Froome stunned as Team Sky lose sponsor but Brailsford vows to fight on
CHRIS FROOME admitted he was “surprised” after Team Sky’s future was plunged into doubt by the withdrawal of their headline sponsor.
The end of cycling’s most successful, and controversial, venture was signalled when Sky announced it was pulling the plug after the 2019 season.
Team Sky principal Sir Dave Brailsford, who masterminded six Tour de France wins for Froome, Geraint Thomas and Sir Bradley Wiggins, promised: “We’re not finished yet.”
But Brailsford’s pet project, built on his empire of marginal gains, will only continue in 2020 and beyond if a new backer is found.
Mirror Sport understands there was a near-stunned silence when Brailsford informed staff of the decision on Tuesday night at Team Sky’s training camp in Mallorca.
Four-times Yellow Jersey winner Froome
(right) said: “Naturally it came as a surprise. But at the same time we’re extremely grateful for the time we’ve had with Sky as a sponsor. “It’s been quite a journey and it’s not over yet. “The team has been incredibly successful and I’ve got every confidence that if we deliver another season on a par with previous years, we should be able to find a new sponsor.” Back in 2010, Brailsford launched the team with a target of a British winner of Le Tour within five years. Since Wiggins became the first Brit to roll up the Champs Elysees in triumph just two years later, Team Sky have dominated the race, winning six of the last seven.
But US cable giant Comcast’s £30billion takeover of Sky earlier this year always increased the likelihood of road cycling’s richest team needing fresh investment.
Brailsford (right) claimed the news had not come as a shock to him, saying: “Let’s face it, the reality of the situation with Sky and the environment and everything else... did it come as a surprise? No, not really. We aren’t finished yet by any means. We will be doing everything to deliver more success in 2019.” On Brailsford’s watch, Team Sky have won eight Grand Tours, 52 other stage races and 25 one-day races. But their budget – which nudged £35million this year – is the richest of any team on the road and has long been a source of envy. And although none of the mud slung at them has stuck, with no categorical proof they have broken any rules, Team Sky have been dogged by dopingrelated controversy.