Millar jumps to Froome's defence in doping debate
Source: AFP |
July 8, 2013, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
BRITISH rider David Millar yesterday hit out at those who have cast doubt on the achievements of Chris Froome and Team Sky, insisting that the sport has changed greatly since the dark days of the last decade in which the US Postal team dominated the sport.
Irishman Dan Martin won the ninth stage of the 168.5 kilometer race from Saint-Girons to Bagneres-de-Bigorre. Dane Jakob Fuglsang was second and Poland's Michal Kwiatowski finished third. Froome retained the race leader's yellow jersey.
Millar took to Twitter in the aftermath of Saturday's eighth stage of the Tour de France, won in spectacular fashion by Froome, to say that he believes Sky is clean and "don't deserve to have mud thrown at them".
However, Millar also admits that the British outfit could help itself by being more transparent in its practices, at a time when cycling is seeking to shake off the ghosts of the past and move on in the wake of the Lance Armstrong scandal.
Millar, now with the American outfit Garmin, said that Froome's natural talent is "off the scale" and urged journalists to let him focus on winning the race rather than calling his credibility into question.
But he urged Sky to take a lead from his own team in the way it confronts the issue of doping in the sport. "They could be more open and not be so defensive at times, but you have to understand we are a professional sport and we are competing against each other," said the 36-year-old. "It's one thing satisfying the sceptics, but it's also about being professional and wanting to win races.
"For them (Sky) it's very difficult, it's a tightrope they're walking, trying to be transparent, but also keeping its trade secrets."
Irishman Dan Martin won the ninth stage of the 168.5 kilometer race from Saint-Girons to Bagneres-de-Bigorre. Dane Jakob Fuglsang was second and Poland's Michal Kwiatowski finished third. Froome retained the race leader's yellow jersey.
Millar took to Twitter in the aftermath of Saturday's eighth stage of the Tour de France, won in spectacular fashion by Froome, to say that he believes Sky is clean and "don't deserve to have mud thrown at them".
However, Millar also admits that the British outfit could help itself by being more transparent in its practices, at a time when cycling is seeking to shake off the ghosts of the past and move on in the wake of the Lance Armstrong scandal.
Millar, now with the American outfit Garmin, said that Froome's natural talent is "off the scale" and urged journalists to let him focus on winning the race rather than calling his credibility into question.
But he urged Sky to take a lead from his own team in the way it confronts the issue of doping in the sport. "They could be more open and not be so defensive at times, but you have to understand we are a professional sport and we are competing against each other," said the 36-year-old. "It's one thing satisfying the sceptics, but it's also about being professional and wanting to win races.
"For them (Sky) it's very difficult, it's a tightrope they're walking, trying to be transparent, but also keeping its trade secrets."
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