Tour de France 2016: Chris Froome fined for punching fan of his rival Nairo Quintana in the face before going on to win stage eight
CHRIS FROOME has been fined by Tour de France organisers for punching a Colombian fan in the face after he got too close to his wheel.
The two-time race winner has been cited by organisers for whacking the fan who was running alongside the peloton in stage eight which the Brit won in fantastic fashion.
Froome, 31, opened up a 16-second lead during yesterday's stage from Pau to Bagneres de Luchon in the Pyrenees to grab the Yellow Jersey as the race gets stuck into the mountains for the first time.
But when one fan of his rival Nairo Quintana got too close to the peloton with a Colombian flag dangling, Froome gave him something to think about.
The manoeuvre is not likely to win Froome any more fans on the Tour.
He regularly gets heckled from the side of the road from fans that insinuate - wrongly - that he has been using drugs.
Last year one road-side 'supporter' even threw a cup of urine on to the Brit as he went on to win the 2015 race.
Froome said on Twitter after the incident: "Getting abuse for the hand off of the spectator, camera doesn't show his flag almost going into my front wheel and across by handlebars."
He was fined £157 by Tour commissaires - the race jury - for "inappropriate behaviour."
He also told reporters: "I have absolutely nothing against the Colombian fans, I think they're fantastic. They bring great spirit to it.
"But this guy in particular was running right next to my handlebars. He had a flag that was flying out behind him and it was just getting dangerous so I just pushed him away.
"It's fantastic having so many fans out on the road but please, don't try and run with the riders. It gets really dangerous for the guys behind you."
It was an eventful day for the Kenya-born Brit, who won the stage and threw himself into the Yellow Jersey with some fantastic, if bizarre riding on the descent.
Froome went into the tuck position on the bike and pedalled while going downhill in an unorthodox manoeuvre.
But one young fan copied Froome's tuck-and-pedal style before posting the video on Twitter, which the Team Sky ace thought was funny.