Cyrille Guimard blasts Froome and Team Sky for riding Ruta del Sol

French Ex-Professional and Team Manager, Cyrille Guimard, launches a scathing attack on Froome and Team Sky

The 71-year-old spoke to French newspaper L’Equipe about Froome starting next week’s Ruta del Sol.

The four-time Tour de France winner, who denies breaking any rules, could be stripped of his Vuelta a Espana title and face a ban of up to two years. Froome returned a AAF, Adverse Analytical Finding after a urine test he took during the Vuelta a Espana in September, showed excessive levels of Salbutamol. His levels of asthma drug Salbutamol were twice the legally permitted limit.

In cases where a permitted substance is found, above allowed levels, an automatic ban does not apply. Instead, riders and their teams are asked by the UCI for more information. They are effectively given the opportunity to explain why the levels were higher than allowed. Froome, Team Sky and their lawyers are working to provide an explanation.

But many in the sport, including the UCI President, professional riders, believe Team Sky should withdraw Chris Froome from racing until his case is resolved.

Both Team Sky and Chris Froome have ignored these, insisting Froome is innocent and has the right to race on, and announced his intention to start his 2018 campaign at the Ruta del Sol next week

However, Cyrille Guimard believes it is a self-absorbed decision with no thought for cycling’s image, “they are playing with the rules in a provocative and cynical way, Froome and his team are putting one over on us all,” he told the newspaper. “The act of riding the Ruta del Sol is an act of self-importance, they absolutely don’t care about the disastrous image that they are presenting of cycling and to cycling fans.”

He believes Team Sky want to draw out the case because the longer it goes on the greater the chance of a loophole emerging that would clear Froome.

“Sky are in the process of putting a well-oiled communication system in place. But nobody should be fooled,” he said. “Chris Froome is going to become a media star at the Ruta del Sol and, in time, a victim. The cameras of the world will be there. He will never have had so much publicity. This is the part of it that shocks me the most. They are making Froome a star on the roads of the Ruta del Sol; it’s scandalous!"

He believes Froome’s decision to race could come with a heavy price tag, "The other riders could refuse to ride alongside him, or refuse anti-doping controls until the case is resolved.”