Chris Froome confirms he testified to CIRC

Chris Froome has confirmed that he was one of the riders who talked to the Cycling Independent Reform Commission (CIRC), whose report into doping in the sport is due next week.

The Team Sky rider waived his right to anonymity by telling the Daily Mail that he sat down with CIRC to give his perspective on the state of cycling at present.

And Froome insists the sport is cleaning up its act, with positive drugs tests simply proving the detection systems are working.

“I sat down with CIRC after the end of the season last year and spent a good few hours with them, just talking about the state of the sport and how, from a rider’s point of view, they can try to improve on things,” he said.

“I think the sport is definitely making a lot of headway in trying to improve its image and putting the past behind us.

“And one thing I take a lot of confidence from is the fact that these guys are getting caught. It means the testing is working, which is obviously what you want. It’s not comforting to know that you are racing against guys who are breaking the rules. But if they are getting caught then at least you know the system is working.”

Froome will line up against Vincenzo Nibali and his Astana teammates for the first time since the UCI requested their licence to be withdrawn at the Tirreno-Adriatico next Wednesday.

But the 2013 Tour de France champion says he cannot be worried about whether other riders are doping when he races.

“You can’t be going to the start line looking at the guys next to you and wondering whether you’re racing against something who is turbo charged," he added.

“You can’t do that because if you do you’ve probably lost the race before you’ve even started. It’s not even a factor in my mind on that start line.

“I’m just racing whoever is there and I’ve got to think we are all on an even playing field or it’s game over for me before the race has even started.”