"A spectator threw a cup of urine in my face" - Tour de France leader Chris Froome

The Team Sky cyclist said he saw a man "peering around" and then hurled the liquid towards him about 50-60km into the latest stage of the Tour.

The 30-year-old athlete has insisted he is a clean rider and said the alleged incident was "extremely disappointing".

He told ITV4: "A spectator threw a cup of urine in my face and said 'doper'."

He added: "You don't do that to anyone. It's not in the name of sport."

Froome also claimed some of the reporting on the race "has been very irresponsible".

He said: "Those individuals know who they are. It is not all the media. I'm not going to go into specific details here."

Sky News' Enda Brady in southern France said the incident happened about 60km into the stage.

"Chris Froome had a jar of urine thrown over his body as he was climbing and he did not react in any way. He simply got a water bottle, washed himself off, and kept cycling."

Froome extended his overall lead in the tour following the 178.5-kilometres route from Rodez, which finished at Mende airstrip after a punishing 3km ascent of the Cote de la Croix Neuve.

He finished 20th on the 14th stage, four minutes 15 seconds behind British winner Steve Cummings but one second ahead of nearest rival Nairo Quintana.

Team Sky's director of business operations Fran Millar wrote on Twitter: "Froomey's interview saying he had urine thrown in his face by a spectator today. Total and utter disgrace. These people are not fans.

"Repercussions of a minority of people's baseless and evidence less speculation and innuendo means our riders being punched and urine thrown.

"Watched this race when doped riders got away scott free. Our lads are clean + are facing abuse every day (and yes my brother (David Millar) doped - I know)."