Brailsford shock
‘I have considered resigning as head of Team Sky’
Sir Dave Brailsford, the Team Sky principal, admitted for the first time last night that he had considered resigning, as the squad made a hugely uncomfortable start to the Giro d’italia here, with Chris Froome having to fend off questions over his salbutamol case.
The race does not start until tomorrow but, if this was a sign of things to come, it promises to be a difficult three weeks for Sky.
Sitting on a dais in the incongruous surrounds of the Waldorf Astoria – the race HQ for this Grande Partenza – Froome repeated what he has said many times since his adverse analytical finding for the asthma drug was made public; that he could understand all the questions, that he felt he had done nothing wrong, that he was confident he would be fully exonerated and would be riding in the Tour de France this summer.
But that did not make the atmosphere any less awkward. Of the dozen or so questions put to Sky, 80 per cent concerned Froome’s salbutamol case or other recent contro- versies, and 100 per cent were put to either Froome or Brailsford. Sky’s seven other riders for this race, and sporting director Nicolas Portal, could only watch on helplessly.
It was Brailsford’s admission that he had considered his future as Sky principal that was of most note.
The former performance director of British Cycling has kept a low profile this season. This was the first time he had spoken since the publication of the Digital, Culture Media and Sport select committee’s stinging report into doping in sport in March, which concluded that Sky had effectively “played the system” by giving Therapeutic Use Exemptions to Sir Bradley Wiggins before three of the biggest races of his career, including his victorious 2012 Tour de France.
MPS labelled those treatments “unethical”, while slamming Sky’s medical record-keeping.
After a brief dispute with a journalist over exactly how accessible he had been this year – Brailsford insisted he had been at all the races and would have been willing to speak with anyone – he was asked whether he had considered resigning.
“I think anybody in this game considers their position every day,” he replied. “I would say that I’m constantly asking if I’m the right man to lead these guys. Because it’s not about me, let’s be honest. My role is to help these guys not just to perform but to perform optimally, and there’s a difference.
“I think that regardless of the select committee or anything else, there’s a constant sense of selfquestioning about whether I’m appropriately placed or do I have the right skills to be able to do that. It’s something you ask yourself all the time.
“Some things come and go, things change, the situation and context around you changes. But I’m here because I think I am still in the position where I can help these guys be the best they can be.”
Brailsford is going to need to keep Froome focused on the task in hand if he is to stand any chance in this Giro.
The pre-race favourite went into yesterday’s press conference just hours after his major rival Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb) stoked the flames of his controversy by repeating that it was “not good for cycling” and that if he were in Froome’s shoes he would not be racing.
“If I was in the same situation, I would not be here, because my team is part of the MPCC [Movement for Credible Cycling],” the Dutchman said.
“Maybe he’s going to win the Giro and then a few weeks later he loses the title. It’s not good for anyone, but I can’t change it.”
Mind you, focus is not usually Froome’s weak suit. The Briton, 32, has faced hostile crowds, particularly in France, and come through with flying colours.
If Froome does do it, he would become the first since Bernard Hinault in 1982-83, and only the third man in history after Hinault and Eddy Merckx, to win a “Tiger Slam” of grand tours; to be reigning champion of the tours of France, Spain and Italy at the same time.
Tomorrow’s opening stage is a 9.7 kilometre individual time trial.