Chris Froome, a seven-time Grand Tour winner, has announced his retirement after a 19-year career. He won four Tour de France titles between 2013 and 2017.
What happened?
Froome's career was marked by significant achievements, including his first Tour de France win in 2013, where he beat Nairo Quintana by 4:20. He won three stages and held the yellow jersey for 13 days.
He finished second behind Bradley Wiggins in 2012, but took over leadership in 2013, winning stages at Ax-3 Domaines, Mont Ventoux, and the final time trial.
Career highlights
Froome's career highlights include three Critérium du Dauphiné victories and two Tour de Romandie wins before 2016. He also won the 2017 Vuelta a España and a memorable 2018 Giro d'Italia.
He moved to Israel-Premier Tech in 2021, but never managed to recapture the form that propelled him to Grand Tour success. His final career outing came at the Tour de Pologne last August.
Teammates then and now
The Sky team that supported Froome to his first Tour de France victory in 2013 has gone their separate ways. Edvald Boasson Hagen, a Norwegian racer, was once touted as the next versatile superstar of cycling.
He won races including the Eneco Tour, Gent-Wevelgem, Tour of Britain, and a stage of the Giro d'Italia before his 23rd birthday. Boasson Hagen moved to Sky in 2010, adding more big results to his resume.
Legacy
Froome's retirement marks the end of an era in road cycling. He will be remembered for his dominant performances and his ability to win multiple Grand Tours.
He turned 41 in May and spent the latter part of his career at Israel-Premier Tech. Froome's final years on the bike were derailed by serious crashes in 2019 and this year.
His retirement was announced after the 2025 racing season, which was his last as a pro racer. Froome is the last of his 2013 Tour de France-winning team to retire, with only one other rider from the team still racing into 2025.
Froome's career was marked by significant achievements, and he will be remembered as one of the greatest road cyclists of all time. He won seven Grand Tours, including four Tour de France titles, and had a successful career spanning 19 years.
He will be remembered for his impressive performances, including his win in the 2018 Giro d'Italia, where he launched a solo raid over the Colle delle Finestre on the final weekend. Froome's retirement marks the end of an era in road cycling, and he will be missed by fans around the world.