Armstrong admitted that he was partially responsible for the doping allegations that have plagued current Tour leader Froome, after he suggested that the 30-year-old Brit and Team Sky were possibly too strong to be clean via Twitter.
1. Clearly Froome/Porte/Sky are very strong. Too strong to be clean? Don't ask me, I have no clue.
— Lance Armstrong (@lancearmstrong) July 14, 2015
Armstrong, the disgraced seven-time former champion of cycling’s biggest event famously had his titles stripped after admitting that he doped during his domination of the sport, and the Tour from 1999-2005.
One spectator threw a jar of urine and shouted “doper” at Froome as he competed in Saturday’s 14th stage, despite the Englishman having never failed a doping test in his career.
Thank you to the real fans who come out to support all the riders every day. Pity such a small minority can have such a negative impact #TDF
— Chris Froome (@chrisfroome) July 18, 2015
Disappointing that a French “fan” ruined a great day for me today. Congrats @StevoCummings @TeamMTNQhubeka #MandelaDay @letour
— Chris Froome (@chrisfroome) July 18, 2015
While Armstrong admitted that he may have raised questions surrounding doping in the current age of the sport, he acknowledged that his own doping conviction continues to damage the credibility of cycling, and that his intention was not to suggest that Froome was doping.
“I guess anything I have to say regarding a bike race is going to be closely scrutinised,” Armstrong said.
"I know it’s tough for a guy like Chris, who's in the middle of the Tour and having to deal with these constant questions… and to be honest, a lot of that is my fault.
"A lot of people see his style, his performance and the time gaps and the cadence and they say that this guy is just another one of them (drugs cheat).
“I feel bad about that and whoever is leading the Tour de France in 2015 should not be answering questions about someone who won it 10 or 15 years ago. That's just not legitimate or fair."
Froome, who claimed the 2013 Tour de France title, responded to Armstrong’s jab by defending the integrity of the sport and suggesting that cycling fans should trust in the fact that most modern-day riders are clean.
“Times have changed — everyone knows that. This isn't the Wild West that it was 10, 15 years ago,” Froome said.
“Of course, there are still going to be riders who take risks (with performance-enhancing drugs) in this day and age, but they are the minority.
“It was the other way round 10, 15 years ago. There is no reason in this day and age for that level or suspicion to continue. There is absolutely no reason.”