"Gutted" - Sir Bradley Wiggins confirms he won't ride Tour de France

given all team sky's work on extracting every possible gain, I would have thought they would have looked at everything with regards to assembling this team, they obv don't feel its the best fit in the team dynamic - brailsford understands wiggins and has a long term working relationship with him so probably knows him far better than the people on this forum and has an understanding about who he would impact the TdF sky team; so all this talk of keyboard warriors suggesting Braislford is making a huge mistake, as if he hasn't given this full thought is a little rediculous.

As a casual observer, there is plenty of stuff to suggest he is a good enough rider but also to suggest Wiggins will choose who he rides and commits to/for, as seen at the worlds champs last year as opposed to 2011 WC - so within the team management envirionemnt this may be even more preverlent.

It is and was supposed to be about the team and team leader and plenty of people who supported wiggins and have been team mates for him seem determined to turn themselves inside out for both froome or wiggins so you have to suggests froome isn't that bad of a person/team mate, and neither is wiggins - though it appears froome and wiggins are like oil and water.

In Brailsford I trust. He's the boss. Wiggins is a difficult character who obviously hasn't been willing to become a team player. Cycling is a team sport as he says himself.

I don't see how Sky have done anything other than make a very rational decision based on team dynamics and performance. Wiggo is a great rider but would have been an unsettling force within the team despite all the reassurances to the contrary.

Sky dumping on Cav? How does that work out? He was paid handsomely, was let off a break clause that could have cost millions and then went on to make a great deal of money at OPQS. He knew exactly what Sky's focus would be in the tour as they clearly stated GC as their main objective when they setup in the first place. The problem with many riders (like many top sportsmen/women) is their fragile egos and it takes a lot of adjustment going from The Mr Big to A.N.Other Mr Big.

Christ, some of the comments on here are so bloody childish. Look at what Wiggo said in his interview. He is undoubtedly gutted but he is being very professional about it. Froome is the guy who has been the focus of the team and you don't win the TdF without a damn good team and Wiggo has clearly stated that if he was to be part of that team now, it could throw the whole team dynamics out of sync.

P.s. Wiggo could be in with a great chance in the Vuelta this year anyway!

It's a shame for the publicity of the tour - Wiggo is a legend!

But, as others have said, it's about Froome having the best possible team to go up against Contador (Who is looking dangerous!) and Wiggo obviously isn't seen by Froome and Brailsford as being the man - simple as.

Personally i think Sky will be missing a trick, with the TT being the penultimate stage (if Froome has a poor show, could be taken advantage of by Contador et al) Wiggo could have been Sky's saving grace due to his quality TT skills. But, if DB and CF are confident in the rest of the squad then fair enough!

Still going to be a great tour.

I honestly dislike Froome's attitude towards Bradley since two years ago. He seems to have an ego that damages those around him. I know many will disagree, yet I feel Sky could have done better with Wiggo. Hope he finds a team that supports him, Tinkoff-Saxo or any other. Just as mentioned before Cav struggled at Sky and he seems to be happy now at OPQS, hope Brad can do the same.

Obvious choice by the management at sky. It is all about having one leader and team he trusts completely. Given froome and wiggins don't get on and it is all about froome winning then leaving him out is key to this success. It doesn't matter how good brad is, if he isn't a team player in that team, then he is not helping overall success. I think the spats between them in the past, such as taking about year to pay froome his share of tour winning spoils, shows the relationship. What goes around comes around too. Makes complete sense, you don't want a team full of captains and leaders.

For me, Sky and the TDF will be a lot less interesting this year. So many of us tend to support riders, not teams. Would be good to see Froome win again of course but for whatever reason 2013 was nothing like seeing Wiggins win in 2012, that was just magical.

Im gutted for Wiggo!
Its a massive shame that he wont be there on the start line on home soil for both himself and the public who wanted to see him race the tour!!

Tinkov might have a point, Rogers, Roche, Majka etc al Wiggins looks a good team to me. Contador may go for the Giro next year, Wiggins has one more road year in him before RIO, which will prob see him refocus on track. Maybe he still got the Vuelta this year if he's up for that along with the Worlds.

"To an outsider, unfamiliar with how teams work, it probably seems bizarre that a rider would have to persuade his team to try to allow him to win the biggest race in the sport."

~Chris Froome

Gotta love that tweet from Oleg Tinkov. But this shame tho as the public love Sir Wiggins and to not race on home soil is a blunder for the sport. This is Wiggins choice I'm sure of it, as he will not be the team leader. I hope he doesn't cry so much when he is racing for that Australian team.

Can not Believe that Sir Brad is not going to the Tour. Absolutely ridiculous. I think the power has gone to Brailsfords head. Still plenty of other teams out there for Sir Brad.

Good on him for taking it on the chin, no throwing his toys or whatever. I can't help thinking though that all this achieves is that one of the world's best won't be at the biggest race.

I hope this has been a purely rational decision made by DB and not a call made by CF as a result of all the digs at each other.

He looks absolutely gutted. Who wouldn't be when you've been dumped on and Sky have dumped on Wiggins just like they did Cav, but Cav got out. Wiggins should shave seen the writing on the wall and got out last year irrespective of contract.

Bradley is being very hard done by. Is it too late for him to ride for another team this season I wonder ?

I hope Froome gets his arse kicked in Le Tour.

This is an unbelievable shame. He deserves more respect than this. Put me in the ABF camp (Anyone But Froome).

I'd love to see Brad at Garmin next year.