Cycling: Despite the Salbutamol affair: Froome in good early form

Chris Froome presented himself in good form at a good early stage despite the discussions about the Salbutamol affair. The four-time Tour de France winner finished seventh on the hilly second leg of his first season’s race in the Andalusia circuit.

Froome’s Dutch Sky team mate Wout Poels won the steep finish of the 140-kilometre stretch from Otura to Jaen in a sprint against the Spaniard Luis Leon Sanchez, with Froome finishing 27 seconds after the duo.

Froome had previously reported that the peloton had received him well in his controversial season debut,”I was very touched because so many drivers came to me and promised me their support,”the Briton said.

Froome had taken two doping tests during the round trip to Spain last September, in which the permitted value of the asthma drug salbutamol was doubled. Since then, the 32-year-old has maintained his innocence and spoke of “widespread misinformation”. According to media reports, the Anti-Doping Tribunal of the UCI “end of this week or early next week” wants to open proceedings against Froome.

The third stage of the Andalusia tour will take place on Friday at 165.1 km from Mancha Real to Herrera.