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cycling: Poels on Froome: "I have very little contact with him"

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Poels Froome

Cycling: Wout Poels (Sky) worked hard for his captain Chris Froome last season, especially at the Vuelta a Espana. As of today, he does not know whether the work was ultimately in vain. The Chris Froome case is dragging on, which Wout Poels doesn't like either.

Poels wants a quick decision

Professional cyclists and fans are generally quite patient people. After all, they love a sport that doesn't offer action every second. But the Chris Froome case is slowly getting on the nerves of even the most patient people. Not only does UCI President David Lappartient want a swift decision, but many professionals, such as Nikias Arndt, Jasha Sütterlin, and Robert Wagner, are also dissatisfied with the situation.

The situation is particularly unpleasant for Wout Poels. The Dutchman is totally up in the air as his racing program depends heavily on Chris Froome's participation. Therefore, he also wants a quick clarification, as he revealed to Nusport.

"I think it's best if everyone gets clarity quickly so we know what's going to happen. Not just for us as teammates, but also for Chris himself. The other riders in the peloton also want to know where they stand.”

“I hope it ends well”

Although Wout Poels was Chris Froome's noble helper at the Vuelta a Espana, he is hardly informed about the current development.

"I have to be honest, we don't hear much about it. Only rarely do we get a small update. Behind the scenes, Chris and his attorneys are working hard to resolve the issue. Hopefully it will end well.”

The noble helper also seems to have little contact with the person concerned. Poels is currently training in Mallorca with some teammates and will take part in the Mallorca Challenge. Chris Froome, on the other hand, trains in South Africa, more or less isolated from the public – and from his teammates.

"I haven't seen Chris in a while. I have very little contact with him. He has enough other things to do. I text him occasionally to ask how things are going, but no more. It's a difficult situation for him, so I'll leave him alone."

Captain or noble helper at the Giro d'Italia?

The following thought game shows how difficult the situation must be for Wout Poels: Assuming Chris Froome will start at the Giro d'Italia, then Poels will have to support him as a noble helper - just like at the Vuelta last year. Should Froome then be retrospectively banned a few months later, all of Wout Poels' work would have been for nothing. Not only that, the Dutchman would have wasted about a year in which he could have driven on his own account. At least he sees himself as strong enough for a captain's role.

"I'm at an age now where it's about time. I'm ready. Last season I finished sixth at the Vuelta, which gave me a lot of confidence. That would be a top performance for most teams, but it's a little different for Sky."

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About Michael Behringer

Cycling with all its tactics, stage analyses, placements and forecasts are Michael Behringer's great passion. In 1996 he tracked his first Tour de France. Since then he has observed almost every race. His passion for cycling has been with him for over two decades. There is no end in sight.