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Dave Brailsford faces the press, Paris, October 2012 (copyright Simon MacMichael)Sir Dave Brailsford: Chris Froome doesn't pick Sky Tour de France team - I do
Sir Dave Brailsford says it is he, and not Chris Froome, who will decide the composition of the Team Sky line-up for next month’s Tour de France – and adds that Sir Bradley Wiggins may still be chosen for the race.
On Friday, Wiggins, winner of the race in 2012 told BBC Breakfast that barring injury or illness to defending Chris Froome, he would not be among the nine Sky riders at the Grand Départ in Yorkshire on 5 July.
While the relationship between Froome and Wiggins is known to be frosty, the revelation was greeted with dismay by many fans, and with Wiggins' high profile among the general public some also saw his apparent omission as a public relations mistake by Sky.
But David Walsh, writing in The Sunday Times [£], reports that team principal Brailsford said yesterday that the composition of the team had not yet been decided and he would only make a decision following the Critérium du Dauphiné, which Froome is riding, and Tour de Suisse, where Wiggins leads Sky’s challenge.
“Despite the impression that might have been created, the team for the Tour is not yet finalised. I will be the one making the decision on who is in the team,” Brailsford said.
He emphasised that neither Froome nor any other team member would have an influence on whether or not Wiggins is selected.
“I speak with our performance team. The riders can offer an opinion but they don’t select the team and never will,” he explained.
“We knew from last year that my job was to build a team around Chris Froome because he’s the rider most likely to win this year’s Tour de France. In building the team I have to take the group dynamic into consideration,” he said.
“Trust and harmony are important considerations and it’s a difficult decision. I’m not just talking about the harmony between Chris and Brad but harmony amongst all the riders and staff.
“People should be careful before thinking Chris is making decisions here. Chris is a great bike rider, he deserves to lead our team but ultimately he doesn’t pick the team. I do,” he added.
In April, former Team Sky coach Shane Sutton said he was unsure whether Wiggins would make the Tour de France team in support of Froome.
"That Tour team really is Froome's team – he's the current holder and there's a lot of faith in him at Team Sky," said Sutton, who is now technical director of British Cycling.
He continued: “They will put the best riders available on the grid for Chris to win the Tour come July and I'm not sure whether Brad is going to be on that list. Only Brad can say that by winning big races and showing the team he is worthy of his place."
In his response to those comments, Wiggins, who is close to Sutton, suggested that the man who last year succeeded him as Tour de France champion would have a big say in whether he would figure in the team.
He said: "I'll do everything possible to try and be there but, as Shane Sutton said, it is Chris's team and he'll have a big say in who he puts around him and who he's confident having in front of him in the mountains.
"I would love to be there. I've proved I've got the legs at the moment and I'm coming to where I need to be now, if I can just push on," added Wiggins, who has proved his form with a top ten finish at Paris-Roubaix and overall victory at the Tour of California.
Froome said last week that it would be a team decision as to whether Wiggins took part in the race, adding that if Sky needed a Plan B, he believed that Richie Porte would be the rider to fulfil that.
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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46 comments
All this is enough to give you tight airways.
If memory serves my correctly, I believe on a previous occasion Brailsford said something along the lines of: "It doesn't matter whether or not they like each other, as long as they act professionally." But now he seems to be saying the opposite.
Of course, my memory could be faulty...
Theres only one way to tell who is best, they have to race eachother. I'd love to see that, I don't really mind who wins that personal battle, but the public look like they are going to miss out on that due to politics, which is really a big shame for the sport. I hope both are in good form next year and we get to see them along with Quintana, Nibali, Contador, Evans and all the rest of the top contenders fighting it out at the tour.
One of them needs to go to another team for that to happen.
Wiggins' win in California was good, but he was not up against the sort of field that he will face in the TDF. No offence to Adam Yates, Rohan Dennis et al, but they are not (yet) in the Contador/Nibali league. He has not raced against that level of competition in a stage race and won since his TDF win and I would judge him to be only capaple of a win in the week-long races with a decent TT in where he can get a minute advantage and which do not have more than 2 or so summit finishes. Even then the Contador/Nibalis of the peloton would stand a chance of making up their losses if the Sky team were not on hand to pace Wiggins the whole way.
In pure performance terms, Froome is the best stage racer at present in terms of combined climbing and TT ability and has shown this consistently for the last 2 years. He is also more mentally focused and robust.
