Bernard Hinault really gets stuck into Chris Froome; his Vuelta ride, Giro win, status as a legend of cycling and Team Sky’s money. Froome won on Monte Zoncolan on stage 14, above. And then last Friday he put in an 80km solo attack to win the stage and ultimately the 2018 overall crown.
Bernard Hinault very strongly critical of Chris Froome
Chris Froome on Sunday joined Bernard Hinault and Eddy Merckx as the only riders to have held the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and Vuelta titles at the same time.
But now one of those men in that exclusive club has come out very strongly against Froome.
Bernard Hinault has said the British rider is not a legend of the sport. He added he shouldn’t have been in the Giro and should not be allowed ride the Tour.
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Hinault said the fact Froome returned an adverse sample for salbutamol on the way to his Vuelta should preclude him from racing.
Froome uses the asthma medication, a level of which is legal for riders with asthma. However, he exceeded that limit on the Vuelta.
But because the substance is permitted in certain quantities, riders have time to explain why their levels went higher than allowed.
Hinault in Giro action; leading the 1985 edition which he would win overall.
If Froome can offer an explanation, then no rule will have been broken. But if he can’t, he will face sanctions. That may include a ban and having results cancelled.
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However, at present he has not judged to have broken any rules. And that ruling may never be made against him. He has never been convicted of any doping offence.
Froome has protested his innocence. Furthermore, he believes it will eventually be shown he committed no wrongdoing.
But in the aftermath of Froome’s Giro d’Italia victory, Hinault has weighed in. He said Froome did not belong on the list with him and Merckx.
"He returned a positive test at the Vuelta and afterwards his B-sample proved positive," Hinault told Het Laatste Nieuws in Belgium.
Others suspended faster
In his, Hinault's, eyes this was a doping offence, but no suspension had taken place.
"He should never have been allowed to start in the Giro. Why do we need to wait so long for a verdict?
“Those two Italians who had the same thing were suspended much faster,” he added of Alessandro Petachi and Diego Ulissi.
“Why does Froome get so much time to find an explanation? Is it because Team Sky has so much money?
“This is all very sad. Froome isn’t part of the legend of the sport. What image does he give cycling?
"He may also start the Tour (in July). It’s a real scandal, this has to stop.”
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