Because up until his crash he was one of the best GC riders ever. Same reason why Cav still gets media coverage despite not having won a big race for years. And why Tiger Woods will always get a load of media coverage every time he plays, regardless of age, ranking or injury.
Former champions attempting a comeback against the odds always makes for a good story. Signing for a new team gives the story some more legs. Though if he can’t ride himself into at least a credible GC finish this year (top 20?) then I think the narrative moves on and he gets covered more as a kind of senior ambassador in the peloton rather than as a potential winner. Or he just quits.
Well if there is one thing we learned about Froome, it is that he doesn’t quit lol.
Dude was completely trashed. Every doctor I heard weighing in on the matter said his Career is over. Now he is riding world tour races. That’s already a pretty big comeback story if you ask me.
At the beginning of the year he gave an interview, where he acknowledged, that he probably has no chance a the Tour this year. But he isn’t in a hurry. He reckons he can be competitive late into his 30s. So he gives himself a few years time to win that magical 5th tour.
I love a good story. Alex Smith and Robert Kubica have similar awesome story’s. But these guys are no longer in there sport. I would rather see spots for young people then the ones who are no longer competitive.
Think that’s consecutive GTs that they entered, not consecutive GTs which took place. Contador skipped the 2007 Vuelta and 2008 Tour which both fell in between his wins.
Couple of differences. One is that Kubica and Smith never reached the heights that Froome has, it was remarkable that they came back from those injuries to play top level sport, but neither of them were all time greats either before or after getting injured. And the second is that at this point there is still a chance that Froome can get back to being competitive. Slim chance maybe, but ISN must have done some due diligence on the state of his injuries and rehab and have reason to think he can do it before signing a 7 figure contract. The peloton is big enough to have space for a few veterans who are past their best alongside all the youngsters, and in my view it enhances the sport having them there. I doubt Valverde is going to win much if anything at this point in his career, but it’s still fun seeing him out there at 40 raging against the dying of the light.
Also, in the end sports = marketing. I’m sure even if he doesn’t win anything while at ISN just having him on the roster and in the races will bring significant eyeballs to their sponsors.
It’s why the small french teams are always in the doomed breakaways during the Tour. They know that there’s a 95% chance that they’ll get caught but it shows they’re fighting and worthy of the invite but it also gets their sponsors infinitely more camera time than if they just sat in the bunch.
Noooooooo not again. I was so looking forward to it. I hope this time at least they also reschedule the women’s event and don’t just straight up ditch it like last year
Yes, but no, but yes. If I remember correctly the men’s race was rescheduled to October while the women’s race was canceled. But in October the 2nd wave hit and the men’s race was also canceled.
Not sure though. Maybe my brain is a bit scrambled by now
Unfortuantly, Nairo’s better days are over. He is good for a stage or two but will not win another Grand Tour nor a GT podium. He just has not been consistent over the years.
1 of only 3 then! 
Nairo’s better days are over. He is good for a stage or two but will not win another Grand Tour nor a GT podium. He just has not been consistent over the years.