Sky slam Hinault’s remarks over Froome

LONDON, June 21, (AFP): French five-time winner of the Tour de France Bernard Hinault’s accusation that Chris Froome is a “cheat” and call for riders at this year’s race to strike in protest at his presence are “uneducated” say Team Sky.

Froome was found to have twice the permissible amount of asthma drug Salbutamol in his system during September’s Vuelta a Espana, which he won, before also winning May’s Giro d’Italia, becoming the first man to hold all three Grand Tours at once since Hinault in 1983.

The British four-time Tour de France champion insists he has not broken any rules, but Hinault says Froome is a cheat and as cycling authorities dither, rider power should be exerted.

However, in a hard-hitting statement on Thursday Team Sky accused 63-year-old Hinault of distorting the facts and not for the first time.

“It is disappointing that Bernard Hinault has, once again, repeated factually incorrect comments about a case he clearly does not understand,” the statement read.

“His comments are irresponsible and ill-informed. Chris has not had a positive test, rather an adverse analytical finding for a prescribed asthma medication.

“As an ex-rider himself, Bernard will appreciate the need for fairness for each and every athlete. And at the current time, Chris is entitled to race.”