Team Sky have taken the unprecedented step of releasing a cache of data to BBC Sport detailing Chris Froome’s diet, power output and heart-rate from the Briton’s victory in May’s Giro d’Italia.
On Monday, an anti-doping case against Froome was dropped by the UCI, cycling’s world governing body, following an investigation after more than the allowed level of legal asthma drug salbutamol was found in his urine during his Vuelta a Espana triumph in September 2017.
“I’m happy to share data to back up some of the performances we have done out on the roads,” four-time Tour de France champion Froome told BBC Sport.
Team Sky told the BBC that Froome used salbutamol during the Giro to manage his asthma. He neither applied for nor used any therapeutic use exemptions (TUE). Salbutamol, used through an inhaler, does not require a TUE.
The British-based outfit have gone through two years in which their reputation has been repeatedly questioned, with the Sir Bradley Wiggins TUE revelations and the ‘jiffy bag’ scandal part of it, but they accepted mistakes have been made and say they want to be more transparent.
Now the BBC can shine further light on Froome’s latest Grand Tour victory, which was based on a spectacular solo break on stage 19.
We assembled three experts to examine this data, given to the BBC in June.
Former professional rider Rob Hayles says he does not think other teams are being this “precise”. Cycling author Michael Hutchinson suggests what Team Sky were trying to achieve was “a very fine balance”. And cycling journalist Jeremy Whittle says the release “would not make any difference to the doubters”.
There is also a link to each document in full, so you can examine each yourself, listen to the accompanying podcast, and draw your own conclusions.
The plan
What is it?
Team Sky principal Sir Dave Brailsford’s hand-drawn training plan and a more precise version covering the last two weeks of the Giro, revealing they wanted Froome to lose weight.
Share your thoughts