NO ROOM FOR FROOME ON TOUR DE FRANCE

Britain's four-time winner of the Yellow Jersey is axed by his team

- MIKE WALTERS

CHRIS FROOME has been shunted towards the final curtain after being left out of the Israel-Premier Tech squad for this year's Tour de France.

Britain's four-time winner of the Yellow Jersey was a notable absentee when the team unveiled their eight-man pick for the Grande Boucle starting in Bilbao on July 1.

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

But now, at the age of 38, Froome's days as a Grand Tour force appear to be drawing to a close - although he issued a statement promising an encore on Le Tour in 2024.