Chris Froome criticises UCI chief David Lappartient as dispute escalates over Team Sky rider’s decision to race

In a televised interview on Wednesday, the UCI president said it would be a ‘disaster’ for the sport if Froome was to compete at the Tour de France in July

Chris Froome has attracted plenty of attention since making his return (Getty)

Chris Froome has criticised the head of world cycling, David Lappartient, for speaking out in the media about the Briton’s decision to continue competing while a decision over his Salbutamol case is still pending.

Froome’s legal team are currently building a defence after he returned an adverse analytical finding during his 2017 Veulta a Espana triumph for the asthma drug. As Salbutamol is listed by Wada as a specified substance, Froome was not provisionally suspended and has chosen to continue racing – he is currently at the Tirreno-Adriatico, a World Tour race in Italy.

In a televised interview on Wednesday, the UCI president said it would be a “disaster” for the sport were the Team Sky rider to compete at the Tour de France in July while his case remained unresolved.

On Thursday Froome told Cycling News: “I saw [Lappartient’s] comments yesterday and I think what I would say is that I’m doing my best to follow the due process here, in this matter. I get that it’s a difficult situation, this was obviously meant to have been a confidential UCI process but this was made public, so that changes things.

“Given his concern for the reputation of the sport, I think it would be more sensible of him to raise his concerns in person or at least though the right channels as opposed to through the media. I’m obviously doing everything I can to get this resolved as quickly as possible, and just trying to keep my head down.”

Asked whether he believes a potential victory in the Tour de France would stand, even if he subsequently received a ban over the Salbutamol affair, Froome responded: “I think that’s what the rules read, yes. I think that’s what the Wada rules state.”