BRAILSFORD IN FOUR-LETTER RANT AT MEDIA

THE vista across this medieval city was as calming as it was beautiful yesterday but at the Team Sky hotel there was a tense, at one point invective-filled, atmosphere.

In fairness to Sir Dave Brailsford he actually engaged in a candid yet perfectly civilised conversation with some journalists while trying to justify why the international written media were not being granted access to the yellow jersey wearer for the second successive rest day.

There was, however, another four- letter exchange with a reporter from a cycling website, doing little to enhance Sky’s already tarnished reputation only a day after Chris Froome was booed by roadside spectators.

Creating such a siege mentality might yet work for Sky going into one of the most fascinating final weeks in Tour de France history, with the five-way battle for the race lead resuming today towards Romans-sur-Isere and the Alps.

If Brailsford wants a row that is up to him, even if telling someone to ‘stick it up your a***’ is a far cry from the sophisticated image he has worked so hard to create.

But it is also the prerogative of reporters to keep asking the same questions until satisfied by the answers. Yesterday he said he was prepared to have a proper conversation after the Tour, and it will be interesting to see if he is as good as his word.

It would also be interesting to get his take on Tim Wellens, who has withdrawn from the Tour after refusing a therapeutic use exemption and displaying the kind of ethical values Sky have certainly not possessed in the past. But dragging Froome into his argument by limiting access to the rider pursuing his fourth Tour title is not something that plays well for Sky when most of the criticism levelled at them has been more than justified.

In his restricted media session, Froome was asked only about the race, and the fact that the first four riders go into the third week with only 29 seconds separating them, with Ireland’s Dan Martin only a further 43 seconds adrift.

Froome admitted it was ‘stressful’, adding: ‘But I said in Dusseldorf that this will be the closest-fought battle for a Tour I’ve ever done, and it’s shaping up to be exactly that.

‘It’s a lot to do with the route. Everyone knew this would be a really close race given how few TT kilometres and summit finishes there are.’

Froome, however, sounds confident. ‘I am feeling better and better as the race goes on,’ he said. ‘Over the last few days, I felt pretty good and hopefully that’s a sign of timing things right, coming into the Tour really fresh. I hope this week I will be at my best.’