Froome appeals against Tour ban

CHRIS FROOME has been kicked off the Tour de France – but expects to be reinstated on appeal in the next 48 hours.

The event organisers Amaury Sport Organisation are believed to have told Team Sky not to include Britain’s four-time Yellow Jersey winner in their squad

for the 2018 edition, which starts on Saturday, claiming his presence would damage the race’s image. But Sky lodged an urgent appeal and will discover the result in the next few days – with Froome’s wife Michelle, who is also his manager, insisting: “Chris will ride the Tour.” Froome is still being investigated by world governing body UCI after twice the permitted level of asthma medication salbutamol was found in a urine sample he provided at the Vuelta in Spain last September. And less than a week before the 105th Le Tour, ASO have invoked a rule which “reserves the right to exclude a team or its members whose presence would damage the image or reputation of the event”. Team Sky are understood to have appealed to the French national Olympic committee and a hearing is due to take place tomorrow with a decision expected 24 hours later. The British-based team, whose riders have won the Tour five times in the last six years, said: “We are confident Chris will be riding the Tour as we know he has done nothing wrong.” Under UCI’S rules, Froome is entitled to carry on racing until his salbutamol case is resolved.

CHRIS OF LIFE Michelle, with Chris, says her husband will be taking part