After uploading a photo with the Israel Startup Nation uniforms to his Instagram page over the weekend, Chris Fromm first commented tonight (Saturday) on joining the humble group from the Middle East when he said: “From the first moment I received the offer from Silvan Adams to join, I felt it was the right thing to do.
“His enthusiasm and this great project instilled in me energy and motivation,” he continued, “I felt that the Israeli team and I share the same values as the love of cycling and the warmth and family that have always characterized the team. Most of all, I was drawn to this tremendous enthusiasm of Silvan and the ambition that leads the whole team.” .
Contrary to expectations to see Fromm in Israel before the start of the season, the Corona virus restrictions have meant that the British star is expected to team up with the team just before the first race of the season, apparently without a joint training camp with the other riders.
“As someone who has won seven Grand Tour races, including four wins in the Tour de France, I feel that beyond my personal ambitions, I now have a unique and exciting opportunity – to try and help Israel Startup Nation become a team that can compete to win the biggest races in the world and of course the biggest race. France.
Fromm first visited Israel in 2008, when the Giro d’Italia race opened in Jerusalem, continued in Tel Aviv and ended in the third section in Eilat.
On the three days in Israel, Fromm says: “My visit left me with mixed memories. I had a painful crash before the jump to the opening section of the Giro in Jerusalem but in the end I recovered and won the race, and I will never forget the huge crowd that watched us on the three days in Israel.
“It was a big surprise for me and proof that there is a large base in Israel to launch the industry as we have done in the past in the UK. I very much hope that together with me, Israel Startup Nation will attract the younger generation in Israel to choose cycling as a way of life and grow champions. For me it is a new and exciting challenge.”
On the fact that he will “have to” grow around him some Israeli riders, including veterans Guy Niv and Guy Sagiv and also the rising generation of startup nations such as Omar Goldstein and Itamar Einhorn: Leading the team forward, “said Fromm,” the fact that we are now aiming to step up on the way to becoming a significant factor in the big columns – will challenge them to be better and more competitive. I believe they will stand it and are already waiting to meet them. “
Fromm will actually return to the car in full this season for the first time, after the serious accident he suffered in the Cartarine Dauphin race in 2019. “Since the crash, every step in rehabilitation, every training, every race has been for one goal: to return to fitness and ability that will allow me to compete to achieve the fifth victory in the column. I believe I am on the right path to get there. Winning the fifth column is a huge goal for me.” Nation “become a team of this caliber.”