STORYLINE:

With all three favourites taking a fall in the last few weeks, Tour de France Director Christian Prudhomme says the outcome of the French classic race has never been so uncertain.

While four-time winner Chris Froome has announced he would not be in Brussels for the first stage on 6th July because of a broken leg, last year's Yellow Jersey Geraint Thomas confirmed his participation despite a crash in the Tour de Suisse.

Their Columbian teammate Egan Bernal also fell during training in early May.

Prudhomme also said on Wednesday that he doesn't like the use of real time data in the Tour de France.

The Frenchman said "Bluffing should exist or at least make a come back. At one point, a racing cyclist should be able to trick another into believing that he's not feeling that bad."

SHOTLIST: Boulogne-Billancourt, France. 19th June 2019 / File

Boulogne-Billancourt, France. 19th June 2019

1. 00:00 Close of Tour de France Director Christian Prudhomme giving interview

2. 00:05 Wide of Prudhomme during interview

Doncaster, England, UK. 1st May 2019

3. 00:11 Various of Chris Froome at Team Ineos launch

Boulogne-Billancourt, France. 19th June 2019

4. 00:31 SOUNDBITE (French): Christian Prudhomme, Tour de France Director:

"The Tour de France with Chris Froome and without is not the same thing. He has been the central character since, we'll say, 2013 – even if he was already here in 2012 and even if in 2012, with Bradley Wiggins, behind Bradley Wiggins, next to Bradley Wiggins, we talked about him a lot. So other scenarios are going to open up. There was this 'trident' with Chris Froome, Geraint Thomas and Egan Bernal – who wasn't expected in these circumstances with his fall that prevented him from taking part in the Giro – and this time, it's Geraint Thomas who fell during the Tour de Suisse. There's a succession of falls, three, involving the three leaders of the team (Ineos) just a few weeks apart as if bad luck never comes alone and hit the team hard. Of course, with that, things are going to change."

Paris, France. 29th July 2018.

5. 01:21 Thomas waving to crowd after Tour de France win

Cardiff, Wales, UK. 9th August 2018.

6. 01:30 Geraint Thomas holding Wales flag

Boulogne-Billancourt, France. 19th June 2019

7. SOUNDBITE (French): Christian Prudhomme, Tour de France Director:

"As a reference to the 100 years of the Yellow Jersey, we made sure that there were many mountain passes over 2000m and for the first time in the Tour de France's history, we will have 3 finishing lines over 2000m in altitude. The Tourmalet, Tignes and Val Thorens. We know that over 2000m the performances of each can change but we are nearly pretty sure that the Colombians won't be less strong at 2000m. And of course, Bernal is Columbian…"

8. 02:01 Mid of Prudhomme during interview

9. 02:07 SOUNDBITE (French): Christian Prudhomme, Tour de France Director:

"For me, it shouldn't be possible to have access in real time to the data from the power meters. That it should be possible to study it after the day's stage, yes, of course and the work done around the strategy is great and must be done in each team. Just not in real time. Bluffing should exist or at least make a come back. At one point, a racing cyclist should be able to trick another into believing that he's not feeling that bad. Power meters mean that racers never push themselves into the red zone which means that they can resist for a very very long time. But if you get into that red zone, because of your temperament or your instinct you let yourself be taken there, you will suffer later. These missteps are what make the competition exciting, it has fuelled the legend of these races and the Tour de France. We should be able to get that back and everybody should understand this. Now, of course, only victory matters and when you win or find yourself in a position to win, the only important thing is not the pleasure of your fans, but the victory."

10. 03:00 Mid of Prudhomme during interview

11. 03:05 SOUNDBITE (French): Christian Prudhomme, Tour de France Director:

"Some want to present the world of Sports as a perfect world but it will never be. Things really have changed but unfortunately, there are always idiots out there and we should catch them and do everything we can to stop them because it's essential that people trust the results. Cycling really has changed – I'm sure of that – but I realise this is not an ideal world and I'm conscious of the fact that because of these idiots we have to continue carrying the weight of doping and it's a legitimate question."

12. 03:29 Pan of Tour de France map and Prudhomme during interview

SOURCE: SNTV

DURATION: 03:38

STORYLINE:

Defending champion Geraint Thomas and Mark Cavendish spoke about the route for the 2019 Tour de France after it was announced in Paris on Thursday (25th October).

