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cycling: Degenkolb on the Froome case: "It can't be that difficult"

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Rapier butt Froome

Cycling: We wait and wait and wait. In the case of Chris Froome (Sky), nothing has changed since the conspicuous test on September 7th. For months, Sky and Froome have been working with their lawyers to develop a strategy against a possible ban. The waiting is getting on the nerves of almost everyone involved. John Degenkolb (Trek-Segafredo) has now commented on the Chris Froome case to the German Press Agency on the sidelines of the Mallorca Challenge.

Degenkolb wants an official decision

The salbutamol affair surrounding Chris Froome is shaking the cycling world. Even more than the conspicuous test itself, however, the ongoing uncertainty is causing widespread confusion. Fans, teams, and riders are all unhappy with the current situation, as is the UCI under President David Lappartient. The Frenchman recently stated that the Froome case could drag on for over a year. Any victories the Briton achieves during this time would be retroactively revoked if he is suspended. Lappartient called on Team Sky to suspend Froome. But even then, nothing has happened. More and more riders are now speaking out on the issue, including Wout Poels (Sky), Romain Bardet (AG2R), and now John Degenkolb (Trek-Segafredo).

“It is not conclusive to me why there is still no official decision. Whether he's going to be banned or not, it just has to be clear. It can't be that difficult."

How long can Chris Foome take his time?

The whole issue surrounding the Froome case only seems to exist because there don't seem to be any deadlines. Almost five months have passed since Chris Froome was tested at the Vuelta a Espana with abnormal values. Nothing has happened since then, except that the driver and his team were informed and the media got wind of it more or less involuntarily. Officials say the Brit is working on a strategy to explain the high values. But if it takes you more than five months to bend an explanation, hardly anyone will really believe it. As long as Froome has not explained himself, the UCI does not appear to be allowed to act. And Froome? He drives and drives and drives...

Tags:sword buttdopingFroomeNewsSky

About Michael Behringer

Cycling with all its tactics, stage analyses, placements and forecasts are Michael Behringer's great passion. In 1996 he tracked his first Tour de France. Since then he has observed almost every race. His passion for cycling has been with him for over two decades. There is no end in sight.