French get it in neck over behaviour

Team Sky principal Dave Brailsford believes the spitting, booing and physical intimidation to which his riders have been subjected at this Tour de France is a phenomenon particular to “French culture”, adding that unless French fans start to “respect top international teams” they may not come any more.

Speaking on the Tour’s final rest day on Monday ahead of the first of five Pyrenean stages which will culminate in Saturday’s timetrial, Brailsford said the treatment being meted out to his team was unacceptable.

“I don’t think it’s going to stop,” he said.

“We’re trying to remain dignified, we’re trying not to react and we’re trying not to get distracted by it. But I don’t think spitting and throwing things has a place in professional sport.”

One fan was arrested on Alpe d’Huez for allegedly punching Chris Froome, while another pushed him as he rode past. And Team Sky’s riders and staff have been booed and spat at during the race, with Froome – whose long-running salbutamol case was thrown out pre-Tour – far from the only target. Brailsford said it seemed to be “a French thing”.

“It’s interesting that we’ve just done the Tour of Italy and Chris’s case was [still] open and the Italians were fantastic. It just seems to be a French thing.” —

The Tour of Italy was fantastic. It just seems to be a French thing