Tour de France: Sir Dave Brailsford wants UCI experts installed in teams

Team Sky principal Sir Dave Brailsford has called on the International Cycling Union to step up the fight against doping by installing "independent experts" in professional teams.

Brailsford issued the plea while appearing on the French television channel France 2 after Team Sky rider Chris Froome retained his 3min 10sec lead of the Tour de France on stage 15.

The French media has been particularly sceptical of Froome’s performances at the Tour so far and Brailsford attempted to persuade doubters that Team Sky’s riders are clean by suggesting new anti-doping measures.

He said: "I understand people asking, 'Do we believe in Chris Froome?' How can we find a test where we say, 'We are clean'? We have responsibility to be transparent.

"It is not possible to prove a negative. I can't. But I can work with the UCI, independent experts.

"I would like the UCI to invest in individuals and put them into each team 24/7. That would prove we do nothing. I'm ready to do it."

Brailsford also suggested the introduction of a “power passport” to match the biological passport, which monitors cyclists’ blood.

Brailsford mentioned the idea after Pierre Sallet, a doctor of physiology, analysed Froome’s victory on stage 10 of the Tour and calculated his power in watts per kilogram to be 7.04, which he claimed is an "abnormally high profile".

Brailsford countered by saying the "mathematical model" was "only an estimation", and added that regular testing would be a more accurate measure.

He added: "Chris was in the same position in 2013, when everyone was asking, and we gave all his performance data. Now we have the bio passport.

"The UCI take it. Experts analyse it. If there are problems, independent experts check.

"Why not have a power passport? I have asked the UCI. If we had all his measurements from all the climbs he has done in training, we would be able to see the evolution.

"It is not fair what has been said. Chris is special. He has a special physiology. But he doesn't cheat."

Brailsford also defended Team Sky by saying he employs the same methods as he did when leading British track cyclists to eight golds medals at both the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympic Games.

He said: "There were no questions. We used the same methods and we have had the same results. There were no questions then. We understand the doubts, but we are ready to work with anyone."