No Froome For Error

It’s enough to make you wonder what the sporting world would be like without cynicism. While British Tour de France leader Chris Froome has been defiant about allegations of doping throughout this year’s centenary edition, his Team Sky support staff have turned the table on the accusers and called on them to take a look around.

Raising the bar: Brailsford (above), Froome (below)

Dave Brailsford, Team Sky’s general manager, has invited the necessary bodies to look at all the necessary data and information that they want, even going so far as to say that they “can live with us.”

Sky have invited potential investigation and interrogation, if there was any hint that Froome was doping, would anybody take such a risk?

Welcome to the three week circus that tours France each year and is now turning in to a huge game of 'Call my Bluff.'

And the turning point just had to be Mont Ventoux on Bastille Day.

46 years after British rider Tommy Simpson had taken amphetamine and subsequently collapsed and died on the climb, Froome was galloping past Movistar’s impressive Colombian 23 year old, Nairo Quintana on his way to a stage win.

The Kenyan-born 24 year old, who arguably performed better last year in his domestique role for the absent reigning champion Bradley Wiggins, was disappointed that his win on the historic stage was overshadowed by such questioning.

Froome also said that he understands the reason why people may want to query a rider’s performance given the history of the sport, however that seems like insufficient justification.

Here is a man spearheading his team for the first time, and, because he has the yellow jersey on his shoulders, questions are automatically asked.

Froome’s closest rival for the Maillot Jaune, Alberto Contador, has already served a suspension for the traces of clenbluterol found in his system, so does that make him clean now?

Throw enough mud and some will stick, but perhaps cycling’s governing body UCI aren’t doing enough. 

They could take a leaf out of Team Sky’s book and be equally transparent. But this is also an organisation which masked Lance Armstrong’s indiscretions for so long, so don’t hold your breath.