~RS~q~RS~v=~RS~z~RS~14~RS~)
Dave Brailsford picks Chris Froome for 2013 Tour de France success
Froome will get vote over Wiggins to lead Tour de France challenge
Team Sky boss Dave Brailsford says Chris Froome is set to lead the British outfit's Tour de France 2013 challenge and not Bradley Wiggins.
Froome, 27, helped Wiggins, 32, win the 2012 Tour but it seems the pair will switch roles for next year's race.
Cycling gold under Dave Brailsford at London 2012
- Bradley Wiggins: Men's individual time trial
- Victoria Pendleton: Women's keirin
- Jason Kenny: Men's individual sprint
- Laura Trott: Women's omnium
- Sir Chris Hoy: Men's keirin
- Sir Chris Hoy, Jason Kenny & Philip Hindes: Men's team sprint
- Geraint Thomas, Ed Clancy, Peter Kennaugh & Steven Burke: Men's team pursuit
- Laura Trott, Dani King & Joanna Rowsell: Women's team pursuit
Brailsford said the plan had not "completely been signed off".
But he added: "The Tour of Italy would be a very good target for Bradley and leave Froomy then to focus on the Tour de France."
At this year's Tour de France, Froome finished runner-up to Wiggins, who became the first British winner of the event.
However, Froome looked stronger than Wiggins in some of the mountain stages.
The 100th edition of the Tour de France, which runs from 29 June to 21 July next year, is likely to favour top climbers such as Kenyan-born Froome.
That will enable Wiggins to be able to focus on the Tour of Italy (Giro d'Italia), a race he loves but is known for being a hugely challenging grand tour to win. It runs from 4-26 May.
Brailsford, 48, is British cycling's performance director and was speaking at UK Sport's world class performance conference in Leeds. He masterminded Great Britain winning eight gold medals at London 2012.
Some of Brailsford's colleagues have since moved to other sports but he believes their replacements can move the organisation forward.
"It's inevitable, but it means you get fresh people and new ideas," added Brailsford.
"Matt Parker and our two performance analysts went off to rugby, but Matt had been there 10 years and if you carry on with the same group at some point in time you are going to get myopic.
"So I think bringing in people with new ideas that we listen to is healthy."
Comments
Jump to comments pagination
All posts are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules.
More from Cycling
-
Cycling
Visconti takes second Giro stage win
-
Cycling
Giro d'Italia: Stage 17 as it happened
-
Listen to audio Giro d'Italia podcast from BBC Radio 5 live
Giro d'Italia podcast from 5 live
-
Listen to audio Cavendish sprints to Giro opener
Cavendish sprints to Giro opener
Elsewhere on the BBC
-
A novel idea?
How US libraries are responding to the change from printed books to digital publishing
-
Comment number 112.
tonyclark30th November 2012 - 12:28
Lancegate will sorted soon chaps. The UCI have put Tanni Grey-Thompson on the case !!!
Link to this (Comment number 112)
Comment number 111.
tonyclark30th November 2012 - 9:06
Bradley is now 32 and Brailsford wants him to retire as a cycling legend, not just as one of the guys who have won 'two' yellow jerseys! To do this he must (using tennis jargon) do the 'Grand Slam'. ie. The Pink jersey (Italy) and the red jersey (Spain). These are just as difficult and also three weeks long. Only five men in history have achived this.
Tony
Link to this (Comment number 111)
Comment number 110.
tonyclark30th November 2012 - 8:55
Totally agree with RMP Taff (108 +109), however ever, may I add two comments :-
1) Sky do not want to lose Chris Froome now that he has emerged as a grand tour GC contender. As team leader in the TDF, with the strongest 8 man support in pro cycling, why should he want to leave Sky!
contnued . . .
Tony
Link to this (Comment number 110)
Comment number 109.
RMPTaff29th November 2012 - 21:57
juventus18,
Wiggins doesn't WANT to defend the TdF, he said so pretty much straight after the win, plus he knows the 2013 course does not favour him as it will Froome. It's no secret that Brad is concentrating on the Giro.
He's got the Dauphine and TdF, understandably wants the Giro too but the Vuelta may be one year and one Grand Tour too many, but you never know....
Link to this (Comment number 109)
Comment number 108.
RMPTaff29th November 2012 - 21:42
This is hardly worthy of column inches. Brad said he would support Froome's assault on the title next year after recieving his help and assistance throughout this year's tour.
As Brad has openly said his focus is on the Giro (and has been for many months) the whole cycling world knew Froome was going to be Sky's No 1 for TdF 2013.
He can do it, but overhauling Contador will be the hardest test.
Link to this (Comment number 108)
Comments 5 of 112