SCRIPTING INFORMATION:

Next year's Tour de France will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the showcase race's iconic yellow jersey.

With France emerging from the carnage of World War I, the Tour offered its beacon of hope to the war-ravaged nation.

In 1919, the race leader's yellow jersey — which has become cycling's most iconic symbol — was introduced.

"It came straight out of the trenches, born from the rubble of a wounded France," Tour race director Christian Prudhomme said Thursday, unveiling the route for the July 6-28 race.

Joining Prudhomme on stage were five-time Tour winners Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain.

Only four riders, including Jacques Anquetil, have won five Tours; Lance Armstrong was stripped of his seven titles for doping.

British rider Chris Froome will try to win his fifth title next year, but will have to depose his Team Sky teammate Geraint Thomas over the 3,460-kilometre (2,145-mile) race.

It features seven flat stages for sprinters, five hilly ones for all-rounders, seven mountain stages — five with summit finishes — one team time trial and one individual time trial.

The big climbs start in the Pyrenees before hitting the Alps.

The Tour has less of the Hors Categorie (Beyond Classification) climbs than before - those HC climbs are the most gruelling.

Instead, the race has more of the Category Two climbs — which are noticeably less difficult and favour attacking strategies.

Sky has won six of the past seven races, often controlling them in the mountains by easily repelling attacks.

This has given the team an aura of invincibility and the race a predictable tone.

With closer racing needed, the two time trials combine for a relatively low 54 kilometres, meaning specialists such as Froome have less chance to gain significant time advantages.

The race begins with a flat stage for sprinters around the city of Brussels and stays there the next day for the 27 kilometre team time trial.

After leaving Belgium, the Tour snakes through the Champagne and Lorraine regions.

Stage 4 for sprinters starts in Reims — the Champagne-producing city where 25 French kings were crowned in its cathedral.

With the race leaving the Alsace region, Stage 7 is the longest at 230 kilometres and made for sprinters.

The next day's stage is a hilly one, with several short but sharp climbs from Macon to Saint-Etienne.

The first rest day is July 16 in Albi in southern France, followed by a sprint stage before the Tour enters the high Pyrenees.

Stage 14 on July 20 features finishes with a climb up the Tourmalet pass, one of the most famed in Tour history.

Riders tackle three days of Alpine climbing on stages 18-20, featuring an ascent up the famed Galibier and imposing Iseran — standing 2,770 metres — and culminating with a relentless 33.4 kilometre trek up to the ski resort of Val Thorens.

After the weary peloton is flown towards Paris, the race ends the next day with its processional showcase stage on the Champs-Elysees.

Palais des Congres, Paris, France. 25th October 2018.

1. 00:00 Wide of cyclists walking on stage

2. 00:04 Mark Cavendish on stage

3. 00:10 Christopher Froome on stage

4. 00:19 Geraint Thomas on stage

5. 00:30 Froome and Thomas going back to their seats

6. 00:40 Geraint Thomas

7. 00:43 Christopher Froome

8. 00:47 Julian Alaphilippe

9. 00:51 Mark Cavendish

10. 00:57 Primoz Roglic

11. 01:01 Five-time Tour de France winners Bernard Hinault, Eddy Merckx, and Miguel Indurain, Raymond Poulidor, French former professional bicycle racer known as "The Eternal Second", and Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme

(UPSOUND Raymond Poulidor "Between us four we have won 15 Tour de France")

12. 01:09 Pan of Bernard Hinault, Eddy Merckx, Miguel Indurain, Raymond Poulidor on stage

13. 01:21 Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme arriving on stage with map of Tour de France 2019 on large screen

14. 01:26 SOUNDBITE (English): Geraint Thomas, 2018 Tour de France winner:

"It's solid, it's tough as ever, but it's hard to take in it all when it's so quick but there are some big stages, obviously a lot of climbs finishing over 2,000 metres, medium mountain days, you know, look hard as well so yes it's going to be a tough race."

15. 01:42 Close up Thomas' eyes

16. 01:47 SOUNDBITE (English) Geraint Thomas, 2018 Tour de France winner:

"Yeah I think that will be really nice, I've raced in Belgium quite a lot before in the past, so yeah it will be nice to go back and obviously team time trial which we are normally pretty good at. It will be nice to try and try and win that for a change, rather than second and third, which we always seem to be."

