Thomas Plays Down Abuse Claims After Liquid Thrown At Froome
Rukhshan Mir (@rukhshanmir) Published July 22, 2018 | 01:48 AM
Mende, France, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Jul, 2018 ) :Yellow jersey holder Geraint Thomas brushed off suggestions he and Chris Froome were targeted by fans on the Tour de France 14th stage days after being booed and spat at by irate fans on Alpe d'Huez.
Welshman Thomas, a former Olympic track cycling champion, suffered the indignity of being booed off the podium when he won the second of back-to-back stages in the high Alps to take his lead over four-time champion and teammate Froome to 1min 39secs.
On the second of those days, Froome was spat at and was lucky not to crash after one fan slapped him heavily on the back as he raced the 13.8km ascent to the summit.
Race officials have since called on fans to "respect the riders" in the peloton.
But Team Sky's domination, and controversy involving the British team in the lead-up to the Tour, has led to a backlash.
As Thomas and Froome raced to the finish line in Mende, 18 minutes behind Spanish stage winner Omar Fraile, insults -- and liquid from a bottle or cup -- were thrown in Froome's direction.
The scene could have been reminiscent of 2015, when a fan called Froome a "doper" as he threw a cup of urine in his face.
But Thomas played the incident down.
"I don't actually recall it, but I'm not surprised," he said.
"We've had a bit of that (abuse) ... but it's always been water. I wouldn't know what it was." Sky have been the subject of potentially damaging incidents in the past, and suspicion was raised in the wake of Bradley Wiggins' 2012 victory after medical records went missing or were never kept.
Froome, who won the Tour in 2013 and 2015-2017, was only cleared to participate in this edition days before the start by the International Cycling Union (UCI).
The Kenyan-born Briton was in the anti-doping crosshairs after his "adverse, analytical finding" for the asthma drug salbutamol on his way to victory in the Tour of Spain last year.
Froome was found to have double the permitted amount of the drug in his body, but, prior to the UCI ruling, Sky have always maintained Froome is "innocent".
Recent Stories
Tennis: ATP Barcelona Open results - 1st update
Swiatek's perfect 10 in Stuttgart as Vondrousova stuns Sabalenka
Arandu's roads closed due to flooding
Oil tanker catches fire in Islamabad’s Blue Area
Pakistan committed to ensure safety of foreign nationals: FO
Tennis: WTA Stuttgart results - 1st update
Four passengers injured as train hit an empty vehicle
Over- speeding bus crushed to death two bike riders
Turkey's Freedom Flotilla ready to set sail for Gaza
French teen dies from heart failure after knife attack near school
Iranians appear unfazed by Isfahan blasts
UAF celebrates Int'l Chinese Language Day
More Stories From World
-
Togo lawmakers approve contested political reform
2 hours ago -
NATO must choose 'whether we indeed are allies': Zelensky
2 hours ago -
US House to vote on Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan aid package
2 hours ago -
Calls for calm after reported Israeli strike on Iran
2 hours ago -
IMF calls on EU to deepen single market integration to boost growth
2 hours ago -
Second Ecuadoran mayor killed ahead of anti-crime referendum: police
2 hours ago
-
Oil, gas drilling blocked in Alaska wilds as Biden seeks green cred
3 hours ago -
Man sets self on fire outside Trump trial
3 hours ago -
Turkey's Freedom Flotilla ready to set sail for Gaza
4 hours ago -
French teen dies from heart failure after knife attack near school
4 hours ago -
Iranians appear unfazed by Isfahan blasts
5 hours ago -
Ecuador mayor killed ahead of anti-crime referendum: police
5 hours ago