Chris Froome says he has had urine thrown at his face whilst team mate Richie Porte claims he was punched mid-climb during the Tour de France.
The Team Sky pair have made extraordinary allegations that members of the public spectating at the races have abused them during two different stages.
Yesterday, Porte revealed that he had been punched “full-on” during the week and that, throughout the tour, he and his team mates have been booed and heckled.
Team Sky have come under intense scrutiny for claims that some of their riders have been using performance enhancing drugs and, just this week, those allegations grew larger with Dave Brailsford saying that the team have had their data hacked. And, subsequently, a YouTube video emerging aligning with data claiming to be that of Chris Froome’s, but was then later deleted.
And Richie Porte has been feeling that criticism first-hand, with the cyclist telling The Telegraph Cycling Podcast that he was hit.
“I was [punched] in the last 3km. I got a full-on punch,” he said after stage 13.
“It was the same atmosphere on Alpe d’Huez two years ago. They are so anti-whatever we are.
“Do I deserve to be booed? Does Chris Froome deserve all this? I don’t think so.
“Maybe in 10 years’ time they’re going to see that these victories are legitimate.
“It’s a disgrace how some of these people carry on.”
And, today, Chris Froome – who extended his overall lead in the Tour to three minutes and 10 seconds – claimed that he had a cup of urine thrown at him.
“Unfortunately, someone threw a cup of urine into my face and shouted ‘doper’ which is extremely wrong on so many different levels.”
