Israel Start-Up Nation finalizes roster for 2021, appoints Pridham

• Published date: 06 December 2020
• Date: 06 December 2020
• Author: ZACHARY KEYSER
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

What will be ISN's largest lineup to date comprises 32 riders from Israel and 16 other countries, as well as nine new cyclist signings including Froome.

World-class veterans German Andre Greipel (157 individual wins) and Irishman Dan Martin (a top-10 finisher in the 2018 Tour) will also be returning this year to lead the team beside their new British counterpart.

"Despite COVID-19, Israel Start-Up Nation had a good inaugural season in the World Tour. We secured our first victories at this level – including Grand Tour stages," said the team's co-owner Sylvan Adams.

"Our lineup for next year is significantly enhanced, yet it keeps the core group together" added Adams. "We plan to be extremely competitive in the biggest races, including Grand Tours, Monuments, and Classics. Our preseason training camp will provide an opportunity to bring everyone together and bond as a unit. Exciting times ahead."

ISN typically holds its preseason training camp in Israel, and will do so again this year in January – taking full advantage of the warm winter weather to continue to train outdoors throughout the 10-day camp.

"We see ourselves as ambassadors of Israel, and we feel confident that we can hold the camp and ensure the health and safety of our riders and staff," said new CEO of Israel Cycling Academy Ido Shavit.

The Israel Cycling Academy races on the UCI Continental tour and helps nurture talent in Israel to eventually be featured on the World Tour squad.

The ISN squad itself has been climbing the ranks since it made its way through general classifications of cycling to become a World Tour team in 2019. The World Tour status earned the team the ability to race in all three Grand Tour races this year even amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The ISN cycling team made history in October by recording its first-ever stage victory in a Grand Tour race, just five years after the team's establishment. Alex Dowsett earned the team the accolade after he finished first on Stage 8 of the Giro d'Italia. The Giro is one of professional cycling's three prestigious Grand Tour races, alongside the Tour de France and the Vuelta a Espana.

Guy Niv also became the first Israeli to finish all 21 stages of the Tour de France.

"It will be fascinating to see how well we can perform up against the established big teams," said ISN Team Manager Kjell Carlstrom. "We have a balanced roster in the sense that we can get results in all types of races, but our strongest chances will be at stage races."

"We...