At the moment Froome is showing what he can do in the Dauphine and even allowing for mishaps looks to be there or there abouts. Wiggins will have to put in a very commanding performance in Switzerland to even be considered as a rival to Froome, and even then, the field expected in Switzerland is not as strong as the Dauphine. It does have 2 TT's which would have influenced the choice for Wiggins to race there though.
For me, the rest of the debate comes down to media tactics and personality clashes. I don't know how much of the whole thing is something stirred up by the press to have something to write about, but it certainly seems to have fired up some fans who seem to enjoy their racing to have a touch of the soap opera about it!
I don't think anyone is suggesting that Wiggins should be leading the team. As the best rider in the world at the moment, Froome is also Sky's best rider.
The argument is about whether Wiggins would be one of Sky's best NINE riders for the Tour. On the performmance front I would have thought it was inarguable that Wiggins is good enough to ride. Particularly if he really is happy to ride for Froome (as he has repeatedly stated, but is he telling the truth - who knows?).
Froome suggested Porte as a possible Sky Plan B, but on yesterday's performance that doesn't look very credible.
If Wiggin's doesn't ride then it will be because Froome either doesn't trust him or like him.
Aaaaaaaaannnnnnddddd cycling is the new football. Or maybe forums are the new football. Or forums are the new cycling. I don't know. I just don't like all the arguing...
A few observations:
1. I'm not a huge Froome fan (mainly because his interviews are really boring and his riding style is very ungainly - meaning he doesn't make good viewing all round) but Froome completely deserves to lead Sky at the Tour. He is head and shoulders above the rest of the team, including Wiggins now;
2. For me, it would be great to see Wiggins ride in Yorkshire. He'd be near to home and it's a great tradition for riders to compete near home and be extra motivated to put on a show for 'their' crowds.
3. If I was Brailsford, I'd rule Wiggins out for the Tour too. It seems he has probably done that, and is now trying to protect Froome from distractions/criticism. When Froome storms the Dauphine, he'll announce the team and say it was built to support Froome.
4. Wiggins is making a media fuss in order to stoke his contract discussions with other teams. Why not?
All in all, nothing to get that excited about and certainly nothing to trade insults over. This used to be a great place to discuss cycling in an even-handed way. Can we go back to that?
Leaving Wiggins out would hurt a lot of fans, and at least he pays his taxes in Britain.
Off topic see this fun video on you tube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbJ1EaF0SCQ
I mean fun biking video.
If I was pushed for where my support lies between these two, it would be to back Wiggins. It seems such a shame that there will be 180 cyclists starting in Leeds who don't have his strength or experience, but he has to sit out for the team dynamic and politics not voluntarily, like those who had a good ride in Italy, like Quintana.
Putting the emotion of the above aside, I can't help thinking that Froome is pushing his position much better by his performances at the CDD, than Wiggins media outbursts on Friday. That said, If Wiggins still wants to watch the Tour in Yorkshire, I'd be happy to buy him a pint.
' wiggo is doing his best yet again to not ride for froome only this year a bit more diplomatic than last'
Froome did his best not to ride for Wiggins in 2012 so I can see how that argument works both ways.
VOS FOR TDF WIN.
Second this. I'd back her against plenty of the men as well.
Unrelated point (and nothing to do with Mooleur's post). Does anyone else cringe at the expression "Froome Dog"? Skinny, pale, hairless bloke with a slightly whiny voice who isn't especially articulate = a long way from down with the kids cool deserving of epithet that implies person to whom it is applied is ghetto.
Although I also find it slightly unnerving when people talk about "Bradley" (rather than Wiggins).
Considering Froome's fiancee first tweeted this phrase to Cathy Wiggins in 2012 referring to a Froome Dog as a loyal servant, it's interesting how its use has changed through the media in time.
It will also be interesting to see how Froome responds if Geraint Thomas or Pete Kennaugh (for example) become genuine contenders / threats to his position as leader, over the next 2-3 years. Fascinating, in fact...
The Froome Dog thing is a bit cringe-worthy.
I do prefer to call Contador by the name Bert though...
People arguing on here is senseless. Say your piece and leave.
Froome is the one who appears to have the issues in this case. BW has stated that he is happy to be a part of the team and support CF. To not want him in Le Tour is effectively calling him a liar. It also weakens his challenge.
good god Brailsford, make up bloody mind up!