17. 02:03 Geraint Thomas talking to journalists

18. 02:07 SOUNDBITE (English): Mark Cavendish, British sprinter who has won 30 Tour de France stages:

"It's flat enough for me, it's 21 flat dates isn't it, but yes, when you've got six or seven spin opportunities that's good, that's fair and there is that, you know. We've got the climbs. I think although there's more climbing, probably more altitude metres, it's still probably (doesn't finish sentence).... 2018 was near-on impossible to reach Paris for most of the sprinters - just the position of the climbs and the layout of the stages whereas here, though there's more climbing there's actually a better opportunity for us. If we work hard, we get to Paris. This year, it didn't matter how hard you worked physiologically, we'd never get to Paris. I was sick in the end, but I don't think even if I was well I wouldn't have reached it. It's quite nice next year - I'm looking forward to it."

19. 02:54 Tour de France presentation on large screen

20. 02:59 Cavendish watching presentation

21. 02:17 SOUNDBITE (English): Mark Cavendish, British sprinter who won 30 Tour de France stages:

"Yeah I hope so. Just back on my bike now. Yeah, there's enough time to get health... to get fit, as long as I'm healthy so I'm monitoring my health at the minute and we'll see where I'm at."

(Journalist: What does the Tour de France mean?)

It's everything for me. It's everything for every bike rider. Even guys who don't ride the road, professional track riders always dreamt of one point or another riding the Tour de France. For me it's everything, it's my career, it's what I've built everything on. It's what I'll continue to do. It's the only reason I still ride a bike now."

22. 03:30 Cavendish leaving

23. 03:35 Wide pan from audience clapping to stage

23. 03:42 Audience listening

SOURCE: SNTV

DURATION: 03:47

STORYLINE:

Geraint Thomas shared his emotions after being officially crowned the 2018 Tour de France champion on Sunday (29th July), the first Welshman to win the prestigious race on the Champs-Elysees in Paris.

SCRIPTING INFORMATION:

Geraint Thomas won his first Tour de France title on Sunday, concluding his transformation from a support rider into a champion of cycling's biggest race.

The Welsh rider with Team Sky successfully defended his lead of 1 minute, 51 seconds over second-placed Tom Dumoulin in the mostly ceremonial final stage.

Thomas rode a yellow bike to match his yellow jersey and shared glasses of champagne with his team-mates during the casual ride into Paris before buckling down to keep up with the other leaders on the cobblestones of the Champs-Elysees.

Four-time champion Chris Froome, Thomas's team-mate, finished third, two minutes and 24 seconds behind, and rode next to Thomas as they crossed the line, with Froome applauding.

Thomas was a support rider during Froome's four victories but he emerged as Sky's strongest rider in this race when Froome crashed early on and couldn't keep up in the mountains.

The three-week race covered 3,351 kilometres (2,082 miles).

Paris, France. 29th July, 2018.

1. 00:00 Supporters applauding when cyclists pass by

2. 00:10 Geraint Thomas arrives at Sky autocar hours after he won the Tour de France

3. 00:24 SOUNDBITE (English): Geraint Thomas, 2018 Tour de France winner:

"You know we are always thinking about the process and what you do day after day and you never think at the outcome, the reaction. It all came flooding out at me quite literally yesterday. Yeah, like just see everyone, people I don't even know are over the moon about it and it's just so flattering and incredible."

4. 00:43 Supporters applauding with Welsh flag behind

5. 00:49 SOUNDBITE (English): Geraint Thomas, 2018 Tour de France winner:

"You know, I believed I could beat everyone on my day but to do it day after day and for three weeks, which is the first time I tried, yeah it's just insane. It's just been an amazing year and the confidence in riding on the crest of a wave, I am certainly going to enjoy this."

6. 01:04 Supporters clapping

7. 01:13 Geraint Thomas in front of the Sky autocar doing the Iceland 'Thunderclap' together with Sky Team manager Dave Brailsford

8. 01:37 Supporters clapping hands

9. 01:39 SOUNDBITE (English): Geraint Thomas, 2018 Tour de France winner:

"I had goose bumps coming down the Champs Elysees and the Welsh flags, all the support, it's just like 'I won the Tour, how has that all happened?'. It's just mental."

