Froome: Brailsford is key to Team Sky

THREE-TIME Tour de France champion Chris Froome has suggested Team Sky would cease to exist without team principal Sir Dave Brailsford.

Brailsford has insisted he won’t quit despite the ongoing UK Anti-Doping investigation into allegations of wrongdoing which has heaped scrutiny on the British squad.

It was recently reported that unnamed Team Sky riders had held internal discussions to consider whether to ask Brailsford to quit.

The former British Cycling performance director later received the public backing of Geraint Thomas and many other riders, although an endorsement from Froome was conspicuous by its absence.

Froome issued a considered 200-word statement yesterday which acknowledged Team Sky and Brailsford are inextricably linked.

“Without Dave B, there is no Team Sky,” Froome said. “He has created one of the best sports teams in the world.

“He has supported me throughout the last seven years of my career and I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunities and the experiences I’ve had.

“By his own admission, mistakes have been made, but protocols have been put in place to ensure that those same mistakes will not be made again.

“I know it will take time for faith to be restored, but I will do my utmost to ensure that happens, along with everyone else at Team Sky.”

ATHLETICS Durban has been stripped of the 2022 Commonwealth Games after failing to meet key obligations.

Durban was awarded the Games in September 2015 after Edmonton withdrew, but last month South African sports minister Fikile Mbalula indicated financial constraints were causing problems.

“We gave it our best shot, but we can’t go beyond. If the country says we don’t have this money, we can’t,” he said.

An alternative host city is now being sought.