Team-SkyBritain’s two-time Tour de France champion Chris Froome has extended his contract with Team Sky until 2018, the British team announced on Tuesday.

“Team Sky have been fundamental to my success to date, so it was a very easy decision to commit to the team until the end of 2018,” Froome said in a statement on the Team Sky website.

The Kenya-born rider, 30, has been with Sky since the team was founded in 2010. He succeeded team-mate Bradley Wiggins as Tour de France champion in 2013 and became the first Briton to win the race twice last year.

Froome, currently taking part in a Sky training camp in Mallorca, added: “Their values are my values and I am proud to ride for a team that has shown that you can win the biggest bike races in the world clean.

“2015 was a fantastic year for me both professionally and personally and this is a great kickstart to 2016. I am more motivated than I have ever been and I have got big targets for this Olympic year. I can’t wait to start racing.”

Sky team principal Dave Brailsford said: “Chris is not only one of the most talented and dedicated riders in the world, he is also a fantastic ambassador for thesport.

“Team Sky is proud to have him as our team leader. He is a winner and it is a great boost at the start of the new season that he has committed to stay with the team to the end of 2018.

“He is hungry for more success and we will help him achieve it.”

Froome is due to start his 2016 campaign at the Herald Sun Tour in Australia at the start of February. – Agence France-Presse

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