10. 01:52 Supporters with Welsh flag

11. 01:57 SOUNDBITE (English): Geraint Thomas, 2018 Tour de France winner:

"Like I said, you don't think about this part, you think about winning and crossing the line in the yellow jersey, but you're never thinking about all the people that are going to message you, the kind messages you are going to get and all the support and all the random people that are saying how they have cried seeing you win and they never met me. It's just insane. I really appreciate all this support. Obviously, it's been a tough Tour from that side of things, but the support has never shown any negativity and that means so much to us."

12. 02:27 Chris Froome with team-mates

13. 02:34 SOUNDBITE (English): Dave Brailsford, Team Sky manager:

"The great thing about this particular Tour de France is that both guys are so experienced, they are both very mature and they were fantastic together, you know, there was no conflict, they supported each other. What a class by Chris Froome. The moment he realized he was not going to win the race, straight he went to help his teammate. That's the sign of a great, great champion."

14. 03:00 Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas with team mates

15. 03:17 Sky autocar and supporters

16. 03:22 Geraint Thomas greeting supporters and entering in the Sky bus

SOURCE: SNTV

DURATION: 03:52

Nairo Quintana insisted on Monday (10th July) that he did not regret taking part in the Giro d'Italia, even if it has had a negative impact on his Tour de France campaign.

SCRIPTING INFORMATION:

After a frantic start to the 2017 edition of the Tour de France, Monday was a welcome rest day for the riders.

Stage 9 on Sunday (9th July) was one of the most eventful in the illustrious history of the event, with Geraint Thomas and Richie Porte among the big names to suffer serious crashes - the latter breaking both his pelvis and collarbone in a horror collision.

Three-time former Champion Chris Froome is currently in possession of the leader's yellow jersey.

Despite enjoying their rest day in the Dordogne region, Movistar team leader Nairo Quintana and his teammates went out on a two-hour cycle ride in the morning in a bid to keep the momentum of the Tour going.

Quintana is currently eighth in this year's Tour - 2 minutes and 13 seconds behind Froome.

He suffered badly during the mountain stage on Sunday, and admitted that he doesn't feel he has the power in his legs that he would like.

"I felt good yesterday and I continue to do so today, but it's evident that I'm not finding the same watts on my legs as I expected to do before the race. We all were convinced about my chances to shine right from the start, but at the end, it's only about the 'here' and 'now', and I didn't respond well."

The Colombian climber came into the Tour with plenty of optimism having changed his preparations, but may have to admit that the gamble of competing in the Giro D'Italia - where he finished second - has yet to pay off.

Stage 10 of the Tour de France will take place on Tuesday (11th July) between Perigueux and Bergerac.

Perigueux, France. 10th July, 2017

1. 00:00 Exterior hotel where the Movistar team is staying

2. 00:04 Hotel window

3. 00:08 Movistar vehicles in front of hotel

4. 00:12 Movistar sticker on side of vehicle

5. 00:16 Movistar mechanics truck

6. 00:20 Mechanic inside truck working on bike

7. 00:24 Bikes outside truck

8. 00:28 Bike wheels

9. 00:32 Bike frames with Tour de France bib numbers

10. 00:37 Wheels outside truck

11. 00:41 Team Movistar leader Nairo Quintana being greeted by fans

12. 00:52 Nairo Quintana taking pictures with fans

13. 00:58 Quintana walking towards truck

14. 01:04 Quintana and Movistar colleagues talking

15. 01:08 SOUNDBITE: (English) Andres Montoya, Tour de France fan from Colombia:

"It's amazing, it's amazing! You see only (the riders) on the TV and maybe if you are near to the race, the racers pass so fast. And now, here in the hotel, you meet the people, take the picture and make videos for Instagram. I don't know, it's the best, the best opportunity."

16. 01:32 Movistar riders Jonathan Castroviejo and Jasha Sutterlin on their bikes

17. 01:37 SOUNDBITE: (English) Claudia Stinfil, Tour de France fan from Colombia:

"Oh my god! Nairo Quintana! For us, as Colombians, we're very proud of him because he is one of our heroes, like a sport hero, you know, and the best thing about that guy, it's his humanity and he is a very humble guy."

18. 01:54 Movistar's Jasha Sutterlin signing autographs on Tour de France yellow jersey

19. 02:03 Movistar riders leaving hotel on their bikes

20. 02:19 Quintana leaving hotel on his bike

21. 02:29 Quintana arriving at press conference venue

22. 02:37 Quintana and Movistar's General Manager Eusebio Unzue at press conference table

23. 02:43 SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) Nairo Quintana, Team Movistar:

"Well, for my part, here we are on the first rest day. It is clear that now it is more about will than might. But we are still up for the fight, though, and we'll try to keep improving. We have lost some time until yesterday, and to be honest, it was only due to lack of energy. However, there's still a long way to go in this Tour, and we're so determined to do great things in what's to come."

