Spat on, covered in urine and called a cheat: why Tour de France win is even sweeter for Chris Froome
As well as the grueling challenge of the race itself, Briton had to cope with angry fans and suspicious journalists
Chris Froome admitted he’d been “up against everything” at the Tour de France where he was accused of cheating, spat upon and had urine thrown at him.
The 30-year-old Briton did not just overcome 21 stages, 3,600km, cobbles, crosswinds and seven ‘hors category’ mountains, not to mention rivals such as Vincenzo Nibali, Nairo Quintana and Alberto Contador, but everything outside the course as well.
As well as being the victim of a series of attacks, Froome’s Sky teammates were also targeted.
Richie Porte was punched, Luke Rowe spat at, Geraint Thomas barged off the road and into a lamppost and down a ravine, while team manager Dave Brailsford was blindsided live on French television with “evidence” that Froome’s performance was “abnormal”.
And yet, Froome has kept his cool, ridden hard and battled right to the end, despite feeling ill with a tight chest, to beat Quintana by 1min 12sec to win his second Tour.
