Inside Team Sky
Page 29
Speaking of patience, I am indebted to my family for whom, too often over the last twelve months, I have been a ship passing in the night. But whenever I get home, they are still there. Thank you. And the next twelve months will be better.
In the course of writing this book, I had the good fortune to begin a working relationship with Connor Schwartz, a close friend of our youngest son Conor. At first I asked if he could do some transcribing. Quick and accurate with his transcriptions, he was soon editing. Chapter after chapter, everything he touched he improved.
He’s only a kid out of university, but I tell you the country’s future is in good hands.
Endnotes
1 By the end of 2012 de Jongh would have moved on from Team Sky in difficult circumstances too. He elaborated on his career in an open letter which included the passages:
My doping was done by me, and nobody ever forced me. Of course, I always knew it was wrong and was scared of the risks I was taking. And I will always regret what I did.
I took EPO on a few occasions from 1998 to 2000. It was very easy to get hold of and I knew it couldn't be detected. I was a fairly young rider, the opportunity was there right in front of me and it was a pretty big challenge to stay away from the temptation. There was no pressure at all from my team, the Directors or the Doctors to take it. This was my choice.
2 The pride and eagerness with which G Thomas foisted the X-ray of his pelvic fracture upon anyone and everyone quickly became a running joke within the team. Some claimed to have seen the photo many times and were still getting accosted by Thomas most mornings: ‘Have you seen my X-ray? Look, there’s my fractured pelvis.’ Of course, the frequency of these was soon more than doubled by the other riders’ mickey taking and sarcasm: ‘Hey G, how’s your pelvis? I heard you might have a picture of it on your phone. That sounds really interesting, can I have a look?’ Thomas could take the ribbing and return it with interest.
3 The thinking was that as Jonathan Tiernan-Locke was a British cyclist riding for a British team, an anti-doping case against him would destroy the notion that Brian Cookson came from a country (GB) with no link to cycling’s doping culture. The sources said ‘political tool’. They meant ‘ice pick to Cookson’s skull’.
List of Illustrations
1. Chris Froome leaves teammate Bradley Wiggins and 2011 Tour winner Cadel Evans trailing in his wake during Stage Seven of the 2012 Tour de France, which he would go on to win.
2. But it was when Froome took the lead on Stage Eleven on La Toussuire and had to slow down to allow team leader Wiggins to catch him up that their relationship really took a turn for the worse.
3. Wiggins finished the Tour in the yellow jersey with Froome the runner-up at 3’21”. It was clear that Froome was ambitious to go one better.
4. In the aftermath of Lance Armstrong, doping is always a topic for debate, but when Wiggins was questioned during the 2012 Tour as to whether his performance had in any way been enhanced, his response was explosive. ‘Bone-idleness’ was one of the few repeatable terms used to describe his anonymous critics.
5. Former Team Sky doctor Geert Leinders is quizzed by the media in January 2013 after he had been implicated in doping while working for Rabobank earlier in his career. It was an embarrassing moment for the zero-tolerance British team.
6. Tim Kerrison, head of performance support, discusses a point with Chris Froome during Team Sky’s training camp in Mallorca in January 2013.
7. Chris Froome (right) leads the group in high-altitude training on Tenerife during April 2013, but their venue raised unfortunate echoes with Lance’s US Postal team, who also came here to train.
8. Ian Stannard leads the way for Team Sky on Stage One of the 2013 Tour de France – perfect teamwork on the route to Bastia.
9. But a crash soon left the strategy in ruins, not least because Geraint Thomas suffered a broken pelvis in the accident.
10. At least things didn’t go as badly for Sky as they did for the organisers and for Orica- GreenEDGE, whose coach got wedged under the finish line at Bastia on the first day.
11. The ultra-calm Edvald Boasson Hagen talks to the fans before the start of Stage Three in Calvi, but by the end of the day Dave Brailsford would be lamenting, ‘We don’t have a team.’
12. But the spirit and courage of Geraint Thomas, broken pelvis and all, coupled with the planning and strategic thinking Rod Ellingworth soon helped them to regain their customary authority.
