for Froome and Thomas from the start, "the opportunity to win again in the Tour de France He admitted that he would not "throw away the Froome was seriously injured in a crash at the Criterium du Dauphiné that cost Bernal his 2019 Tour win. He returned for the UAE Tour in February.

Along with Thomas and Ian Stannard, Froome is one of three riders who have raced for Ineos (formerly Team Sky) every season since the team's inception in 2010. Froome dramatically emerged as a Grand Tour rider when he finished second to Juan José Cobo at the 2011 Vuelta a España.

Froome finished second behind Bradley Wiggins at the 2012 Tour and returned to win the overall the following year; he also won the Tour in 2015, 2016, and 2017, followed by the 2017 Vuelta and the 2018 Giro d'Italia.

He finished third overall behind Thomas in the 2018 Tour, which began just days after the UCI dropped anti-doping proceedings against Froome due to elevated salbutamol levels in the 2017 Vuelta controls.

"Chris has been with us from the beginning. He is a great champion and we have shared many memorable moments over the years."