Kimmage frustrated by BBC decision to drop Froome interview
Cycling journalist Paul Kimmage has taken to twitter to vent his frustrations over the cancelation of a BBC Newsnight interview on Chris Froome last night.
The Dubliner was due to discuss the Tour de France and current leader Froome but the broadcaster informed Kimmage the item had been dropped for a political story.
Kimmage tweeted the corporation questioning the reason given, saying: "I can accept you don't want to upset the national mood. But do you really have to lie about it?"
Hey @BBCNewsnight I can accept you don't want to upset the national mood. But do you really have to lie about it?
— Paul Kimmage (@PaulKimmage) July 24, 2015
He then detailed what happened: "Received a call from @BBCNewsnight yesterday afternoon about Chris Froome and the TDF. I offered my opinion and was asked to come on."
1/3 Received a call from @BBCNewsnight yesterday afternoon about Chris Froome and the TDF. I offered my opinion and was asked to come on...
— Paul Kimmage (@PaulKimmage) July 24, 2015
"At 21.52, as I was preparing to leave for a studio in Dublin they called to tell me the item had been cancelled for a 'political story'."
2/3 At 21.52, as I was preparing to leave for a studio in Dublin they called to tell me the item had been cancelled for a "political story"
— Paul Kimmage (@PaulKimmage) July 24, 2015
"That's true, isn't it @BBCNewsnight? There was no item on the Tour de France last night?"
3/3 That's true, isn't it @BBCNewsnight? There was no item on the Tour de France last night?
— Paul Kimmage (@PaulKimmage) July 24, 2015
Froome is in pole position to win the Grand Tour but many pundits are still questioning the integrity of cycling following the Lance Armstrong era.
Kimmage, who was a professional cyclist, still believes that doping exists within the sport.
His award winning book ‘A Rough Ride’ led him to abandon the peloton for a career in sports journalism.
