Inside Team Sky (38 page)

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Authors: David Walsh

BOOK: Inside Team Sky
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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.

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