Interviewed by Agence France Presse, Brian Cookson explained that the levels of fatigue felt by the riders at this year’s Tour de France is proof that doping controls are more effective. The UCI President told that cycling is more clean, even if the fight against doping is not over.

“I think we saw riders during the last Tour de France were very tired and one of the causes, in my opinion, is the increased efficiency of doping controls,” Cookson said during an IOC session in Kuala Lumpur. “No one likes to see someone exhausted, but I think that this is a demonstration that we have constantly tightened the meshes of doping controls. People must have this in mind when they launched allegations and aspersions on any rider and any team.”

He told also about the critics against Chris Froome. "There have been unfortunate incidents in the Tour this year, and it makes me very uncomfortable. In recent years, I have become increasingly worried about the fans who are on the edge of the road, pushing cyclists, etc. It has reached a point of real concern. I think Chris was the target of quite disgusting assaults by a small number of people.”