Christian Prudhomme has asked fans to respect Chris Froome of Team Sky and the Yellow Jersey he wears. This has come after the Brit had urine poured over him on stage 14 of the Tour de France.

"The behaviour of certain spectators, a minority obviously, is evidently intolerable," Prudhomme told the Reuters news agency. “Insulting the integrity of the yellow jersey is unacceptable.”

"The top racer has never been liked in the history of the Tour de France. It was true with Jacques Anquetil, it was true with Eddy Merckx, and it's being repeated now. But there must be a minimum of respect.”

The Tour de France race director says that he sees a direct correlation between the actions of the public and the negative reporting some by French media. He says the media are like this because no one is able to challenge Froome, least of all the French riders.

"There's obviously a correlation between what is said in newspapers, on the television and radio and what happens along the route," Prudhomme continued. "Of course, and it's a former journalist speaking here, what we write or what we say has an influence on the weakest-minded which can then lead to unacceptable behaviour.

"I condemn the stigmatisation around the yellow jersey and I condemn above all incidents that have happened over the last few days. We must respect the yellow jersey and say thanks to the supporters, the vast majority, who do respect it."