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Tour de France 2013: Chris Froome can be role model for clean cycling says father

The Brit has been accused of doping on the way to victory

Agency
Monday 22 July 2013 14:35 BST
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Chris Froome, right, crosses the line in Paris with Sky team-mate David Lopez Garcia yesterday
Chris Froome, right, crosses the line in Paris with Sky team-mate David Lopez Garcia yesterday

Tour de France winner Chris Froome is the ideal person to help cycling shed its image as a sport riddled with drugs cheats, according to his father.

The 28-year-old made it back-to-back victories for Britain in the gruelling road race when he crossed the finish line in Paris last night, following on from Sir Bradley Wiggins' success 12 months earlier.

Froome has had to endure some tough lines of questioning from the media throughout the Tour on the subject of doping, particularly after his victory on stage 15 on top of Mont Ventoux.

The Kenya-born Team Sky rider has repeatedly spoken out against the use of drugs within his sport, and Clive Froome believes his son could help convince doubters that cycling is entering a new clean era.

"I can remember sending him an SMS after the press conference after his victory on Mont Vonteux the next morning saying I really couldn't believe the extent to which, rather than congratulate him, the media there were pointing fingers and bringing up the issue again," Froome senior said on Sky Sports News.

"He's been passionately opposed to the use of drugs ever since he was an adolescent.

"I think he really feels this year it could be a landmark for cycling.

"He's felt pretty indignant about the aspersions cast in his direction and I think he feels that with so many young riders, young clean riders, achieving positions in this year's Tour that it may be a turning point for cycling, which cycling so badly needs.

"And I think the cycling community will probably support him in that and continue to drive out those malevolent individuals who quietly on the side possibly still use drugs."

Froome senior also feels his son's success can have a further positive effect on the sport in Africa, having taken the yellow jersey from South African Daryl Impey, who became the first rider from the continent to wear the maillot jaune.

"I do, I really do (think it will help African cycling)," he said.

"And I think that rather than just making gestures in that direction, Chris will get actively involved in that direction to see that happens.

"Certainly I don't think South African cycling needs much encouragement. I think this is a huge Tour for them, and for Impey to go into yellow first and for Chris to take it on from there means a lot to South African cycling.

"And I think the sport is bound to take impetus from that."

PA

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