WATCH: Chris Froome and Team Sky booed and mock the presentation before the Tour de France

Chris Froome and Team Sky have a taste potential things to come at the Tour de France Thursday night while they were booed and whistled at the team's presentation despite a call from the French favorite Romain Bardet for fans to show em respect on the edge of the road.

Sky was one of the last teams to parade in front of the crowd at La Roche-sur-Yon for the usual presentation before the Tour, but received a less than warm welcome as they went up on stage , with some screaming "cheat" At Froome

Earlier in the day, Froome's rival for the Yellow Bardet had called the French crowds to show him respect on the roadside after the anti-doping investigation on him was closed.

Bardet AG2R La Mondiale, which aims to become the first Frenchman to win the Tour since Bernard Hinault in 1985, had already strongly criticized Froome's decision to continue running while the case resulting from his results of 39 Abnormal badysis for Salbutamol at La Vuelta last year continued. Although the UCI announced Monday that the investigation was now over, Froome could still face hostile crowds throughout the race as it looks for a fifth-round crown and a fourth-round finish. 39; row. Bardet, who finished second and third behind Froome in the past two years, has called on his compatriots to make sure the race runs smoothly.

"The decision was made by the authorities and it is important to respect this decision," he said through a translator. "Respect for riders, teams and the public"

"The Tour is part of the French heritage, it's a party, a big party and it's important to talk about sports." It's the turn of the Tour de France

"It is also important to respect all the riders, including Chris Froome, former Tour winner and serious contender for the next title. played on fair play, everything is neutral and we talk more about sport than security.

"It's my hope, I trust the French, they are smart people, and I hope they're there to support all the runners and provide them with a fair atmosphere."

Froome's case should have remained confidential, but details were released in December. The Team Sky driver insisted that he had done nothing wrong and continued, winning the Giro d'Italia in May to hold all three Grand Tour titles at the same time.

Bardet said he was happy that Froome's situation was resolved before the start of the Tour.

"I am pleased that the UCI has given its opinion and made a decision on this," he said.

"Chris Froome suffered from this situation" He is still the number one favorite of the race and may win his fifth victory, his main obstacle will be his own form. form very soon.

"The last few months have not been good for cycling and it is good to know that the Tour will start in a peaceful atmosphere, and I think that will be the case thanks to the decision of The UCI. "

At 27, Bardet should still be at its peak, and seems France's best hope of ending the long wait for his own race. He wanted to minimize any pressure on his shoulders, but he did not deny his target in July.

"It's my sixth tour and I've never had such a good team around me." "It is a very demanding race and we are going to tackle it with greatness and humility, there is a difficult competition, the road is very difficult and we hope to do even better than in previous years.

" As far as my real goal is concerned, we will have to wait for the first steps, take it step by step and do nothing. We are very ambitious but very humble. "

Association of the press