Leadership Battles

Well, this seemed a bit inevitable to be honest. Bradley Wiggins, with days to go to the Giro has come out and said he wants to win the Tour de France again this year. It would be exceptional to do the double in a year and he understandably wants to do it if he can, and feels he’s in the form of his life.

The problem, of course, is that Chris Froome has been publically given his head to improve on last year’s second place. Will the team have two leaders? Will this tear them apart and leave them floundering with split resources? Will the in-fighting materialise on a big mountain stage, and in the end which one of them has the legs to do it. Froome has been winning stage races in his build-up, while Wiggins hasn’t, but has been sticking with Nibali, arguably his biggest rival for the Giro, in the hills.

It wasn’t long after these reports that the reaction came:

This just in from @chrisfroome "I have been reassured by the management at Team Sky that I have their fullbacking.....

— Ned Boulting (@nedboulting) April 29, 2013

"...and at no time, has the leadership of the Tour team been in question."

— Ned Boulting (@nedboulting) April 29, 2013

"Attempting to win the Tour de France, is a massive undertaking, and will take total commitment from each & every team member."

— Ned Boulting (@nedboulting) April 29, 2013

"The Tour team has yet to be selected but with the depth of talent that we have at Team Sky..."

— Ned Boulting (@nedboulting) April 29, 2013

"...I have no doubt that the strongest & most willing riders will be there to support me."

— Ned Boulting (@nedboulting) April 29, 2013

And is all of this a big stunt to build comment and interest around Sky at the Grand Tours?

As a light relief to cyclists fighting, let’s end with a bunch of them clearly getting on and having fun. Sometimes I forget that road cyclists don’t enjoy fun.

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