BRAILSFORD ENJOYS FUN OF FAIR

TEAM SKY godfather Sir Dave Brailsford invoked his “British sense of fair play” and revealed he agreed with the decision to spare Romain Bardet a damaging 20-second penalty.

Great French hope Bardet, only 23secs behind yellow jersey Chris Froome, escaped a sanction from the race jury after he was filmed taking a water bottle inside the last eight miles before winning stage 12 on Thursday.

But instead of stamping his foot and lodging a protest, Sky principal Brailsford recalled the even-handed treatment of Froome on Brokebike Mountain last year.

He said: “We have no complaints. There are four riders within half a minute of the lead and you don’t want to see the Tour won and lost on time penalties. The commissaires restored Froomey to the top of the general classification on Mount Ventoux last year when he had to run up the mountain because his bike was in bits.

“That was also the right decision, in my opinion, so I’m happy to let a British sense of fair play apply to Bardet as well.”