Wiggo: Froome test in vain

SIR BRADLEY WIGGINS has praised Chris Froome’s decision to release independent test results to show people can ‘trust’ his performances , but warned it will not change public perception. Two-time Tour de France winner Froome, 30, has been dogged by accusations of doping and is attempting to prove his innocence by undergoing three independent tests at a London laboratory. Wiggins believes it is a ‘small step’ in the right direction but the data, which will be published by

Esquire magazine on Tuesday, is unlikely to change people’s minds. Froome has also agreed to let the magazine publish blood test results taken on July 15 — the day before his victory on Stage 10 of this year’s tour — and another unannounced test on August 20, as well as data from 2007. Wiggins told BBC Radio 5 Live: ‘It’s what people have called for and Chris has done it, so hats off to him. I’m sure it is not something for them to live and die by, or if it will change anything. It is a small step, maybe.’ Wiggins, a former Team Sky teammate of Froome, also expressed sympathy for the way the Briton had coped with the scrutiny of this year’s Tour and handled being spat at by spectators. ‘I think to be under that amount of scrutiny for three weeks and do what he did was admirable,’ said Wiggins, 35. ‘It shows his physical and mental strength. Sport is hard enough as it is without facing being spat at.’ Wiggins also announced that he will ride in the second edition of the Tour de Yorkshire as he steps up his preparations for a fifth Olympics and a bid for another gold medal in Rio next summer. The four-time Olympic champion and holder of the hour record is increasing preparations as part of Great Britain’s team pursuit squad. Wiggins won gold in the four-man, four-kilometres event at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, then focused on the road and became the first British winner of the Tour before taking road timetrial gold at the London 2012 Games. The three-day Tour de Yorkshire, which takes place between April 29 and May 1, provides good endurance preparation for Wiggins, who will take his eponymous team, which includes many of his track team-mates, to the race next spring. ‘Yes, we’ll be there — Team Wiggins,’ he said. ‘It was a great race this year and we’ll be back there next year.’