The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Team Sky expect Froome to ride Tour
CYCLING: Reports claim organisers will not let British rider compete
Team Sky are “confident” Chris Froome will take part in this the Tour de France, which starts next weekend.
According to a report in the French newspaper Le Monde, race organisers Amaury Sport Organisation have told Team Sky that British star Froome will not be allowed to race.
Froome’s appeal against a drugs test remains unresolved.
Although Froome has always maintained he did not break any rules, it is reported that ASO have taken a stance to protect the race’s image.
A Team Sky spokesperson said: “We are confident that Chris will be riding the Tour as we know he has done nothing wrong.”
Le Monde also reported that Team Sky have appealed against the decision to the court of arbitration of the French Olympic Committee, with a decision expected in the next few days.
Froome is appealing against an adverse analytical finding at last year’s Vuelta a Espana. A urine test carried out during the race found a larger than permitted dose of salbutamol in his system.
Froome, who has won the Tour de France four times, is allowed to continue competing, pending an outcome.
Team Sky have not yet announced their eight-rider team for the Tour. Fivetime Tour winner Bernard Hinault has called on other riders to go on strike if Froome is cleared to compete.
Meanwhile, Mark Cavendish’s Team Dimension Data is looking to turn around what manager Doug Ryder admits has been a “terrible” season.
The African-based squad find themselves dead last in the WorldTour rankings in a campaign wrecked by a long list of injuries and illnesses.
Ryder had high hopes for 2018 after beefing up the roster with the likes of Louis Meintjes, Tom-Jelte Slagter and Julien Vermote, but it is yet to pay off.
“Every year we have moved forward in terms of quality in line with our goals, but we’ve had such a terrible season,” Ryder said.
“Now when I go to races the other team managers come and put their arm around me and say, ‘Doug, we’re so sorry’, because people love our team, we all need to thrive together.
“Other teams are feeling for us in terms of the shocking luck and incidents that have happened.”
Cavendish, and the global spotlight of the Tour, could provide the chance to put things right.
The Manxman’s form is uncertain after a string of crashes, but the Tour – a race in which he is four stage wins short of Eddy Merckx’s record of 34 – has so often been the place for him to shine.
“The Tour de France is a race that defined him and got him going on his incredible career to this point,” Ryder said. “The interest around him, the 100% commitment of the team, it gives him massive motivation.”