Sir Dave Brailsford says he has no intention of resigning from Team Sky

Embattled Team Sky boss Sir Dave Brailsford says he has no intention of resigning his position despite the continuing furore over the contents of the medical package destined for Sir Bradley Wiggins at the Criterium du Dauphiné in 2011 and the leaking of parts of a damning report into British Cycling in which he was described as “untouchable.”

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Brailsford, who left his role as performance director of British Cycling in early 2014 to focus full-time on his duties as Team Sky principal, was given a public vote of confidence on Twitter earlier this week by the chairman of its board and the team’s sponsor, as well as most of its riders – but not three time Tour de France winner, Chris Froome.

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That followed a weekend in which veteran cycling journalist and author William Fotheringham had said that Brailsford had no option but to resign, with subsequent reports of some riders on the team considering his position untenable.

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The 53-year-old, who told the House of Commons Select Committee for Culture, Media and Sport before Christmas that the Dauphiné package contained the decongestant Fluimucil, which is not banned, has kept his own counsel for the past couple of months while the twin controversies have rumbled on.

But he broke his silence at the Italian stage race Tirreno-Adriatico today, telling Cycling News: “Of course I’m not hiding. I’m fine in myself and I’ve got confidence in my team.”

Asked whether he was considering leaving Team Sky, he replied: “No. My thoughts are about what’s good for the team and what’s right.

“We’re just here to win as many races as possible and do it the right way and that’s my primary concern and that’s what I think about.”

Earlier this week, Geraint Thomas – winner of yesterday’s third stage of the race – expressed his frustration that he and his team mates were under scrutiny while Wiggins was avoiding “the flak.”

Brailsford said: “I’m disappointed that anything from the past, I’m not saying that there was any wrongdoing, but that the current guys within the team get any reflection from something, which has nothing to do with them. I’m very disappointed they have to do that.”

He accepted that both the media and UK Anti-doping were right to ask questions about the contents of the by now infamous Jiffy Bag delivered to former Team Sky doctor Richard Freeman at the 2011 Dauphiné.

“When you think about it, if there’s any issue at any time, you’ve got to establish the facts,” he said.

“Once you’ve got the facts, then you can establish whether there was any wrongdoing,” continued Brailsford. “I welcome the fact that [UKAD] are independently looking at it.”

“It’s not me giving my view, which would to a certain extent be perceived to be biased, it’s an independent view and then the facts can be established and then the people can make the right decision about what to do going forward.”

“My job is to oversee and think, what is best for the team now, the partners, the riders and Chris [Froome], and think how do we make sure we perform and win races, which is what we’re here to do.”

He added: “On a personal level, I’ve been through a lot over the years and it’s important to make sure that you can look at yourself and say that there has been no wrong doing. I’m confident of that.”

He was less forthcoming when asked about Froome, who unlike most of his team mates has maintained a silence in recent days while others were tweeting their backing of Brailsford.

It was subsequently reported that the UCI WorldTour outfit had initially planned to release a letter in support of the team principal, but had to shelve that idea when it transpired that Froome would not be signing it.

Former Team Sky rider Nicolas Roche, now with BMC Racing, wrote yesterday in his column in the Irish Independent that he too would not have signed such a letter had he been asked to do so.

“The controversy surrounding Team Sky at the moment, I believe, concerns just a few people but is tarnishing the credibility of anyone who has ever ridden for the team, including me,” said Roche.

“Almost every day since the story broke, something new seems to emerge: mysterious Jiffy Bags, missing medical records, stolen laptops, and we all find out about it at the same time from the internet.

“Maybe I don't have all the facts but something just doesn't add up.”

He added: “During the week, it was reported that Chris Froome was one of the riders who refused to sign a statement giving his support of beleaguered team boss Dave Brailsford and, in fairness, I probably would have done the same.

“If I've learned anything from the past it's that you can't put your hand in the fire for anyone.”

Concerning Froome, Brailsford confined himself to saying: “We had a good conversation, that’s it.”