Belgian rider Tim Wellens says number of cyclists using inhalers would shock public and calls for end to 'grey areas'

Wellens’ comments come at a time when debate around the use of inhalers in the sport is fierce in the wake of Chris Froome’s adverse analytical finding

Tim Wellens has spoken out against inhalers and TUEs in cycling (Getty )

Tim Wellens, the Belgian cyclist who refused to apply for a therapeutic use exemption during the 2017 Tour de France, has said the public would be shocked by the number of riders who routinely use inhalers and has called for an end to “grey areas” in the sport.

The 26-year-old Lotto-Soudal rider decided to abandon last year’s Tour through illness, despite having the option to apply to use a corticosteriod via a TUE similar to those used by Bradley Wiggins prior to three key races during his career, which stirred controversy when revealed in 2016.

Wellens reiterated his strong stance for the abolishment of TUEs in cycling – something Team Sky’s Geraint Thomas has also backed – suggesting he would not want to benefit from the increased breathing capacity they provide, which he believes is “7 or 8 per cent”.

“I’m against inhalers, I have no desire to improve my breathing by 7 per cent in that way,” Wellens told Belgian radio station RTBF. ”When you start using inhalers then you can’t live without them. I refuse to be dependent... but a lot of riders use them.

“If the public knew the number of riders who have an inhaler... it’s huge.”

His comments come at a time when debate around the use of inhalers in the sport is fierce in the wake of Chris Froome’s adverse analytical finding for excess levels of the asthma drug Salbutamol found in a test result from the 2017 Veulta a Espana, which the Briton has been asked to explain to the sport’s governing body, the UCI. Froome maintains he stayed within the prescribed dosage limits.

“Sometimes you have to make decisions in life,” Wellens said. “When I was a young cyclist, I was on a team where five of my seven team-mates used an inhaler. I can accept that a person might need an inhaler, but not five out of seven.

“I would prefer things to be black or white, no grey areas. We all know that cortisone is in a grey area, it provides many benefits in terms of physical performance. When riders use it, it’s obviously annoying. It’s called cheating. Sometimes if you are unwell then you have to use it. But you can always decide to [abandon the race] instead.”