Froome. Is he clean?

There has been lots of talk whether Team Sky and particularly Froome are clean.

How did he ride away so easily? His stolen numbers suggest off the chart performance? He never used to be that good? Don't like the bloke and he's not one of us so he must be cheating!

Well folks, it's really not that simple.

Point #1 this is not new, he's been around for some time. He's been the strongest rider for the last 4 years. In 2012 supporting Brad he was the strongest rider and has been ever since. 

Point #2 the whole Sky team are strong this year as they have been since their intro in 2011. To suggest Froome is cheating is to suggest that Richie Porte and Geraint Thomas are also. To add, there is consistency both with the team and with Froome's performances in the post Lance era.

Point #3 Contador is a case in point.  In the Tour there is a clear disconnect between his pre and post drug ban performances. I saw with my own eyes how he rode in the Alps at Verbier and later on Mont Ventoux in 2009, destroying the field. He has never gotten back to those levels. Froome is the other way around and in his mid 20s he found a team and improved which is totally normal. A GC contender is almost always in their late 20s and is why the best young rider jersey is not an < 18 or 21 age category.

Point #4 Team Sky have raised the bar in sport science. They have been super smart in their approach. David Brailsford masterminded the UK track revolution and single handedly is the reason why Team GB have cleaned up at the last few Olympics (excuse the pun). The other teams have been slow to react and have been amateurish in their approach. 

Point #5 Froome climbs like no other.  His cadence is > 110 revolutions per minute. He does not crank like the other riders. *For the record his style is horrible.

Point #6 take time to listen to Froome.  He speaks with integrity. Ok he is boring but if I were him I would be exactly the same. Whilst we cannot say that because he is a genuine guy he is not a cheat, it provides further support.

Point #7 the stolen numbers. Chris Broadman spoke eloquently about how the numbers are being oversimplified and that it is rediculous and impossible to triangulate that with doping based on predicted numbers. He hit the nail on the head that 'they' did not understand cycling, were drawing over simplyfied conclusions to complex issues and that if we go down that path we might as well pack up the Tour right now.

Point #8 let's please remind ourselves that we are in the brave new 'post Lance' world of cycling where scrutiny is at an all time high (pun #2).

Point #9 do we really think that Froome, Brad, Cadel and others would risk everything, their status, credibility, financial stability, relationship with their family and kids for the sake of winning the Tour through cheating? Do they really want to be the next Lance? Someone who has lost everything and been thrown on the scrap heap, really? Do they really want to live that lie? Risk their entire livelihood? I really don't think so.

I remember reading Brad's article back in 2012 and it is a compelling read - it hits home what riders are risking: http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2012/jul/13/bradley-wiggins-dope-drugs

The attached Lance tweet is simply unhelpful and serves as a timely reminder why Lance needs to be removed from the sport altogether. 2 months ago I met Geoff Thomas (former Crystal Palace captain) and asked him about Lance riding the Tour with him ahead of the pros. He was quick to defend Lance's charity record and that by him riding alongside would help his own charity cause. I went away and thought Ok fine. To see this tweet now makes me want to vomit.

I am happy to be proven wrong but don't think it acceptable to make wide sweeping accusations. It's just way too easy and whilst we cannot gurantee that the sport is 200% clean it is equally naive to think that every successful rider is taking performance enhancing drugs. If you are one of the 'DOUBTERS' rest assured you are directly contributing to ruining the sport I know.

Ultimately only time will tell but it's really imporant that in the meantime we give Froome the benefit of the doubt for the points I raised above particularly so when there is little heat let alone smoke.