Wiggins warns of possible friction within Team Sky

SIR Bradley Wiggins has claimed Team Sky will have a “problem on their hands” if Geraint Thomas takes the yellow jersey in the Tour de France ahead of Chris Froome. Thomas sits second to Greg Van Avermaet in the general classification after nine stages, 43 seconds off yellow and 59 seconds ahead of Froome. Though Sky have insisted Froome remains team leader, Thomas has been given licence to race for himself through the first part of the Tour and 2012 winner Wiggins foresees trouble if he stays ahead. Ex-Sky rider Wiggins said on Eurosport’s The Bradley Wiggins Show. “If Geraint stays where he is and takes the yellow jersey they’ve got a real problem on their hands.” Wiggins said Sir Dave Brailsford would be “in the ears” of both riders telling them they can win the Tour in order to keep them motivated, suggesting the team principal can be “divisive” at such times. Wiggins added of Brailsford: “He’s quite self-serving. For him, it’s about the team winning, it’s not about the individuals or the characters. He will always be in those riders’ ears constantly, and he has been up till now as you can see. Both riders have got this joint leadership role, but that’s dangerous. But the quality they have in that team, they could end up first or second.” By keeping Thomas close to the front, Sky are giving themselves a back-up for Froome, who is trying to become the first man to do the GiroTour double since 1998, and win a fourth consecutive Grand Tour. The Tour heads to the Alps today after yesterday’s rest day, with stage ten featuring four categorised climbs in 158.5km between Annecy and Le Grand-Bornand.