BRAILSFORD ON THE BRINK
Froome ignores Sky’s ‘tweet or else’ edict
SIR DAVE Brailsford’s position as the head of Team Sky appeared untenable last night after a request to riders to publicly back him was seemingly ignored by Chris Froome.
The situation at the crisis-hit cycling team descended into farce when claims of an uprising from riders against their boss was met by a blanket request to tweet support or risk the team going under.
Cycling News quoted an unnamed source claiming riders were becoming increasingly concerned that Brailsford’s handling of the Jiffy bag controversy and the Sir Bradley Wiggins medical exemption storm was damaging the credibility of the team.
Brailsford and his management team responded to the Cycling
News story by asking riders to support him on social media, and a series of messages followed from riders such as Geraint Thomas.
It was noticeable that a number tweeted much the same message, pledging their ‘100 per cent’ backing but in doing so exposing that it was an orchestrated response.
But Froome, who is currently training in South Africa, did not appear to follow suit, tweeting a picture of himself having dinner at around the same time but making no mention Brailsford. Last night an insider revealed that riders had essentially been told to ‘tweet or else’ while observing that the team management had ‘lost the plot’.
There is a widely held belief that if principal sponsor Sky do ask Brailsford to step down, it will spell the end. As one source said: ‘Team Sky IS Dave Brailsford.’
But some riders were uncomfortable with the pressure that was exerted. Froome also declined to offer his unequivocal support for Brailsford back in January.
Stories had emerged from Team Sky’s Paris-Nice training camp that several leading riders had discussed approaching Brailsford and asking him to step down.
Last week Damian Collins MP ended a select committee hearing by saying Team Sky’s ‘credibility was in tatters’ after hearing from the head of UK Anti-Doping, who are investigating allegations surrounding a medical package ordered by Team Sky for Wiggins.
For Sky and British Cycling the hearing was a disaster with revela- tions that the team doctor did not keep proper medical records to explain the package or a bulk order for the drug triamcinolone.
UK Anti-Doping have launched a full investigation into whether the team and British Cycling committed a violation in 2011 when a medical package was transported from Manchester to the Criterium du Dauphine to treat Wiggins.
Cycling News quoted an unnamed rider claiming: ‘There is a concern over the impact that this may have on the current season and the distraction it is all causing for Dave Brailsford and the other management.
‘With a team that is so focused on details, things are starting to slip through the cracks because people’s attentions are elsewhere.
‘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?’
Pressure has intensified on Brailsford with the team’s doctor Richard Freeman unable to provide medical records to assist UK Anti-Doping’s investigation, and MPs claiming British Cycling has been left in a ‘terrible position’ regarding their credibility.
Brailsford also appeared to request the support of his staff. Team director Nicolas Portal said: ‘I back Dave 100 per cent. I know that there are a few things, but he’s a great manager. That’s the end of the story for me.’