Team Sky raise the alarm as Tour de France fans turn violent
Sports director blames French media for whipping up negative sentiment against Chris Froome's team
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

It's not just rival teams trying to stop Team Sky (opens in new tab) winning the Tour de France (opens in new tab) — punches and Coca-Cola cans have been thrown in their direction too as they try to deliver Chris Froome (opens in new tab) to a victory in Paris.
Richie Porte, Froome's mountain helper, received a blow to his ribs while racing up the La Pierre-Saint-Martin on Monday. The hit came after he did his turn for Froome, who attacked from 6.4 kilometres out to win the stage (opens in new tab).
"I don't think I deserve to be punched just for doing my job," Porte told Fairfax Media (opens in new tab).
Porte added that the punched shocked and hurt him, but he had to continue to the line. He finished the stage in second place, just ahead of Nairo Quintana.
Team Sky's management have suggested that the attitude of the French media is one cause of the sometimes poisonous atmosphere at the roadside. Innuendo about doping has been rife. Former professional Laurent Jalabert said during the stage on Tuesday: "It feels a little uncomfortable seeing the ease of Sky when contrasted with the distress experienced by the first three of the Tour last year."
Jalabert won several one-day races, the Vuelta a España and the mountains jersey in the Tour de France, but tests later revealed that he used EPO (opens in new tab).
“It's really disappointing,” Froome said about Jalabert. "These guys are setting the tone for the public, for the fans.”
>>> Richie Porte to leave Team Sky 'to become team leader' (opens in new tab)
Jalabert’s words might have helped propel cans of Coca-Cola, unopened, at Team Sky's car on Friday.
"It's terrible. Some French media are over doing it. They are asking questions that they can ask, but when you do that you put the doubts in the public,” Sky sports director, Frenchman Nicolas Portal, told Cycling Weekly.
"This person should be careful because with the microphone they have power. Thousands of people are listening. I've told the French press what I think of Jalabert. I don't think they are doing a good job in explaining what we are doing. He can do what he wants, and apparently he is doing a good job, but I don't think this is doing a good job to tell the public that we may be doing something [illegal]."
>>> Cycling quiz: Chris Froome in 10 questions (opens in new tab)
In the last two days, there have been more police officers standing around Sky's bus. It is unclear if this is just because Froome is wearing the yellow jersey, or whether there is genuine fear for Sky's riders.
Portal said that even if his riders do not admit to it, they could be concerned and even "scared" about possible violence.
"I hope the public will chill out. It's pretty hard, especially for me since I'm French," Portal said.
"There's nothing they can do — there is just a barrier and nothing else on the road [to stop anyone]. Anyone can cross the road and punch someone."
In 2013, a fan hit Peter Kennaugh at the Tour, but such incidents are hardly unheard of — in 1975, a fan punched Eddy Merckx on the Puy de Dome climb.
Get the inside line on Team Sky from team mechanic Gary Blem
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
-
Grab an Garmin Edge 530 discount while you still can - plus more in Amazon UK's Spring Sale
We've picked out a small - but perfectly formed - selection of the best Amazon deals right now
By Stefan Abram • Published
-
'It's the ultimate drop bar bike' - Mosaic Cycles introduces new RT-1 model
Mosaic, the builders of custom titanium dream bikes, today unveiled a "sleeker, more capable" version of its flagship road racer, the RT-1
By Anne-Marije Rook • Published
-
Tom Pidcock: 'It won’t be difficult to beat my 2022 Classics results'
Ineos Grenadiers' multi-format star ready for central role in one-day racing this Spring
By Adam Becket • Published
-
No Egan Bernal at Paris-Nice as knee injury disrupts season
Former Tour de France champion "OK" but return is unknown at the moment
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Global backers in talks over new British WorldTour team
Former management of Ribble Weldtite courting interest in new project
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
'I remember the crowds more than anything': Tom Pidcock recalls his Alpe d'Huez Tour de France stage win
Our male rider of the year, Tom Pidcock, talks us through the highs and lows of his 2022 campaign
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Leo Hayter, Cycling Weekly's rising star of 2022, talks through his season in the spotlight
We caught up with the winner of the "Baby Giro" to hear all about the win in Italy and his dream move to Ineos Grenadiers
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers release 'visibly fast' 2023 jersey
Navy is replaced with red as British team changes its look
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Where next for Mark Cavendish after B & B Hotels-KTM's collapse?
We look at where the ‘Manx Missile’ could find himself next after the collapse of B & B Hotels-KTM
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
‘It’s a good thing and shows progression of the sport’ - Ben Swift hails changes at British Cycling academy
Ineos Grenadier says putting academy riders in with development teams will encourage development of many skills
By Tom Thewlis • Published