The success of Team Sky is confirmed as the Tour de France approaches the finish line

As the Tour de France reaches its climax this weekend, an unexpected leader emerged in the world's most famous cycling race – but he plays for the same controversial British team that has dominated the tour six years, to the chagrin of the French

Team Sky's Geraint Thomas is wearing the yellow jersey the yellow jersey designating the race leader, as the Tour enters its final stages. He looks to dethrone fellow countryman and teammate Chris Froome, the four-time champion and favorite before the race.

Despite the likelihood of a new individual winner, some cycling fans and, in particular, the French public, reacted to the continued dominance of the British team with, at best, a Gallic shrug, and at worst, pure hostility.

"We can not blame the winning team and its strategy, but people want to dream.They want to see the show.And it's a little boring," said David Lappartient, president of the UCI, the world governing body of sport cycling, to the French media.

Thomas' s stage victory last week on the famous climb to the top of Alpe d'Huez was greeted by a boos concert. During the race, Froome was hit by a spectator by the roadside, spitting on and receiving unidentified liquids.

Sir Dave Brailsford, managing director of Team Sky, described the abuse of his team as "French cultural thing". Mr. Lappartient accused Sir Dave of "pouring oil on the fire" by directing his criticism on French fans. Sir Dave is excused later.

Lance Armstrong, the American cyclist who was stripped of seven Tour de France titles following persistent doping revelations, said Sir Dave was endangering the safety of his drivers by heightening the anger of French spectators.

"Put shovel f ******, get back on the bus and shut up," said Armstrong on his podcast, The Move . "His men must cross these people."

"My intention was never to criticize the whole French nation," said Sir Dave Wednesday. "Of course, I do not think spitting is a French cultural thing, but my point was that we do not get that kind of thing in the Tour de France."

Of course, I do not think that spitting is a French cultural thing, but my point was that we only get this kind of thing at the Tour de France

In a sport tarnished by widespread doping revelations, Team Sky has become controversial to allow cyclists to use drugs within the limits of regulations.

This year, a British parliamentary report accused Sky of handling the anti-doping rules for his athletes, including Sir Bradley Wiggins, the winner of the 2012 Tour, an accusation strongly denied by the team.

Froome was allowed to ride in this year 's Tour de France just before his departure, after being cleared of a wrongdoing related to a seemingly missed drug test. The runner successfully argued that he had taken an asthma medication within acceptable limits.

The popularity of Team Sky also suffered after the expulsion of Italian rider Gianni Moscon from the Tour de France for throwing a punch at a rival. Moscon is excused afterwards.

The team is also the best-funded race, able to offer the best riders, support staff and equipment. Froome is the greatest cyclist in the world for many years and is currently the holder of two other "great tours" of Europe: the Vuelta a España, the tour in Spain and the Giro d 'Italia, the tour from Italy.

Earlier this year, Thomas won the Critérium du Dauphiné, another prestigious road race. According to financial statements at the UK's Companies House, the team achieved a turnover of £ 31m in 2016, the bulk of which was sponsored by Sky, which allowed it to pay £ 24m.

According to the badysis of the French sports newspaper L & # 39; Team in 2016, the budget of Team Sky for the Tour de France is 35 M € against an average of 12.5 M € for the other teams.

complain about the tactics of Team Sky, whose success limits the chances of "ruptures" or dramatic changes at the head from one stage to the next. The strength of its riders allows it to better maintain tight control of the peloton, the entire peloton of cyclists on the Tour, thus making the victory predictable.

The strength of Team Sky is evident in the fact that at the beginning of the tour, Thomas was considered the main supporter of Froome. His job was to help the current champion win a fifth title.

Instead, the Welsh and former Olympic gold medalist appears to be in the best shape of his career and now looks good enough to win the whole race.

During Wednesday's phase, it came up from a descending Froome to take a better grip on the yellow jersey. This result left Thomas two minutes ahead of his closest opponent, Dutchman Tom Dumoulin, with Froome in third overall.

"G's made an incredible race," Froome said. "He deserves to be in yellow and fingers crossed he holds it until Paris [where the race ends on Sunday]".