CHRIS FROOME is urging Tour de France fans not to take the p*** — and respect the Yellow Jersey.
The reigning champ launches his bid for a FOURTH title in Dusseldorf today with Team Sky still engulfed in a doping probe.
But Froome hopes he will not be targeted on the roads of Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium and France over the next three weeks — just like two years ago.
Back then, Froome had urine thrown at him, while some Sky team-mates were spat at, punched and verbally abused.
Froome, 32, said: “I hope the fans won’t take it out on me this time — you want the Yellow Jersey to be respected.
“What happened before is not what you want to see at a bike race. It starts detracting from the actual race.
“But we’ve raced on French roads a few times this year in the Criterium du Dauphine and had absolutely no issues.”
Two years ago Froome was the target of unfounded doping slurs by ex-French riders, which sparked the hostility.
The Monaco-based ace has vigorously argued he is a clean rider.
Sky are now being investigated over Sir Bradley Wiggins’ sick notes, which allowed him to take a banned steroid before three major races — including his historic 2012 Tour de France win.
And Sky faced more questions over the contents of a Jiffybag sent to Wiggo before a race in France, which the team say contained a legal decongestant.
But Froome, who last night signed a new £12million three-year deal with Team Sky, said: “I don’t have any trust issues with team-mates.
“I’ve been part of this team since the beginning and I’ve never seen anything untoward.”
Nairobi-born Froome is gearing up for a 21-stage, 2,199-mile slog which he admits will be his toughest test.
He has not won a race this year and ex-Sky team-mate Richie Porte, France’s Romain Bardet, Colombians Esteban Chaves and Nairo Quintana look dangerous.
And Froome added: “If I was able to win, I’d feel it was my biggest victory.
“With it being a fourth, that would be extremely special. And it would put me into a very select group of people who have won that many Tours.”
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