No room for sad Froome at Tour

..BUT VOWS TO MAKE 2024

- Mike Walters

CHRIS FROOME has been shunted towards the final curtain after being left out of the IsraelPremier Tech squad for the Tour de France.

Britain's four-time winner of the Yellow Jersey was a notable absentee when the team unveiled their eight-man picks for the race, which starts a week today in Bilbao.

Despite suffering a catalogue health and of mechanical problems earlier this year, Froome, right, had been expected to make the cut.

At the age of 38, however, his days as a Grand Tour force appear to be drawing to a close although he issued a statement promising an encore at Le Tour.

Froome said: "Physically I was ready but unfortunately I was unable to show my full ability at the races assigned to me due to equipment issues.