Sky Chief Slams Tour Haters, Calls Race's Billing Into Doubt
Muhammad Rameez Published July 23, 2018 | 06:16 PM
Team Sky chief Dave Brailsford hit out at organisers on Monday for failing to stop "intimidating" abuse of his riders and staff as they attempt to win the Tour de France.
Carcassonne, France, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Jul, 2018 ) :Team Sky chief Dave Brailsford hit out at organisers on Monday for failing to stop "intimidating" abuse of his riders and staff as they attempt to win the Tour de France.
With Welshman Geraint Thomas in the yellow jersey and four-time champion Chris Froome in second place at 1min 39sec, Sky are in an optimal position as they head into the Pyrenees for three consecutive stages starting Tuesday.
But the British outfit's bid to win the French race for the sixth time in seven years is not sitting well with some fans.
Amid a general feeling of suspicion surrounding Sky and their sheer domination of the race, Froome has been spat at, Thomas has been booed off the podium and some of Sky's staff have also faced abuse during the opening 15 stages.
Brailsford, who has been questioned by a British parliamentary inquiry following allegations Sky had breached ethical guidelines by abusing the legal use of Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUE's) for their riders, said he did not expect the abuse to stop.
But he claimed the organisers' inability to step in and take effective measures against the haters had compromised the race's billing as the "the world's greatest annual sporting event".
"The Tour de France is promoted as the world's greatest annual sporting event. If that's the case, then maybe treat it with a bit more respect," Brailsford said on the rest day Monday.
"If you don't want international teams to come, you can have a Tour de France for French teams.
That's the way I see it really." He added: "We're trying to remain dignified, we're trying to not get distracted by it.
"I don't think spitting and throwing things really has a base in professional sport, nor in everyday life." Sky, though, started the race under a cloud.
Froome was initially barred from starting his title defence by organisers because of the suspicion surrounding his "adverse analytical finding" for the asthma drug salbutamol at the Tour of Spain last year.
The Kenyan-born Briton had double the permitted amount of the drug in his sample when he won the race in 2017.
Yet days before the Tour, the International Cycling Union (UCI) cleared Froome to race.
Brailsford said: "Chris's case was open when we raced in Italy. And they were fantastic, the Italians (fans).
"It seems to be the thing that's done here. It just seems to be a French thing. A French cultural thing really." He added: "I'm not sure they would like to have seen their (France) football players being spat at (the World Cup) in Russia.
"I'm sure there would have been a word or two about that. But it's okay to spit at us and our staff? It's very, very intimidating.
"It's a shame, but we're not going to let it distract us."Sky's victory bid was potentially dented when the team lost Italian rider Gianni Moscon on Sunday after he was thrown off the race for striking Frenchman Elie Gesbert of the Fortuneo team.
Brailsford admitted the incident is unlikely to get fans on their side.
Recent Stories
Malala expresses unwavering support for Gaza people
Selection committee dissolved over Pakistan women cricket team's poor performanc ..
Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz in police uniform at Chung police center
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 25 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 25 April 2024
Mired in crisis, Boeing reports another loss
Session Awarding Ceremony 2024 held at Cadet College Muzaffarabad
Austrian ski great Hirscher to make comeback under Dutch flag
Pakistan, Japan agrees to convene 'Economic Policy Dialogue'
FM Dar conveys deepest sympathy on torrential rains devastation in UAE
Spain PM Sanchez says weighing resignation after wife's graft probe
Tennis: ATP/WTA Madrid Open results - 1st update
More Stories From Sports
-
Norman sees Adelaide success as blueprint for all LIV Golf events
16 minutes ago -
Mohsin Naqvi reconstitutes women’s selection committee
46 minutes ago -
Selection committee dissolved over Pakistan women cricket team's poor performance
2 hours ago -
Paris holds its breath for Olympic swimming events in murky Seine
4 hours ago -
Austrian ski great Hirscher to make comeback under Dutch flag
14 hours ago -
Tennis: ATP/WTA Madrid Open results - 1st update
14 hours ago
-
Osaka seals first win on clay since 2022 in Madrid
14 hours ago -
Watford hire Cleverley as permanent boss
14 hours ago -
Karachi, Lahore, Multan win matches of National Women’s Cricket Tournament
15 hours ago -
No communication gap among players, asserts Babar Azam
15 hours ago -
Bracewell looks ahead to Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan
15 hours ago -
Bolt named ICC Men’s T20 WC 2024 ambassador
16 hours ago