Tour de France - Angry riders hit back after Armstrong doping claims

Cycling is highly regarded as the world's dirtiest sport in terms of doping, In 2011, blood tests accounted for 35 per cent of tests in cycling while 17.6 per cent in athletics and less than 6 per cent in tennis.

Even yesterday, disgraced cyclist - Lance Armstrong admitted it was impossible to win without doping. The statement which has gone on to cause uproar in the cycling industry.

"It is degrading to be dragged through the mud and be run down by some who look to make money on our backs," the riders said in a statement objecting to the burden of suspicion they claim they are forced to carry due to the acts of a previous generation.

Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme backed the riders' complaints, saying that almost every year a doping-related story breaks days before the Tour.

"I can appreciate that some agendas have nothing to do with cycling but 14 times in the last 15 years, it cannot be a coincidence," he said

"For some, the Tour is a unique opportunity to communicate their message."

However we at Sportunes can say categorically that the rate of doping in this sport has been on the decline.

Cycling pioneered biological passports in 2008, a programme that according to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) "indirectly reveals the effects of doping".

Garmin-Sharp manager Jonathan Vaughters said he thought cycling was cleaning up its act.

"The science points to a trend that racing is cleaner, that it is possible to win the Tour de France clean," he said.

"When you look at the climbing speed and look at the numbers. The science firmly points to the fact that doping is on the decline."

"Racing is slower even though the equipment and the training are better. To me there is only one explanation for that - doping has decreased a lot," Vaughters added.