Today marks the first day of this season’s Tour de France and everyone is super excited to see what the biggest Grand Tour in the world will bring.
However, yesterday’s Team presentation process has not gone great for everyone on the podium. Apparently, four-time Tour de France winner and the main favourite for this year’s Tour, Chris Froome, has not been very welcomed with tens of fans booing at him despite the fact he was cleared of any wrongdoing by the UCI on Monday this week after last year’s Vuelta a Espana’s adverse analytical finding.
Apparently, people need more time to forget the doping case Froome had to deal with. He issued an emotional plea to people ahead of the Tour after the faded welcome he received as he rode onto the stage yesterday afternoon.
#TDF2018 – Stage 1 // Étape 1
Game on ! The journey starts in Noirmoutier, along the French west coast, with a probable bunh sprint in Fontenay ?♂️?
C’est parti ! L’aventure commence à Noirmoutier et longera la côté Ouest avant un sprint probable à Fontenay ! ?♂️? pic.twitter.com/h09EajSi9q— Le Tour de France (@LeTour) July 7, 2018
Fearing for his safety
His fans now fear he could face some angry and hostile crowds during the race which might make him fear for his safety and distract him from winning his fifth Tour de France title.
“Tomorrow the greatest annual sports event in the world starts in the Vendee Pays de la Loire. I am proud to start the Tour as the defending champion and will obviously be fighting hard to win the maillot jaune,” Froome told Le Monde.
#TDF2018 @LeTour team presentation
Let’s do this ??
? @therussellellis pic.twitter.com/YHRZiiPhG8— Chris Froome (@chrisfroome) July 6, 2018
“But I also recognize that the build up to this race has not been the easiest – for me, for the race organizers and for you all – the cycling fans and people of France who are the heartbeat of the Tour.
“An abnormal reading for my asthma medication from last year’s Vuelta in Spain raised legitimate questions – not least from me. Monday’s decision from cycling’s governing body the UCI and from WADA (the World Anti-Doping Agency) confirmed that I had done nothing wrong. I hope that this helps lift the shadow of doubt. Most importantly it draws a line that allows us all to focus on bike racing.
“That said I recognize there are complex issues involved that cannot be boiled down into a single sentence. I know the French public is fair minded. And I know many of you will not have been following the detail of the case so I wanted to set out the facts very simply so you can reach your own judgements.
“I meant it when I stood on the podium on the Champs Elysee and said I would never dishonour the yellow jersey and my results would stand the test of time. I won’t – and they will, I love this sport. And I am passionate about the Tour. To win any race based on a lie would – for me be a personal defeat. I could never let that happen,” he added.
? Tour de France – Stage 1
? Noirmoutier-en-l’Ile ▶️ Fontenay-Le-Comte
? 201 km
? 10h45
? 11h
? 1x Cat. 4
? ≈ 15h50#TDF2018 pic.twitter.com/H4RB7Vh4NB— Le Tour de France (@LeTour) July 7, 2018