24. 03:21 Cutaway cameraman

25. 03:27 SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) Nairo Quintana, Team Movistar:

(Q: If you had not taken part in the Giro d'Italia, would you be better placed today?)

"No, I do not regret it, it is clear that it is a bet you make and something different to do, we have many things to learn and many things that remain to one of what has happened and how we have always done for to get better."

26. 03:59 Cutaway photographer

27. 04:03 SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) Nairo Quintana, Team Movistar:

"I felt good yesterday and I continue to do so today, but it's evident that I'm not finding the same watts on my legs as I expected to do before the race. We all were convinced about my chances to shine right from the start, but at the end, it's only about the 'here' and 'now', and I didn't respond well."

28. 04:32 Cutaway

29. 04:36 SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) Nairo Quintana, Team Movistar:

(Q: Can you still make the podium?)

"Well right now I dare not say anything, but if I can have a good day, anything could happen."

30. 04:53 Press conference breaks up

SOURCE: SNTV

DURATION: 05:02

Reaction from Colombia's Egan Bernal, Wales's Geraint Thomas and Italy's Vincenzo Nibali after the Colombian is set to win the 2019 Tour de France.

Val Thorens, France. 27th July 2019.

1. 00:00 Egan Bernal arrives at press conference

2. 00:07 Cutaway

3.00:14 SOUNDBITE (Spanish): Egan Bernal, Team Ineos:

"To be honest, still I cannot believe it. I even didn't have time to analyse it. I think I need to arrive to the hotel, take a shower and to think after half and hour what's going on, because right now I cannot believe it. That's all… I cannot believe it. "

4. 00:55 SOUNDBITE (Spanish): Egan Bernal, Team Ineos:

"The message I want to send is that I feel really proud of being Colombian. I am very proud of becoming the first Colombian on winning the Tour de France tomorrow. I don't see the hour to come back and show this t-shirt. "

5. 01:12 SOUNDBITE (Spanish): Egan Bernal, Team Ineos:

(On how he will be welcoming in Colombia)

"I don't know yet, but I guess the people back in Colombia is very happy. It is our first Tour de France even though Colombia have always had good cyclist. Colombia have always producer very good climbers that have won Giro d'Italia and La Vuelta (Spain), but I don't really know what was happening with the Tour de France. It was a race that we could not win and luckily, tomorrow, I will be the first Colombian to achieve it. I am very proud of this. I am just 22-year-old. I cannot believe what happened. I cannot believe it. "

6. 01:52 SOUNDBITE (English): Egan Bernal, Team Ineos:

(About his climbing ability in the Alps)

"When I was climbing and when I was high in the mountains, I was feeling much better than in the first part of the climbs. So I think that was something good for me. Yeah I think that I am a climber and, when we were going up, kilometres and kilometres of climbing was better. So I don't know if it is a coincidence. But, yes for sure, for me living in Colombia it was an advantage."

7. 02:35 Various of Bernal leaving press conference

8. 03:19 Various of Geraint Thomas

9. 03:38 SOUNDBITE (English): Geraint Thomas, Team Ineos:

(About Egan Bernal's 2019 Tour de France victory)

"Yeah, it is incredible. I just said to him (Egan Bernal) 'just enjoy it, soak it all up and don't worry about crying because all real men cry'. No, it's amazing to be a part of - he is a phenomenal athlete, 22 (years-old). He has got amazing years ahead of him and it is just an honour to have been a part of this."

10. 04:00 SOUNDBITE (English): Geraint Thomas, Team Ineos:

(About Egan Bernal)

"Yeah, he (Egan Bernal) has just been improving all of the time and he was born to go uphill fast. He has the best team around him, to support him to do that, and I think he has got many, many great years in front of him. Yeah, he can continue to improve and (he has) a phenomenal career in front, and just keep a good team around him, and he has got a good support with his family and guys. I think he is a humble guy and yeah a very bright future (ahead for Egan Bernal)."

