Sky Sports Channel Logo

Cycling News

Home

  • Live on Sky
  • Video
  • Get Sky Sports
  • Sky Bet

Lance Armstrong admits blame for Chris Froome's doping questions

By Orla Chennaoui

Last Updated: 16/07/15 11:30am

Lance Armstrong was speaking exclusively to Sky Sports News HQ

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Sky Sports

Lance Armstrong was speaking exclusively to Sky Sports News HQ
Lance Armstrong was speaking exclusively to Sky Sports News HQ

Lance Armstrong says it is his fault that Chris Froome has to answer questions about doping at the Tour de France and admits he "feels bad about it".

Armstrong was speaking exclusively to Sky Sports News HQ upon his arrival in southern France, ahead of his participation in a charity ride taking place one day ahead of the Tour.

Froome faced questions doping after stretching his overall race lead to 2min 52sec with a commanding victory on Tuesday's 10th stage.

Chris Froome leads the Tour de France by 2min 57sec
Chris Froome leads the Tour de France by 2min 57sec

Armstrong said: "I know what that is like for a guy like Chris to be in the middle of the Tour, to deal with the constant questions, which of course he is, and to be fair and to be honest, a lot of that is my fault.

"A lot of people ask those questions, they see his style, they see his performance, they see the time gaps, they see the cadence and they think, 'This guy is just another one of them'.

"I feel bad about that. Whoever is winning the Tour de France in 2015 should not be answering questions about someone who won it 10 or 15 years ago. That's just not legitimate; that’s just not fair."

Armstrong is set to take part in a charity ride taking place one day ahead of the Tour de France
Armstrong is set to take part in a charity ride taking place one day ahead of the Tour de France

Although sympathising with Froome, Armstrong said he did not regret posting an ambiguous tweet in the wake of the Briton’s win on stage 10 that read: "Clearly Froome/Porte/Sky are very strong. Too strong to be clean? Don't ask me, I have no clue."

Armstrong insisted he was merely answering questions from his followers and was disappointed with the way his words had been interpreted.

He added: "Anything I have to say about a bike race is going to be closely scrutinised and questioned. I get those questions all the time and the question is, 'Can this be believed? Are these guys clean? Is everybody like you, Lance?'

Froome destroyed all of his closest rivals when winning stage 10
Froome destroyed all of his closest rivals when winning stage 10

"I was simply answering a question. I put it out there as, 'Don't ask me that question because I don't know that answer'. I tried to clarify it even later, saying, 'I don't have any credibility on that issue, I know that, and furthermore, I don't really care'. That's not my role to opine about that.

"I had other comments and thoughts about the stage that I said, but by simply throwing it out there that I don't know, don't ask me, that somehow translated into, 'These guys are dirty', which is the last thing I want to say because I don't know that.

"I have no regrets [about the tweets]. I was totally transparent and honest about it. I regret other tweets in my life but not those."

Trending

  • 1
    Transfer Centre LIVE! Latest on Gordon, Zaniolo, Porro and more!
  • 2
    Arsenal make £60m bid for Brighton's Caicedo
  • 3
    Papers: Arsenal told price to land Zubimendi | Kane and Son to Newcastle?
  • 4
    England remove South Africa openers to halt fast start from hosts LIVE!
  • 5
    Dyche expected to be appointed Everton manager
  • 6
    Why is Caicedo in demand?
  • 7
    Why 'undefendable' Madueke can star for Chelsea
  • 8
    Neville tells Antony to be more like Mahrez - but how do they compare?
  • 9
    Arteta vs Guardiola: Time for master and apprentice to swap roles?
  • 10
    FA Cup build-up LIVE! Klopp, Ten Hag speak to media | Give us your predictions!
  • Video
  • Latest News

Around Sky Sports

Sky Sports

Get Sky Sports

Your sport. Your Way.

NOW

Stream on NOW

Live stream Sky Sports with a NOW Sports Membership

Competitions win prizes

Win Win Win

Win in our free to enter competitions section

  • Home
  • Sports
    • Football
    • F1
    • Cricket
    • Rugby Union
    • Rugby League
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • NFL
    • Tennis
    • Racing
    • Darts
    • NBA
    • Netball
    • GAA
    • MMA
    • More Sports
  • Scores
  • Video
  • TV
  • Sky Bet
  • Games
  • More
    • Transfer Centre
    • Live on Sky
    • Get Sky Sports
    • TV Shows
    • TV Guide
    • Sky Go
    • Now TV
    • Kick It Out
    • Black Lives Matter
    • Sky Zero
    • Podcasts
    • Mobile
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Contact Us
    • Work @ Sky Sports
    • Terms & Conditions
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Sky Sports
    • Get Sky Sports
    • Sky Sports Apps
    • Sportinglife.com
    • TEAMtalk.com
    • Football365.com
  • Partners
    • Sky Bet
    • Fantasy Football
    • Super 6
    • Planet Rugby
    • Golf365
    • Planet F1
    • Cricket365
  • Sky Sports Channels
    • Sky Sports Main Event
    • Sky Sports Premier League
    • Sky Sports Football
    • Sky Sports Cricket
    • Sky Sports Golf
    • Sky Sports Racing
    • Sky Sports F1
    • Sky Sports Action
    • Sky Sports Arena
    • Sky Sports News
    • Sky Sports Mix
  • More Sky Sites
    • Sky.com
    • Sky News
    • Sky Group
    • Sky For Businesses
    • Work @ Sky Sports
    • NOW TV
    • Sky Communal TV
    • Bigger Picture
    • Store Locator
    • Advertise With Us
    • Sky TV Accessories
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy & Cookies Notice
  • Privacy Options
  • Accessibility Information
  • Contact Us

Sky Sports Channel Logo ©2023 Sky UK