Urine thrown at Tour leader Froome

Mende - Race leader Chris Froome was doused with urine by a spectator as a fresh scandal engulfed the Tour de France on Saturday.

The incident overshadowed what had been a historic first victory for Stephen Cummings and his South African MTN-Qhubeka team on Nelson Mandela Day.

Froome hit out at certain media for "irresponsible reporting" of his and his Sky team's success on the Tour so far, blaming them for setting the "tone" that led to Saturday's attack.

Speaking after the 178.5km 14th stage from Rodez to Mende, Froome pulled no punches.

"A spectator about 50-60km into the race threw a cup of urine over me, shouting 'dope' (doped)," said Froome.

"It's unacceptable on so many levels. We're professionals, we work really hard for what we do and for someone to come and do that, it's not what we're here for."

He then pointed the finger, although without naming names.

"I certainly don't blame the public for this, it's certainly a minority of people out there ruining it for everybody else," he said.

"I would blame some of the reporting on the race, it's very irresponsible. Those individuals know who they are."

Froome, who has not only been accused of doping but also of using a motorised bicycle, added: "It's not riders bringing the sport into disrepute, it's individuals and they know who they are."

The incident happened after Froome's team-mate Richie Porte revealed earlier in the day that he had been punched on Tuesday's Pyrenean stage, when his team leader won.

"I was (punched) in the last 3km. I got a full-on punch," Porte told the Telegraph Cycling Podcast.

"It was the same atmosphere on Alpe d'Huez two years ago."

He added: "It's a disgrace how some of these people carry on."