13. The peloton winds its way through the Corsican countryside en route to Calvi.
14. Peter Kennaugh leads the way, with Richie Porte and Chris Froome in close attendance, setting a furious pace.
15. His work enabled Froome to blow away his rivals as he climbed Ax 3 Domaines and take a grip on the race that was never relinquished.
16. Afterwards, Froome was debriefed by mechanics Gary Blem (left) and David Fernandez.
17. Froome displays his yellow jersey back in his hotel room, sitting on the mattress that Team Sky transported everywhere during the Tour.
18. Vasil Kiryienka on the last day of his Tour, 7 July, when he exceeded the time limit for Stage Nine by just a minute. He was devastated to miss the rest of the race.
19. The Team Sky cyclists head to the press conference during the rest day at Le Baule, just as the police were jam-busting performance assistant Oli Cookson.
20. Kanstantsin Siutsou takes some refreshment during the Tour. Detailed planning even goes in to the composition of the drinks bottles on his back.
21. Head of operations Carsten Jeppesen would often work with Rod Ellingworth to provide advance information on the state of the roads and the wind conditions before the cyclists got there to ensure as little was left to chance as possible.
22. Chris Froome gives Geraint Thomas a helping hand during Stage Thirteen of the Tour.
23. Froome had learned much of his cycling from David Kinjah, growing up in the Ngong Hills in Kenya. But this was the day he really showed how he had become a master tactician.
24. Chris Froome tucks in behind Nairo Quintana on the desolate, windswept Mont Ventoux.
25. With the crowd urging them on, Froome would eventually secure the stage win by 29 seconds from Quintana.
26. Dave Brailsford, physio Dan Guillemette and team doctor Alan Farrell pose next to the Tom Simpson memorial on Mont Ventoux.
27. Chris Froome toasts the rest of Team Sky after his success on Mont Ventoux.
28. After success come yet more questions about doping. Froome and Dave Brailsford try to find the answers that will convince a sceptical world.
29. The Team Sky bus, designed with the help of Formula 1 teams, which is set up to provide maximum comfort for the cyclists.
30. Alberto Contador’s smile seems genuine enough, but he has just lost out to Chris Froome on the final time trial of the Tour.
31. The crowds for Stage Eighteen gave Chris Froome a mixed response, with some cheering him on, while others were more hostile.
32. His teammates made sure that Froome was well protected on his ride up Alpe d’Huez, and at the end of it all he had increased his grip on the race.
33. Chris Froome is accompanied by press officer Dario Cioni after the end of Stage Twenty, which ensured he would be riding into Paris the next day as the winner of the race.
34. Accompanied by his teammates, Froome celebrates as he crosses the finish line.
35. Jonathan Tiernan-Locke has his time-trialling position analysed during Team Sky’s pre-season training camp in Mallorca, but the year would end with questions being asked about some anomalous readings in his biological passport data.
36. Lead carer Mario Pafundi is the oil on the wheel for Team Sky.
1. Chris Froome leaves teammate Bradley Wiggins and 2011 Tour winner Cadel Evans trailing in his wake during Stage Seven of the 2012 Tour de France, which he would go on to win.
2. But it was when Froome took the lead on Stage Eleven on La Toussuire and had to slow down to allow team lea
der Wiggins to catch him up that their relationship really took a turn for the worse.
3. Wiggins finished the Tour in the yellow jersey with Froome the runner-up at 3’21”. It was clear that Froome was ambitious to go one better.
4. In the aftermath of Lance Armstrong, doping is always a topic for debate, but when Wiggins was questioned during the 2012 Tour as to whether his performance had in any way been enhanced, his response was explosive. ‘Bone-idleness’ was one of the few repeatable terms used to describe his anonymous critics.
5. Former Team Sky doctor Geert Leinders is quizzed by the media in January 2013 after he had been implicated in doping while working for Rabobank earlier in his career. It was an embarrassing moment for the zero-tolerance British team.
