Cycling: who is Sylvan Adams, the billionaire who bought himself Chris Froome

Those who took him for a sweet dreamer can begin to reconsider their judgment. Nothing seems to be able to hinder the rise of the owner of the Israel Start-Up Nation cycling team, Sylvan Adams. By attracting for the next season the Briton Chris Froome, 35, quadruple winner of the Tour de France (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017), he and his partner Ron Baron (also businessman) have offered themselves one of the stars of the platoon. There is no doubt that the one who also has two other Grand Tours on his record, the Vuelta (2011, 2017) and the Giro in 2018, will attract light and sponsors to the formation which has only been in existence for five years.

"With Chris, we will move to new heights at the top of the sport," assured Adams, well aware that so far his men have brought only successes in modest races. He is counting on his star recruit to change gear.

As expected, we face a huge demand on our website “welcome to our family” Chris Froome statement. Here is our Facebook-link to the full statement: https: //t.co/ererIVbPNn@StartUpNationHQ #ChrisFroome #YallaIsrael #YallaChris pic.twitter.com/KU62tvLMNh

By enlisting Froome, Adams offers himself a magnificent showcase. “I admire Chris not only for his success as a cyclist, but also for the way he behaves, like a real gentleman, off the bike. Chris will be a great role model for our team. So, in Hebrew, Baruch Haba (welcome) to Chris Froome. "

Because with Adams, Israel has a new ambassador via cycling, no offense to chancelleries dotted with tradition. By giving the name of his adopted country to the team, the Canadian-born businessman wants to "profoundly transform the image of Israel". “I assume to do some sort of diplomacy with cycling. I consider my team a bit like a brand. Journalists who deal with Israel talk a lot about it through political and geopolitical issues. It is normal and it is true that we have difficult relations with our neighbors. But it's not just that. I wish to give the image of an open, tolerant, diverse western society. "

Adams refuses to speak of the national team by mentioning his training, but he hopes that it "will give hope to young Israelis to be able one day to become a professional cyclist".

It finances the "first velodrome in the Middle East"

In 2018, the billionaire, son of a Romanian deportee who escaped the Holocaust who made his fortune across the Atlantic in real estate, had already set foot in the world of the little queen by rolling out the red carpet - and a very large check - at the Tour of Italy. The Giro had visited Tel Aviv and Jerusalem but also Eilat and Haifa arousing astonishment and sarcasm outside. On the streets, success is total. "We would have said at the roadside in Italy or France," dares Adams.

The latter has since continued his unofficial ambassadorial work by organizing a Madonna concert or a friendly Argentina-Uruguay football match last December with guest star Lionel Messi. Each time, the patron does not hesitate to put his hand in the wallet as when he finances the entire construction of the "first velodrome in the Middle East" in Tel Aviv for 17 million euros. "Sport can build bridges and friendships between people and cycling is one of the most watched sports," he says. It is an excellent vehicle to show that we are open and above all that Israel is a safe country. "

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An assumed diplomacy through sport, similar to the Soft power that other countries like Qatar in football have successfully used. Between the WorldTour team (1st Division) and that of the lower echelon (Continental Pro), the Israeli cycling formation presents a mosaic of nationalities and faiths. "We also have a Muslim runner and one from the Druze community," said Sylvan Adams.

"The Tour de France in Israel? Why not ?"

In September, the ambitious boss of the cycling team created in 2015 and who competed in the Tour de la Provence at the start of the year will have a unique platform, the Tour de France. With the disappearance of the Katusha team at the end of 2019, Adams jumped at the opportunity to recover the WorldTour license, reserved for the best formations on the planet and will therefore be able to align his riders in the big races. Even though the Covid-19 pandemic put the whole peloton on hold, Adams' ambitions have not waned.

“We are going to take part in the biggest race in the world, rejoices the boss who hired during the winter some sizes of the peloton including the Irishman Dan Martin, winner of the Tour of Lombardy 2014, and the Germans Nils Politt 2 nd on Paris-Roubaix last year and André Greipel. Three Frenchmen, Rudy Barbier, Alexis Renard and Hugo Hoffsteter are also in the game. With for the moment encouraging results like the stage victory of Barbier at the Tour of San Juan (Argentina) and some disappointments like the injury of Greipel. "We are going to make noise this year, our project is serious," promises the Canadian whose men gleaned 29 victories in 2019, all at the Continental Pro level.

Rudy Barbier's victory

“All winter I have been training with my brother in and around Paris, whatever weather, we were always out. And then this victory. I am so happy ”, Rudy Barbier says after he wins stage 1 in the Vuelta a San Juan. What a victory!
Full movie: https://t.co/3oXKFzf4it#Yallaisrael pic.twitter.com/S1NGAsbKpC

Nothing seems to be able to hinder the gentle rise in power of the training, the funding of which is based for the moment on the unique generosity of its owner, before a big sponsor joins the adventure. For the time being, Israel is slowly waking up on a bicycle. The density of the country and its car traffic sometimes complicate the life of cyclists, but Tel Aviv, which has adopted a self-service bicycle system, is considering a soft traffic plan partly funded by ... Sylvan Adams.

The party around the Giro gave ideas to the benefactor of Israeli cycling who dreams of one day hosting the Tour de France. “The emissaries of ASO ( Editor's note: race organizer ) were able to see with the Giro that everything was perfectly organized with great fervor. So why not the Tour? I suggested the idea last summer but there is no serious discussion and nothing is formalized. "