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Team Sky riders offer public backing for Sir Dave Brailsford – although some remain silent

Chris Froome not at this stage among those voicing support

A number of Team Sky riders have taken to Twitter to express public support for Sir Dave Brailsford. The backing comes following reports that a number of riders have discussed asking the team principal to stand down.

Earlier this week, an anonymous Team Sky rider told Cycling News that there was “concern” over the impact recent controversies may be having on the current season.

"With a team that is so focused on details, things are starting to slip through the cracks because people's attentions are elsewhere," he said.

"No one in the team, currently, is involved in this controversy other than Dave. What's it going to take for the team to get on with racing?"

Team Sky actually recorded a major win this weekend at Strade Bianche, but controversies over the Jiffy Bag delivered to Team Sky doctor Richard Freeman at the 2011 Criterium du Dauphine and the use of therapeutic use exemptions by Sir Bradley Wiggins ahead of key races are undoubtedly proving a distraction.

Several riders are said to have discussed whether Brailsford should step down.

In response to the news, Geraint Thomas tweeted:

Luke Rowe retweeted that, saying: “Couldn't of [sic] said it better myself. I'm 100% behind Dave!”

Michal Kwiatkowski also went with: “100% behind Dave!”

Clearly a man who understands sporting rhetoric, Owain Doull offered: “110% behind Dave”

A number of other riders also retweeted Thomas or made similar comments. However, at the time of writing, these did not include Chris Froome.

Speaking in January, before a number of recent developments, Froome had offered only ambiguous support for Brailsford. Asked whether Sky’s team principal retained sufficient credibility to defend his riders during this year’s Tour de France, he replied: “That’s not for me to say.”

Froome also said he had seen little of Brailsford since the autumn, apart from at training camps. Asked whether he still retained faith in him, he answered: “Dave himself has put his hand up and said he has made mistakes. I think if you look at what Dave has actually done, the team he has put together, I think we’ve got a great group of guys with values in the right place.”

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13 comments

Avatar
antonio | 7 years ago
2 likes

Froome still bearing a grudge?

Avatar
SingleSpeed replied to antonio | 7 years ago
0 likes
antonio wrote:

Froome still bearing a grudge?

 

You mean from when he was robbed of his 2012 tour win by having to look after little Bradley through the mountains?

Looks like Geraint Thomas is peeved:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/39204990

 

 

Wiggins, the 2012 Tour de France winner, has not been asked to appear.

"For sure, there's still questions to be answered, but Freeman and Brad don't seem to have the flak," Thomas said.

"Those are the people who, primarily, this whole things involves. But they can swan around getting on with their lives while we have to answer questions we've got nothing to do with," he told Cycling Weekly.

"Really, it just seems to be us, which is annoying."

Avatar
DrJDog | 7 years ago
4 likes

Owain Doull could even backtrack 10% and still be fully behind Brailsford.

Avatar
davel replied to DrJDog | 7 years ago
2 likes
DrJDog wrote:

Owain Doull could even backtrack 10% and still be fully behind Brailsford.

That's his regenerative powers: he now has two left feet after he was brutally assaulted by Marcel Kittel's disc.

Avatar
Jackson | 7 years ago
5 likes

I am heartily convinced by this spontaneous show of unity

Avatar
Edgeley | 7 years ago
1 like

Only 100% Geraint?   How half-hearted.  Surely you meant 300%.

Until he resigns, in which case you can say that you weren't aware of everything that went on in the team, and support the new director 350%.

Avatar
tritecommentbot | 7 years ago
6 likes

Lookin' a bit dark side there Dave. 

//road.cc/sites/default/files/styles/main_width/public/sir-dave-brailsford-bbc-iplayer.jpg?itok=m8yxuKmc)

//a.dilcdn.com/bl/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2016/07/darth-sidious-unlimited-power.jpg)

Avatar
Yorkshire wallet replied to tritecommentbot | 7 years ago
4 likes
unconstituted wrote:

Lookin' a bit dark side there Dave. 

//road.cc/sites/default/files/styles/main_width/public/sir-dave-brailsford-bbc-iplayer.jpg?itok=m8yxuKmc)

//a.dilcdn.com/bl/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2016/07/darth-sidious-unlimited-power.jpg)

Can't wait for Episode VI - Return of the Jiffy.

Avatar
andyp | 7 years ago
2 likes

'Froome had offered only ambiguous support for Brailsford'

 

He doesn't do 'team player', remember.

 

Avatar
rct replied to andyp | 7 years ago
1 like
andyp wrote:

'Froome had offered only ambiguous support for Brailsford'

 

He doesn't do 'team player', remember.

 

 

He does if it suit him.  i.e. the rest of the team work for him.

Avatar
Rapha Nadal | 7 years ago
5 likes

All tweeted at the same time.  Almost as if somebody told them all to do it...

Avatar
dottigirl | 7 years ago
0 likes

Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't...
I think Froome is wary of being put in the same boat as Wiggins.

Avatar
beezus fufoon replied to dottigirl | 7 years ago
2 likes

 I think Froome is wary of being put in the same boat jiffy bag as Wiggins. FTFY  1

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