Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas have both been left out of Team Ineos’ Tour de France line-up as Sir Dave Brailsford signals a changing of the guard within the team.
Froome is a four-time winner, while Thomas won in 2018, as the team instead puts their focusing on last year's victor Egan Bernal and 2019 Giro d'Italia winner Richard Carapaz.
This year’s Tour, delayed to start on August 29, was Froome’s final opportunity to secure a record-equalling fifth Tour title before he leaves Ineos to join the Israel Start-Up Nation squad next year.
Froome will instead lead them at the Vuelta a Espana in October, while Thomas will do so at the Giro d'Italia.
Dave Brailsford believes Froome is not ready for the Tour after struggling to rediscover his best form after a series of injuries and crashes.
Froome had made the Tour his number one target as he has spent more than a year rehabilitating from the career-threatening injuries suffered in a crash at the Criterium du Dauphine last year.
But, even though he has returned to racing and competed alongside Thomas and Bernal at this year’s Dauphine last week, his 71st place overall did little to convince anyone that he was ready for the challenge of the Tour.
Brailsford said: "Chris is a legend of our sport, a true champion who has demonstrated incredible grit and determination to come back from his crash last year.
"We want to support him to compete for another Grand Tour title and the Vuelta gives him that little bit more time to continue his progress to the top level.”
“Egan will once again target the yellow jersey in France and we are very excited to give last year’s Giro winner, Richard Carapaz, his debut in this year’s Tour also.
"Geraint will target the Giro and take on the opportunity to double up his Tour de France win with another Grand Tour title, with the aim of being the first Welshman to win it.
“We have been analysing closely how we can win the Tour de France this year and we have a passionate team united by a common purpose, ready to get the job done.”