Chris Froome: physiological testing is not about ending doping debate

Chris Froome says his plans to undergo physiological testing predate the doping allegations made against him at the Tour de France.

In an interview with the BBC, Froome insisted he'd been planning such tests since the start of the season, rather than in response to his detractors during his successful three weeks in France this July.

The Brit was subjected to verbal and physical abuse by spectators during the Tour as well as being the subject of repeated innuendo in the media.

"I wanted to do this at the start of the season, even before all this came up during the Tour," he said. "It’s physiological testing for me to understand what makes me the athlete I am.

"A lot of people have been asking about a VO2 max test and we have got plans in place to get some testing done, but I’m not going to rush into it – I’ll do it when the time is right – but I’m certainly open to it."

But Froome says undergoing such testing is not an attempt to silence his doubters, but more for him to understand his body more.

With cycling trying to move away from its chequered past, the Team Sky rider believes someone needs to be the face of clean cycling and as a two-time Tour de France winner he is happy to put himself forward.

"My goal is not to win people over," he continued. "I do want to be a spokesman for clean cycling. I believe someone has to stand up and speak for the current generation and I’m happy to do that. I’m happy to release information when I can and show people that they can trust in current performances.

"From my point of view, if you can win the Tour de France clean then you can win any bike race clean."

Check out Chris Froome's Tour de France bike