World cycling chief David Lappartient has responded to Team Sky boss Dave Brailsford’s claims that the abuse of his team and riders is a “French cultural thing”.

Speaking prior to the start of the Tour de France’s 16th stage, the French president of the International cycling Union (UCI), told AFP: “He’s not doing his riders any favours.

“He (Brailsford) is sitting in a car or a bus. I much prefer the attitude of Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas, whose reactions have been a lot more calm.”

In what has been an evenful and controversy-ridden cycling race, Froome has been spat at and manhandled, while Thomas has been booed off the podium and some of Sky’s staff have also had to face abuse during the opening 15 stages.

Froome, in particular has had to deal with far more abuse than his Welsh teammate. While aiming for his fifth Tour de France title, he was the subject of an investigation because a sample from his 2017 Tour of Spain victory revealed twice the permitted amount of salbutamol.

Froome, however, was allowed to race after the UCI dropped their case against him.

Brailsford lashed out at the treatment of his team, in France in particular, on Monday while clarifying that there was no ill-treatment by fans at the Giro d’Italia, which Froome won last May.

“Chris’s case was open when we raced in Italy. And they were fantastic, the Italians (fans),” said Brailsford.

“It seems to be the thing that’s done here. It just seems to be a French thing. A French cultural thing really.”

Lappartient added: “I can understand he (Brailsford) is annoyed the public are not passionate about his team and that they’ve been whistled.

“But that’s no reason to hit out at the French public. Hasn’t Mister Brailsford noticed it’s not just French people on the side of the road?

“He should not be making this about nationality. It’s pointless, and he mustn’t forget everything that France and the Tour de France have given him.”