11. 04:37 SOUNDBITE (English): Geraint Thomas, Team Ineos:

(About Team INEOS finishing first and second in the general classification)

"To be one-two (Egan Bernal and Geraint Thomas in the general classification), the first time we have done that in the team (Dave Brailsford's team). Well, no, it is not, is it? Second time? Yeah, first time since 2012 (when Team Sky duo Bradley Wiggins won from Chris Froome). But, yeah, it is a pretty good achievement."

12. 04:52 Various of Vincenzo Nibali

13. 05:12 SOUNDBITE (Italian): Vincenzo Nibali, Bahrain–Merida:

"It has been such a long time without seeing a winner of just 22-years-old in the Tour de France. I think we must go back for long time to find a cyclist like him. I don't even know who it was (the last winner with 22 years-old), but for his style, someone who is light and agile, he reminds me to Alberto Contador.

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SHOTLIST: Sisteron, France. 21st July, 2015.

++PLEASE NOTE, SHOTS 1 AND 4 WERE USED IN PREVIOUS PIECE - CYCLING TEAM SKY (STORY NO. 1037558)++

1. 00:00 Pan to Team Sky news conference - left to right: head of performance Tim Kerrison, rider Chris Froome, team principal Sir Dave Brailsford and rider Geraint Thomas.

2. 00:08 SOUNDBITE: (English) Tim Kerrison, Team Sky head of performance:

(Revealing riding data for Chris Froome on final climb in Tour de France Stage 10).

"That 41 and a half minutes climb had an average power of 414 watts for Chris, which was 1602 VAM. What we do know about Chris's power with the osymetric rings is that power meters over-report power by about by about six per cent - when using the osymetric rings - which is why interpretation of Chris's power has to be... you know, that has to be considered when interpreting Chris's power. But with his weight hovering around 67 and a half kilos, that gives a corrected power to weight for the whole climb of 5.78 watts per kilo. However, to go from that value to making some sort of estimates of Chris's physiology, for example his VO2 Max requires a lot of assumptions."

3. 01:04 SOUNDBITE: (English) Sir Dave Brailsford, Team Sky principal:

(On decision to release Froome's riding data).

"I just think that the... in particular I think what France 2 (television station) did, you know putting out that big headline: 'seven watts per kilo' (with) - a picture of (doping cheats) Lance Armstrong and a picture of (Jan) Ullrich, I think it was... that was so wildly wrong on so many levels that actually we just thought 'actually, we should just correct that and give the concrete facts, and give the evidence, so hopefully that people can judge for themselves, you know, why would you do that.' So that was really what drove my decision on that one."

4. 01:36 Wide of news conference.

5. 01:43 SOUNDBITE: (English) Sir Dave Brailsford, Team Sky principal:

(Suggestion that cycling's world governing body the UCI might get all teams to provide riders' power data to an expert panel for assessment).

"Over a period of time you could build the data set required to give everybody really a better understanding and a better picture of the overall situation. And I think anybody looking at this sensibly would think that is the obvious way to go. So I think it's up to the UCI to get their act together. You know, all the teams have experts, all the teams have guys working like Tim (Kerrison, Team Sky's head of performance) who are analysing all of this data. So you know there are people out there who could do this job very quickly, it wouldn't be that... (difficult). People say it would take a long time to put in place, I'm not sure it would to be honest. I just think it takes the will and a bit of investment. We invest in anti-doping already, all the teams, and I'm sure we'll be willing to invest a little bit more to resolve these kind of situations, you know."

6. 02:32 Mid of news conference.

SOURCE: SNTV.

DURATION: 02:38.

STORYLINE:

On the second rest day of the 2015 Tour de France on Tuesday (21 July), Team Sky released data to illustrate the riding power of race leader Chris Froome.

SCRIPTING INFORMATION:

Chris Froome's team has released data about his riding power in an effort to quell new speculation about doping at the Tour de France.

At a news conference on Tuesday on the Tour's second rest day, Sky team performance analyst Tim Kerrison read figures including Froome's power output, cadence and heart rate on a final climb in Stage 10, which he won, in the Pyrenees.

Sky manager Dave Brailsford said the team decided to release the figures after an expert on France's state broadcaster covering the race had aired what he called "wildly wrong" data about Froome's performances.

Brailsford added that he hoped the release of the data would "put to bed ... some of the numbers that they came up with."