6. Tim Kerrison, head of performance support, discusses a point with Chris Froome during Team Sky’s training camp in Mallorca in January 2013.
7. Chris Froome (right) leads the group in high-altitude training on Tenerife during April 2013, but their venue raised unfortunate echoes with Lance’s US Postal team, who also came here to train.
8. Ian Stannard leads the way for Team Sky on Stage One of the 2013 Tour de France – perfect teamwork on the route to Bastia.
9. But a crash soon left the strategy in ruins, not least because Geraint Thomas suffered a broken pelvis in the accident.
10. At least things didn’t go as badly for Sky as they did for the organisers and for Orica- GreenEDGE, whose coach got wedged under the finish line at Bastia on the first day.
11. The ultra-calm Edvald Boasson Hagen talks to the fans before the start of Stage Three in Calvi, but by the end of the day Dave Brailsford would be lamenting, ‘We don’t have a team.’
12. But the spirit and courage of Geraint Thomas, broken pelvis and all, coupled with the planning and strategic thinking Rod Ellingworth soon helped them to regain their customary authority.
13. The peloton winds its way through the Corsican countryside en route to Calvi.
14. Peter Kennaugh leads the way, with Richie Porte and Chris Froome in close attendance, setting a furious pace.
15. His work enabled Froome to blow away his rivals as he climbed Ax 3 Domaines and take a grip on the race that was never relinquished.
16. Afterwards, Froome was debriefed by mechanics Gary Blem (left) and David Fernandez.
17. Froome displays his yellow jersey back in his hotel room, sitting on the mattress that Team Sky transported everywhere during the Tour.
18. Vasil Kiryienka on the last day of his Tour, 7 July, when he exceeded the time limit for Stage Nine by just a minute. He was devastated to miss the rest of the race.
19. The Team Sky cyclists head to the press conference during the rest day at Le Baule, just as the police were jam-busting performance assistant Oli Cookson.
20. Kanstantsin Siutsou takes some refreshment during the Tour. Detailed planning even goes in to the composition of the drinks bottles on his back.
21. Head of operations Carsten Jeppesen would often work with Rod Ellingworth to provide advance information on the state of the roads and the wind conditions before the cyclists got there to ensure as little was left to chance as possible.
22. Chris Froome gives Geraint Thomas a helping hand during Stage Thirteen of the Tour.
23. Froome had learned much of his cycling from David Kinjah, growing up in the Ngong Hills in Kenya. But this was the day he really showed how he had become a master tactician.
24. Chris Froome tucks in behind Nairo Quintana on the desolate, windswept Mont Ventoux.
25. With the crowd urging them on, Froome would eventually secure the stage win by 29 seconds from Quintana.
26. Dave Brailsford, physio Dan Guillemette and team doctor Alan Farrell pose next to the Tom Simpson memorial on Mont Ventoux.
27. Chris Froome toasts the rest of Team Sky after his success on Mont Ventoux.
28. After success come yet more questions about doping. Froome and Dave Brailsford try to find the answers that will convince a sceptical world.
29. The Team Sky bus, designed with the help of Formula 1 teams, which is set up to provide maximum comfort for the cyclists.
30. Alberto Contador’s smile seems genuine enough, but he has just lost out to Chris Froome on the final time trial of the Tour.
31. The crowds for Stage Eighteen gave Chris Froome a mixed response, with some cheering him on, while others were more hostile.
32. His teammates made sure that Froome was well protected on his ride up Alpe d’Huez, and at the end of it all he had increased his grip on the race.
33. Chris Froome is accompanied by press officer Dario Cioni after the end of Stage Twenty, which ensured he would be riding into Paris the next day as the winner of the race.
34. Accompanied by his teammates, Froome celebrates as he crosses the finish line.
35. Jonathan Tiernan-Locke has his time-trialling position analysed during Team Sky’s pre-season training camp in Mallorca, but the year would end with questions being asked about some anomalous readings in his biological passport data.
36. Lead carer Mario Pafundi is the oil on the wheel for Team Sky.