Fans target Froome along route again

Spectators continue to taunt Chris Froome along the roads of the Tour de France after the four-time champion was cleared of doping.

Prior to the start of Stage 15 yesterday in the southern town of Millau, one spectator leaned over the barriers towards Froome and made a gesture like he was injecting his arm.

Throughout the race, spectators have voiced their disapproval of the Team Sky rider.

A cloud had hung over Froome after a urine sample taken during the Spanish Vuelta in September showed a concentration of the asthma drug salbutamol that was twice the permitted level. Tour organisers had informed Froome that he wasn’t welcome at this year’s race until the International Cycling Union announced five days before the event started that Froome’s result did not represent an adverse finding.

Froome is aiming to join Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain as the only riders to win the Tour five times. With one week remaining, he sits second in the overall standings, 1 minute and 39 seconds behind Sky team-mate Geraint Thomas.

Thomas has been jeered for being Froome’s teammate. “It’s not a nice situation. For me, it’s the highlight of my career and a massive honour and a privilege to be wearing the [yellow] jersey,” Thomas said. “But at the end of the day you need to stay strong in your head and just crack on.”