Team dynamic... I've never heard so much bullshit in my life, I've played team sports all my life and I've never played on a team where everybody gets on like best mates, in fact I've seen dislike drive and motivate people on far more then friendship, can you imagine Froome wanting Wiggo to beat him on a TT or a climb ? come on get real.
Bottom line, are the other 8 riders in the tour team that are better than Wiggo, in my view no, therefore Sky are not picking the best team and they are hypocrites, I hope Wiggo wins next week for even more embarrassment, they have lost me as a supporter.
In unrelated news, Chris Froome's new autobiography The Climb is available in all good bookshops.
Jeez - anyone that knows anything about cycling knows that 1986 ain't ever going to happen again...
Brailsford confirms the TdF team selection is his and his alone and that the decision hasn't been made. Later, Froome backs this up. Does this quell the clamour? Noooo.
I really don't understand how people can fail to realise Wiggins was clearly FUCKING with everybody during his media blitz on Friday. He presented nothing but supposition and it's been lapped up as fact. And it can't be misrepresentation because it happened first in L'Equipe, then on BBC Breakfast and also on BBC radio. It's a classic case of "light blue touchpaper and stand well back".
I said before on this website that I believed Wiggins deserves to be on the start line in Leeds. I still do on the basis of form and experience. But him trying to force the hand of his employers via the media has made me like him a little bit less. It smacks of desperation.
The decision has been made for some time. Brailsford has been playing for time and leaving the announcement until the last possible moment - 1 week before the Grand Depart - in order to minimise the period for all the 'you've left Wiggins out' furore ahead of the Tour.
Wiggins has pre-empted him. I personally have no problem with this. I think he's been played along by Brailsford all year, personally -
'if Brad's form's good enough'
So then Wiggins goes and slams it down at Tour of California
Then it became 'We'll have to see how he gets over jet-lag' (this, 7 weeks before Tour due to start)
Now it's become talk of team unity and cohesiveness and trust
Wiggins's been left out of the Tenerife training camps. He's not been up at altitude there all season. The writing was on the wall so plainly. Topped off by Froome's hatchet job in his book, and all the subsequent interviews ('mental weakness' etc). Not surprised Wiggins did those interviews.
Oh, and by the way, alongside Brailsford's exclusive quotes to his journo-of-choice, David Walsh, in the Sunday Times, was an accompanying piece by Walsh on all the history and circumstances that has lead up to Brailsford having made the choice to leave Wiggins out of the Tour team. Note: not why he MAY, but why he HAS made that choice.
Brailsford is just stalling for time, and trying to shield Froome because he's coming in for so much stick. Now a question: why is anyone buying Brailsford's shtick now?
Brailsford needs to MTFU, own the decision and handle the situation. It aint gonna be any better in 2-3 weeks time 'when he announces the team' and Wiggins isnt in it. Must as well deal with the thing now.
And Wiggins needs to get out of that team - its toxic.
By the same token, it isn't going to be any worse either. Wiggins' briefing of the media has prepared the ground now.
This entire episode makes it look like Wiggins thinks it's a popularity contest which can be skewed in his favour by some clever PR moves. So yeah, maybe Brad does need to leave Team Sky; not because of any toxicity but because he needs to feel loved.
I wonder what Shane Sutton makes of all this.
Didn't Wiggins sign up with Simon Fullers agency recently? He seems to have picked up a few media tricks since then.
I seem to remember Froome and Wiggins raced together before, didn't do them any harm, might have done them some good.
Froome's just running scared and doesn't want any competition
Bit pathetic really Froome needs to man up and stop being a pussy.
Another day, anther Sky PR story. That's all this is: out & out PR to fill as many column inches with Team Sky stores.
Dear oh dear,
Here we go ... cycling fan boys swinging hand bags over their preferred self obsessed Sky lackey.
I miss the days when British cyclists were small fry - didn't have the constant mindless chatter of that peculiarly British mob/fan mentality of taking sides and arguing the toss.
I like it, the drama and speculation is a bit of fun.
Wiggins stated that his aims for 2013 were the Giro followed by supporting Froome's challenge for the Tour. That to me is deciding NOT to defend your title.
As to his 'injury' - I was then and still am suspicious of it. It has the ring of a 'political' injury particularly in light of non-payment of bonuses and the open animosity they feel for each other.
"Still, I'm sure Brailsford will make the correct decision" - madindehead. I wonder is you will feel it's the correct decision if it's not the one you want?
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