Chris Froome was re-infected with the bilharzia parasite this year, his Israel Start-Up Nation team owner Sylvan Adams has said.
The Kenyan-born British rider suffered from the tropical disease, which results in parasitic worms, earlier in his career.
His former employers Team Sky, now Ineos Grenadiers, always said Froome emerged as a Grand Tour winner after the condition was treated and he was able to training, recover and race in full health.
While Froome secured a contract with Team Sky, it was about to let him go after the 2011 season when he shot to prominence in La Vuelta that year, finishing 2nd and having since been upgraded to 1st.
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While Froome has struggled to regain his former condition some coming back from his crash over two years ago, Adams has now said bilharzia returned this year to sabotage his rider's Tour de France performance.
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“Chris Froome had some medical issues this season, and he was completely blocked during the Tour de France,” Adams has now told VeloNews, just days after Froome himself was quoted saying he had not been re-infected.
“At the Tour, he told me that this year’s Tour de France was more difficult than any Tour he’d ever done before. He was expending massive amounts of energy," added Adams.
“He tested positive for bilharzia, took the medication for it, he’s now negative for it, and went on to have a good finish to the season,” Adams added.
“He immediately started to show improvement in his numbers, and we are optimistic we will see the old Chris Froome again, and he can be up there and contend for the grand tours.”
