Team fear for Froome safety

– French cycling legend Bernard Hinault labelling Chris Froome (above) a “cheat” and demanding the Englishman’s Tour de France rivals strike could provoke a violent backlash against the rider from spectators, Team Sky’s coaching guru told yesterday’s edition of The Guardian.

Tim Kerrison – speaking to the newspaper in Monaco as Team Sky finetune their preparations for this year’s Tour beginning on July 7 – said Froome’s safety is at risk “if things are presented in a way that incites or sensationalises”.

Froome was found to have twice the permissible amount of asthma drug Salbutamol in his system in last September’s Vuelta a Espana, which he won, before also winning May’s Giro d’Italia, becoming the first man to hold all three Grand Tours at once since Hinault in 1983.

The four-time Tour de France champion insists he has not broken any rules, but Hinault says Froome is a cheat and that, as cycling authorities dither, rider power should be exerted.

“The peloton should just stop and strike,” Hinault said this week.

Kerrison says he has no doubts 33-year-old Froome will emerge with his reputation intact. But he takes issue with how long the process is taking to reach a decision.

The Australian’s main concern, though, is that Hinault and others’ comments on the matter will incite spectators. – AFP