Sir Dave Brailsford flexed his manager’s muscles last night when he insisted Team Sky selection for the Tour was his and his alone.
The team's other knight of the realm, Sir Bradley Wiggins gloomily predicted he would be absent from the final nine at the depart in Leeds on July 5, but Sir Dave made it plain he had the final word.
However, there was little to suggest he would demur from nominating defending champion Chris Froome as team leader, and hinted bad blood between the Maida Vale man and Froome might well be crucial.
“In building that team, I have to take the group dynamic into consideration,” he said.
“Trust and harmony are important considerations and it’s a difficult decision. I’m not just talking about the harmony between Chris and Brad but harmony amongst all the riders and staff.
“Despite the impression that might have been created, the team for the Tour is not yet finalised.
“I will be the one making the decision on who is in that team. I speak with our performance team, the riders can offer an opinion, but they don’t select the team and they never will.”
As part of the team’s preparation, Froome is currently racing the Critérium du Dauphiné. For the past three years, Sky have used the Dauphiné as the main dress rehearsal for the Tour, and there seems no reason to change a winning formula.
Sir Brad will start at the Tour of Switzerland on Saturday.
