- News
- Reviews
- Bikes
- Accessories
- Accessories - misc
- Computer mounts
- Bags
- Bar ends
- Bike bags & cases
- Bottle cages
- Bottles
- Cameras
- Car racks
- Child seats
- Computers
- Glasses
- GPS units
- Helmets
- Lights - front
- Lights - rear
- Lights - sets
- Locks
- Mirrors
- Mudguards
- Racks
- Pumps & CO2 inflators
- Puncture kits
- Reflectives
- Smart watches
- Stands and racks
- Trailers
- Clothing
- Components
- Bar tape & grips
- Bottom brackets
- Brake & gear cables
- Brake & STI levers
- Brake pads & spares
- Brakes
- Cassettes & freewheels
- Chains
- Chainsets & chainrings
- Derailleurs - front
- Derailleurs - rear
- Forks
- Gear levers & shifters
- Groupsets
- Handlebars & extensions
- Headsets
- Hubs
- Inner tubes
- Pedals
- Quick releases & skewers
- Saddles
- Seatposts
- Stems
- Wheels
- Tyres
- Health, fitness and nutrition
- Tools and workshop
- Miscellaneous
- Tubeless valves
- Buyers Guides
- Features
- Forum
- Recommends
- Podcast
Bernard Hinault 2011 TDF launchBernard Hinault: “Froome is not part of the legend of the sport"
Bernard Hinault's name has been mentioned a few times in recent days after Chris Froome's Giro d'Italia win saw him join the Frenchman and Eddy Merckx as the only cyclists to have held all three Grand Tour titles at the same time. And it turns out, the Badger is not very happy about it at all.
“Froome does not belong on that list,” said Hinault, according to a report in Belgian newspaper Het Laaste Nieuws cited by The Guardian.
“He should never have been allowed to start in the Giro,” he continued, a reference to Froome's ongoing salbutamol case.
“Why do we have to wait so long for a verdict? With what right does Froome get so much time to find an explanation? Is it because Sky has so much money?”
The Team Sky rider returned an adverse analytical finding for twice the permitted level of the anti-asthma drug salbutamol at last year's Vuelta, which he won, making him the first man since Hinault in 1978 to win that race and the Tour de France in the same year.
Because salbutamol is a specified substance, rather than one that is completely banned, UCI rules permit Froome, who is confident of clearlng his name, while the rider seeks to provide an explanation about why the levels were so high.
The ongoing case has clearly left a bitter taste in Hinault's mouth, however.
“This is all very sad,” he said.
“Froome is not part of the legend of the sport, because what image does he give cycling?"
UCI president David Lappartient has said that there is now less than a 50 per cent chance of the case being resolved before the Tour de France starts in six weeks' time.
“He may also start the Tour later," Hinault added.
"It’s a real scandal. This has to stop.”
There could be worse to come for the 63-year-old in July.
Should Froome successfully defend his title, he would equal the record held jointly by Hinault, Merckx, Miguel Indurain and Jaques Anquetil.
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
Latest Comments
- wtjs 4 hours 2 min ago
In much the same way GoPro footage of someone driving an SUV doing it [RLJ] would send the road.cc comments section into a frenzy of "throw away...
- Beachboy 5 hours 5 min ago
And some of us have been cycling for 60 years, and are surprised by the number of electric motorcycles on the city streets and pavements. I still...
- David9694 5 hours 23 min ago
Braintree assistance dog 'scared' after being hit by car...
- hawkinspeter 9 hours 22 min ago
Typical - they just (Time)lord it over us
- mark1a 10 hours 19 min ago
The article is subtitled "the 10 bikes we're most excited for in 2025", I'm guessing that the normal everyday titanium bikes for normal riders are...
- hawkinspeter 10 hours 52 min ago
No - they're a more recent American import. We (UK) got them in 1876 and Europe waited until 1948 to get them (more specifically, in Stupinigi,...
- wtjs 11 hours 29 min ago
I've only ever snapped up Shimano components Subtle and subliminal 'pasta cranks' propaganda from HP!
- wtjs 11 hours 33 min ago
I wonder if Cheshire police officers are of the opinion that the driver is entitled to ram a cyclist off the road if he 'takes the lane' in those...
- David9694 14 hours 45 min ago
Driver warned to take his meds after 'spectacular crash'...
Add new comment
100 comments
what an arrogant pratt: 'He was respected by riders but feared by many for his temperament. If he felt slighted by another rider he would use his strength to humiliate the offender. To the public, Hinault was often arrogant, remote, and shy of publicity. When an interviewer suggested he devote more attention to fans, Hinault replied, "I race to win, not to please people". Sounds like LA to me
He's part of the legend of the sport regardless of the eventual Salbutamol result.
4 TdF wins and a Giro is enough to get his name up there with the greats.
He’s never one to sit on the fence is the Old badger.
One of the only Champion bike riders ‘not’ to have been caught I believe. Doesn’t mean that he was clean, I’d bet he’s abused the ‘then easier to cheat’ rules.
Apparently he refused a drugs test and got a one month ban.. things were certainly more lenient in those days!
No he just refused a dope test and received a one month ban as a consequence. These days, I think the consequences of that action would be much more severe.
Whilst he has a point it is unfortunately not based on anything other than his personal feelings and self importance.
We are only in this situation because of someone leaking Froome's result. Due process rightly or wrongly would have not disclosed anything publicly untill it was fully resolved one way or another.
Any number of other pro's could be in the same situation but we do not know. (I am not sure this is in the intrest of the sport...)
Also Froome has no other rights than any other rider. Its another argument if legal resources make it easier to avoid a sanction and points to bad rule making.
I find it troubling that those involved in the sport (not just Hinault) seem to wish that rules they have no problem with for many years be swept away in the name of a good salacious trial by media.
Sort your house out UCI! When doing so provide a transparent platform that both protects and provides no shadow to dirty riders.
I don't disagree with the sentiments.... but I'm not sure that the pro cyclists from his era should be the ones casting the stones.
So Hinault, who I believe failed drug tests during his career, doesn’t like the fact that another rider has joined him and that Belgian rider who also failed drug tests on the list of all time greats. It is the UCI who are at fault, not Froome, if the rules allow him to continue to race then you can’t blame him if he does.
Come on "The Badger" !
Dude's got a point. It's taken a while, but I'm finally starting to give up on pro-cycling. This is just farcical.
Dope/caught/banned I can live with (even with a return to the sport), but this is taking the piss out the intelligence of cycling fans. As for the claim that Froome shouldn't be questioned over the win, fuck off!
Pages