CHRIS FROOME HAS claimed he had urine thrown over him by a spectator during the 14th stage of the Tour de France this afternoon.
The 30-year-old Briton, the race leader, blamed journalists for “irresponsible” reporting after facing accusations of cheating during this year’s race.
“A spectator about 50-60km into the race threw a cup of urine over me, shouting ‘dope’ (doped),” said Froome.
“It’s unacceptable on so many levels. We’re professionals, we work really hard for what we do and for someone to come and do that, it’s not what we’re here for.”
The Kenyan-born Briton has had to put up with accusations not only of doping during this Tour but also of using a motorised bicycle.
Already, two years ago when he won the Tour, he was met with incredulity from some quarters, particularly over the manner of some of his dominant victories in mountain stages.
Some people claim that reminds them of Lance Armstrong in his pomp — when the American was using the banned blood-booster EPO and blood transfusions to help him win seven straight Tour titles, before being stripped of them all and turned into a pariah when the truth came out.
“I certainly don’t blame the public for this, it’s certainly a minority of people out there ruining it for everybody else,” said Froome, the Team Sky leader.
“I would blame some of the reporting on the race, it’s very irresponsible. Those individuals know who they are.
“It’s not all media, a lot of the reporting has been fantastic, it’s been about the race, as it should be.
“But with my victory a few days ago and the way the team is riding, there’s been a lot of very irresponsible reporting.
“It’s not riders bringing the sport into disrepute, it’s individuals and they know who they are.”
Earlier on Saturday, Froome’s Sky teammate Richie Porte said he’d been punched by a supporter on Tuesday’s Pyrenean stage when Froome won and crushed his rivals.
Porte finished second that day while Geraint Thomas is currently sixth overall, leading some commentators to claim it is the British team as a whole that is cheating.
“I was (punched) in the last 3km. I got a full-on punch,” Porte told the Telegraph Cycling Podcast.
“It was the same atmosphere on Alpe d’Huez two years ago.”
The Australian said there has been an anti-Sky atmosphere at times.
“They are so anti-whatever we are. Do I deserve to be booed? Does Chris Froome deserve all this? I don’t think so.
“Maybe in 10 years’ time they’re going to see that these victories are legitimate.
“It’s a disgrace how some of these people carry on.”
