Sir Chris Hoy has defended Chris Froome against doping speculation, claiming the Tour de France leader has been put in a no-win situation.
Froome has been asked repeated questions about doping ever since taking the yellow jersey on Ax 3 Domaines a week and a half ago, and his patience began to crack as Monday's rest-day press conference was again dominated by the subject.
But Hoy argues that Froome's performances so far in this Tour have been nothing less than predicted from the favourite.
"It is infuriating," the six-time Olympic gold medallist said on Sky Sports News. "If he wasn't performing they'd be asking why he wasn't performing and criticising him for not succeeding.
"And if he does succeed, well, there's a reason for it and it's something suspicious."
Hoy believes Froome is unfairly paying the price of cycling's past failings.
He said: "It is all because of the people before him who have cheated, the Lance Armstrongs, the (Alberto) Contadors, people who have tested positive or been involved in a drugs scandal.
"The frustration may immediately be with the people asking the questions but the frustration really is with the athletes who have caused this situation to happen in the past."
Although Froome's cool facade has wobbled in the past few days, first when his stunning performance atop Mont Ventoux on Sunday was not celebrated but questioned, and then again yesterday when he was almost involved in a collision with Contador on the approach to Gap, Hoy has backed Froome to keep it together and defend his lead - four minutes and 14 seconds from Bauke Mollema and 4m 25s from Contador - all the way to Paris on Sunday.
"I think he will win," Hoy said. "Barring an accident or something really unforseen I think he will do it, but it's the Tour and anything can happen.
"But four minutes is a long time and he has got a great team behind him and supporting him as he defends the yellow jersey.
"But until he crosses that finish line in Paris anything can happen."
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