Cloud hangs over historic Froome win
CHRIS FROOME will today etch his name further into cycling folklore as he is crowned the winner of the Giro D’Italia — but the ill-feeling and rancour of his continuing anti-doping investigation resurfaced as he appeared to be spat at by a cycling fan towards the end of the stage into Cervinia.
Froome, 33, is set to become the first Briton in the Giro’s 101-year history to win the tour and he will be only the third man after Bernard Hinnault and Eddy Merckx to hold three Grand Tours in succession — the Tour de France, Vuelta a Espana and now the Giro — at the same time. Indeed, Froome is the first to win the triple for 35 years since the Frenchman Hinnault in 1983.
Froome’s achievements are staggering but for those who hold a burning desire to see cycling restore its tarnished credibility, his victory represents, at best, yet more shades of grey. Some would simply say it is a stain on the sport.
The reasons for the opprobrium are clear. Froome remains under investigation after an adverse analytical finding in his urine for double the permitted amount of the asthma drug salbutamol when he won La Vuelta last year. Many believe he should not be competing at all until the investigation reaches a conclusion.
The Giro D’Italia began in Jerusalem with pointed fingers by the eventual runner-up Tom Dumoulin, who stressed that his own Sunweb team would have withdrawn him from the race if he was under investigation as they adhere to the code of the Movement for Credible Cycling.
Team Sky, by contrast, do not and they decided to enter Froome into the race. Indeed, even the Giro race director, Mauro Vegni, criticised Team Sky Principal Sir Dave Brailsford for not disclosing the situation before agreeing a fee estimated to be worth £1.4million for Froome’s participation.
Vegni referred to Dumoulin as ‘nice, handsome, good for cycling as a whole,’ suggesting he may have preferred the Dutchman to win. As such, Froome’s cavalcade into Rome today at Dumoulin’s expense will leave many uncomfortable and so too will his intention to ride in the upcoming Tour de France.
‘I have a clear conscience,’ said Froome. ‘When the time is right, all the information will be shared with everyone and I am sure people will see it from my point of view.’
Froome retained the pink jersey after holding off competition from Dumoulin during the latter stages of the penultimate stage.
The Team Sky rider extended his lead over the Dutchman to 46 seconds and the etiquette of the final stage into Rome today means it will be a procession before Froome is anointed.
Froome moved into tour-winning contention after an extraordinary 80km blitz on Friday, in which he moved clear of fellow Brit and former leader Simon Yates and Dumoulin to claim the maglia rosa ahead of the final two stages.
After navigating the climb up to the ski resort of Cervinia on Saturday, Froome will now be crowned in Rome. Yates had previously appeared assured and faultless in the pink jersey for a two-week stretch but on the gravel surface on the way to Friday’s Bardonnechia summit, Froome launched a thrilling long-distance assault that stunned the peloton.
Brailsford called the stage ‘the best performance’ of Froome’s career and one of the ‘best days in the team’s history’. Fellow competitor Domenico Pozzovivo described Froome’s ride as ‘mostruoso’ — monstrous.
As such, mixed feelings take over. Cycling is once more in the excruciating position where an athlete is achieving extraordinary things but remains dogged by doping suspicions.