The UCI has called for fans to “respect the yellow jersey” and condemned the abuse of riders during the Tour de France. Chris Froome had a cup of urine thrown at him during stage 14 and fellow Team Sky rider Richie Porte was reportedly spat on by a crowd member. The Australian also said he had received “a full-on punch” during stage 10 of the race.
Cycling’s governing body released a joint statement with the Tour’s organisers, the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) to condemn the action of a minority of supporters. The statement said: “The peloton of the 102nd edition of the Tour de France enters a decisive phase of the race as it enters the Alps, where the riders require optimal conditions in order to perform to their best before arriving in Paris on Sunday.
“UCI president Brian Cookson and Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme ask crowds along the roadside to respect every rider, and the integrity of the riders and in particular the yellow jersey.
“The UCI and ASO publicly regretted the aggressions suffered by the leader of the overall classification from some spectators during the 14th stage between Rodez and Mende, while at the same time thanking the large majority of the public which respects the athletes.”
