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news
Chris Froome on Alpe d'Huez (picture copyright Anne Martin)Chris Froome: "I have every right to be racing" at Tour de France
Chris Froome insists he has “every right to be racing” in this year’s Tour de France, which starts in the Vendée a week on Saturday, despite the ongoing salbutamol case resulting from an adverse analytical finding (AAF) for twice the permitted amount of the anti-asthma drug.
The Team Sky rider is permitted to race while he tries to clear his name because salbutamol is a specified substance rather than one which is completely banned, meaning that no provisional suspension applies, although there have been calls for him to suspend himself voluntarily ever since news of the AAF broke last December.
While Team Sky have yet to name their team, it's clear that they are planning on Froome leading their challenge with Geraint Thomas also racing as a protected rider.
That's despite misgivings over Froome's participation expressed by UCI president David Lappartient, the prospect that race organisers ASO may seek to exclude him to protect the image of the race, and five-time champion Bernard Hinault calling on other riders to strike in protest.
Speaking to Sky Sports News, four-time Tour de France winner Froome accepted why some believe he should not be taking part in this year’s race while the case is ongoing, saying, “I can certainly see it from that point of view and people concerned about the image of the sport.”
However, he continued: “From my point of view I know I’ve done nothing wrong, and from the very beginning that’s always been my starting point.
“So it would be really hard for me not to race knowing that I’ve done nothing wrong here. I’ve got every right to be racing so that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”
Asked whether, in the event of winning what would be a record-equalling fifth yellow jersey he was confident of keeping the title even if he were sanctioned as a result of the AAF, he said: “Yes. As with the Giro d’Italia last month.”
He explained: “As I said, coming from the starting point I’ve done nothing wrong, and obviously through this process I’m allowed to demonstrate that I’ve done nothing wrong, so I’m fully expecting to be exonerated, to be fully cleared, by the end of this process.”
Team Sky, who have in the past been the target of aggression from some spectators at the Tour de France who believe Froome is not riding cleanly, have stepped up security for this year’s race given the ongoing salbutamol case.
Froome said: “Over the years, there’s always been a small crowd of people who aren’t happy for whatever reason to see us leading the race.
“We’ve always come up against adversity over the years but that’s something you deal with in the moment and on the road and hopefully it doesn’t interfere with the race,” he added.
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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18 comments
Blah blah blah, yaaaaaaaawwwwwn. I miss the good old days when they were all doping. I hope this year's tour is more exciting than last year's snooze fest.
So you're admitting you don't understand the intricacies and subtleties of cycle racing, that's fine but the majority who watch do and thus it isn't a "snoozefest".
No-one will be missing you not watch so go watch a simple sport like er, none of them, they all have aspects that if you have even a basic grasp are nuanced and interesting. Maybe you just don't have the lobes to understand these things.
I can only see it going tits up for Froome at TdF. I have no problem with him riding but if he is in contention which he will be he and Team Sky will be subject to all sorts of abuse on the road. It will go further than a sly punch or urine. It does not take much some some moron to shove a bloke of a bike on one of the many ascents security or not. Looking at the betting odds for the riders there is not much value in the GC but i would put a pretty penny on him hitting the floor through no fault of his own.
On a lighter note the parcours and number of GC contendors should make for great tour
I personally can't wait for the TdF.. hopefully we'll see three weeks of drama! The question which I'm most curious to find out is 'will Froome' be able to win it? If he does, it'll be a massive achievement.. a rare feat to be sure, Pantani last won it, before than Indurain, before than that miserable old Badger, before him Merckx!
Before anyone points out the fact that all of these names have had either been caught cheating or have some very large suspicions over thier heads.. it's not the point. The point is that I love cycling and I can't wait for the big, often boring, tour to start!!
Will TommyD be able to hang on for a podium after the Giro, he's not an interesting character but he's the natural successor to Froome as a grand tour winner for this generation.
What can Adam Yates do? Can he hang on for three weeks or will be fade in the last week like Simon in the Giro.. Who will show up with the legs for Movistar from Quintana, Landa, or Valverde? How many more years has Valverde got left! Will Nibali be competitive? Is this Badet's year to win it?
Cycling is a joke of a sport.
I love riding but watch it? No
Thats fine, carry on watching athletics, tennis, football, rugby, golf snooker all squeaky clean sports
Cycling has always had its cases aired in public, especially this one, which was leaked to the press.
Cycling has gone a long way to reducing its doping issues, whereas the sports I've listed and others haven't done anything or swept their dirty secrets under the carpet.
I will be.
Thanks for that.
My pleasure.
An identified abnormal finding rider claims he's clean in a pack of innocent (until they're found guilty) drug abusers.
Someone is lying.
Gotta love cycling.
Great, another stage race screwed up.
I much prefer the classics now - this circus needs to be sorted out.
Oh so the classics are only won by clean riders
Go for it Froomie, and grind the opposition into the dust. I'll be cheering for you.
Yawn
I predict a lot of wee-wee will be thrown over him this year, specifically thrown by French people (like usual).
Most unusual of a Frenchman to want a strike
Lol at 'protecting the image of the race'. As if anyone ever thought it was clean as a whistle anyway.
I totally agree Mr Froome, you do.