Team Sky fear Chris Froome ‘data hack’, probe launched

The 2013 champion’s training data was posted on social media, with some users claiming that his figures were abnormal.

Froome has always denied using performance-enhancing drugs.

“We think someone has hacked into training data and got Chris's files,” said Team Sky boss Sir Dave Brailsford on Monday’s rest day.

“We've got some legal guys on the case. I would never mention a name but ethically and morally if you are going to accuse someone of doping, then don't cheat.”

Froome has already branded his critics “clowns” and said any attempts to interpret power data was futile as it does not include variable factors including wind speed and temperature.

“What I’ve seen from the clowns interpreting data saying, ‘You did this for ten minutes so you have to be doping’— it’s so unhelpful,” he said.

“It can’t paint the full picture. If the UCI want to collect data and a way of explaining what’s humanly possible without doping, then I’d be very happy.

“But to release it into the world for people to rip apart and say, ‘on this 15-minute section he was too fast’ ... you don’t get wind speed, temperature, how hard you’ve ridden, all those variable factors.”

The Brit leads this year’s edition of the Tour by 12 seconds ahead of Tuesday’s 10th stage, a 167-kilometre run which concludes with a sapping 1,134-metre climb to a summit finish.

Brailsford admitted that further impressive performances from his man will lead to inevitable questions about cheating.

“It's part of the game, isn't it?" he said. “If he does well [on Tuesday], the rest of the Tour it's 'how do you know he's not doping?'

“The question of how to prove a negative is always going to be a difficult one.

“I used to worry about it a lot more, but I don't any more. It's part of the game. Just try to be honest, tell the truth, be open.”