On the second rest day of the 2015 Tour de France on Tuesday (21st July), Team Sky released data to illustrate the riding power of race leader Chris Froome after much speculation regarding doping.

SCRIPTING INFORMATION:

Chris Froome's team has released data about his riding power in an effort to quell new speculation about doping at the Tour de France.

At a news conference on Tuesday on the Tour's second rest day, Sky team performance analyst Tim Kerrison read figures including Froome's power output, cadence and heart rate on a final climb in stage 10, which he won, in the Pyrenees.

Sky manager Dave Brailsford said the team decided to release the figures after an expert on France's state broadcaster covering the race had aired what he called "wildly wrong" data about Froome's performances.

Brailsford added that he hoped the release of the data would "put to bed ... some of the numbers that they came up with."

Froome said: "I'm not sure if numbers are going to fix everything, but certainly I feel as a team and for myself personally, we're definitely trying to be as open and transparent as possible. I think we've been asked more questions than any other team. I've been asked more questions than any other GC (general classification) contender. I'd like to think we're answering those questions."

Sisteron, France. 21st July, 2015.

1. 00:00 Wide of Team Sky bus.

2. 00:05 Mid of Team Sky car.

3. 00:10 Mid of riders/officials gathering for news conference.

4. 00:16 SOUNDBITE: (English) Chris Froome, Team Sky:

(On the 2015 Tour de France so far):

"I think we're in a great place, I think we're in a great place. Of course, the few unfortunate incidents out on the road were a bit of a dampener on things. But since, I think, since the messages from Christian Preud'homme (general director of the Tour de France), since the messages from all the other riders and people showing their support, there really has been quite a change in the atmosphere out on the road. And it feels as if certainly the vast majority of the people out there are just there to support the race and all the riders, so that's really good to see. Yeah, looking forward to these next few days in the Alps and getting closer to Paris."

5. 01:01 Mid pan of news conference.

6. 01:09 SOUNDBITE: (English) Chris Froome, Team Sky:

(On speculation over performances).

"Obviously, we seem to cop a lot of speculation and, as you said, a lot of doubts around our performances. Why are those same level of doubts are not being cast upon similar performances from other GC (general classification) contenders? Why is it only us?"

7. 01:33 Close-up Chris Froome.

8. 01:40 SOUNDBITE: (English) Chris Froome, Team Sky:

(On upcoming stages).

"I do think that these next four stages, each stage has its own particular challenges to overcome. Tomorrow we've got the descent off (Col d')Allos and the final ascent up to Pra Loup. What have we got? The Lacets (de Montvernier) stage, I mean everyone's seen that climb, it's probably the most picturesque climb on this year's tour with so many switchbacks in such a short space of time, such a short distance sorry. And then we've got La Toussuire, which can be extremely selective also. And then the finish up to Alpe-d'Huez... yeah, hopefully it's going to go better than last time I rode up Alpe-d'Huez."

9. 02:33 Wide of news conference.

10. 02:39 SOUNDBITE: (English) Chris Froome, Team Sky:

(On release of data over his riding).

"Yeah, I'm not sure if numbers are going to fix everything, but certainly I feel as a team and for myself personally, we're definitely trying to be as open and transparent as possible. I think we've been asked more questions than any other team. I've been asked more questions than any other GC (general classification) contender. And I'd like to think we're answering those questions."

11. 03:08 Mid of news conference.

12. 03:14 SOUNDBITE: (English) Geraint Thomas, Team Sky:

(On his race so far).

"Yeah, it's fantastic individually really to be there. And the Pyrenees went very well for me. You know, I said coming in here I want to keep improving on the climbs and be there towards the finishes with 'Froomey' (Chris Froome). I certainly did that. So yeah, confidence and morale's really high and it's sort of infectious within the team, you know. I'm feeling good, you hear 'Froomey's' feeling really good behind you, you know that just sort of spreads through the team and everyone rides off that. So yeah, it's just been a great race overall really I think."

13. 03:54 Close-up Team Sky principal Sir Dave Brailsford.

14. 04:00 Mid of news conference - Team Sky head of performance Tim Kerrison on left.

SOURCE: SNTV.

DURATION: 04:07.

STORYLINE:

Reaction from some of the leading contenders at the Tour de France on Saturday (28th July), including four-time winner Chris Froome who said he was 'really proud' of teammate Geraint Thomas.

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28th July, 2018.

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SOURCE: SNTV

DURATION: 04:06