Former Sky doctor blasts team as Froome returns

CHRIS FROOME returns to competition tomorrow with a former Team Sky doctor accusing his old employers of ‘losing touch with reality’. Four-time Tour de France winner Froome will compete in the Ruta del Sol in Spain, his first race since it emerged that twice the permitted dose of asthma drug salbutamol was found in his urine during last year’s Vuelta a Espana, which he won. The ‘adverse analytical finding’ is still being investigated. Fabio Bartalucci, a Sky doctor for 18 months from the winter of 2010, told cyclingnews.com: ‘Team Sky seem to have lost touch with reality. Sir David Brailsford thinks he can control everything, but that’s now one of his biggest weaknesses because events have engulfed him. ‘It’s surprising that an athlete like Froome, who is so meticulous about everything, can end up with a such a high level of salbutamol. It’s equally surprising that the team doctor suggested increasing his dose, as Froome has claimed.’ Froome insists he has done nothing wrong, while Team Sky declined to respond to Bartalucci’s comments.