Tour de France: Geraint Thomas Calls Spectators 'Football Hooligans'

Team Sky cyclist Geraint Thomas blasted some of the spectators of the 102nd edition of Tour de France branding them “football hooligans.” Thomas came to defend victimized teammates Chris Froome and Richie Porte after being harassed by spectators during the 14th Stage of the tour.

In Thomas’ column at BBC.com, the 29-year-old described the “small minority” of the wild observers as “ridiculous” after punching, spitting and throwing urine at racers. He also claimed that those people might not even be cycling fans and more like “football hooligans” referring them to violent and destructive overenthusiastic fans of football.

“When you are out the back, maybe on a climb near the finish, it is intimidating when there is a group of people hurling abuse at you. They can be pretty aggressive,” Thomas wrote.

Froome was covered with urine after a fan threw a cup of the liquid at his face, while Porte was reportedly punched in the face by an onlooker with less than 3 kilometres to go in the Stage 14. The Aussie cyclist believes the incidents were results of an “anti-Sky atmosphere” created by cycling journalists who questioned the team’s drug-free status as noted by the Mercury.

The Welshman admitted that “it can be difficult” to keep composed while fans threaten racers in the middle of the Tour. However, Thomas believes that the team’s focus should still be in “holding the wheel in front” and win the race. He added that ignoring the abuse of fans is the best thing to do citing that “haters will be haters.”

“I don't really care if people are shouting "doping" at us, or booing. We know we are competing in the right way,” Thomas added.

Meanwhile, the Welsh rider escaped a horrific crash during the Stage 16 of the race after Giant-Alpecin’s Warren Barguil took a bad line and forced Thomas head first into a telephone pole and down into a rift according to SBnation.com. Thomas was able to get up and finish the stage on his bike, while the French cyclist rode on as if nothing happened. CTV News reported that Barguil apologised after the race saying that he did not “do it on purpose.”

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