Team Sky cycling boss denies pressure to deliver

AFP Global Edition | 2010-01-21 09:10:34

<div><p>Team Sky principal Dave Brailsford on Thursday denied he was under pressure to deliver after the rich new British outfit set its sights on an ambitious Tour de France title.</p><p>Brailsford, a key architect of Britain's eight cycling golds at the 2008 Olympics, said he welcomed the challenge of trying to produce the country's first ever winner at the blue riband event.</p><p>"It's bike racing. Nobody ever died from a lack of bike racing," Brailsford told AFP during the Tour Down Under in Adelaide, Sky's debut race.</p><p>"It's a sport, yes we're here to win, yes we're here to be serious, yes it's people's careers. But ultimately every day's an opportunity in life, isn't it?</p><p>"You just go and take those opportunities, and as soon as you start seeing those opportunities as threats it's probably the day that you should pack up."</p><p>Brailsford added that he was delighted with Sky's start after their rider Greg Henderson won Sunday's pre-Tour Down Under street race -- the team's very first outing -- and he lies second overall after three stages.</p><p>"We couldn't ask for much more at this moment in time, but you don't want to run before you can walk," Brailsford said.</p><p>The team, whose sponsor Sky TV is closely associated with football's globally popular English Premier League, reportedly has a multi-million-pound budget which outstrips its ProTour competitors.</p><p>Team Sky have already gained a reputation for meticulous preparations and use of technology, including stringent equipment tests and a state-of-the-art team bus which have caught the eye of rival teams.</p><p>"Everyone's expecting us to do all these technical innovations but I think any team's built on solid foundations, and that's about the basics: communication, having that knowledge of each other, looking after each other," Brailsford said.</p><p>"Just doing the basic things before you add on anything else. I think if you chase after all the innovations straight away without getting the foundations right it's a recipe for disaster."</p><p>Brailsford, who also remains performance director of the British cycling team, said he was now searching for a way to overhaul Tour Down Under leader Andre Greipel, who powered to sprint wins on the first two days.</p><p> "I think it's fair to say Greipel's the strongest sprinter, there's no doubt about it. So how do you beat the strongest sprinter?</p><p>"You need a team effort with a bit of cunning. It's the only way it's going to happen.</p><p>"So I think our plans are around being cunning and smart and thinking it through and thinking whether there's any tactical way we can beat the guy's brute strength."</p><p> Sky have signed a number of riders including British Olympic star Bradley Wiggins, who placed fourth in last year's Tour de France and will spearhead their inaugural campaign in July.</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=67421719&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>


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