Geraint Thomas was the first Team Sky rider to tweet his support for Dave Brailsford on Monday evening in what was clearly an orchestrated response to the news, broken by Cyclingnews, that several riders on the team had held discussions over whether to approach the team manager to ask him to step down.
Thomas’ tweet – “It shouldn't even need saying, but we all back Dave B 100%!!!” – was followed on Monday evening by a series of similarly worded messages from 15 of the 28 riders on Sky’s 2017 roster.
Speaking to Cyclingnews and other outlets ahead of Tirreno-Adriatico in Lido di Camaiore on Tuesday, Thomas reiterated his support for Brailsford and claimed media coverage of the matter has been “unfair.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Brailsford’s position has come under increasing scrutiny due to the concerns that have been raised in recent months over the team’s medical practices. UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) have launched a full investigation into whether the team and British Cycling committed a doping violation in 2011, when a medical package was transported from Manchester to the Criterium du Dauphine to treat Bradley Wiggins.
“Obviously, Dave’s the head of the team and he’s going to get most of the questions and stuff. For me, the frustrating thing is that every article written is about Team Sky and it kind of tarnishes us all with the same brush, which I think is really unfair. That’s what annoys me the most,” Thomas said. “For sure, from the guys I speak to on the team, they feel the same. I wouldn’t say it’s a distraction to me, I don’t really read a lot online and things, but for sure it filters through to me but I’m just concentrating on my racing.
“It’s just frustrating that every journalist has an opinion. It’s a bit like tattoo fixers, you can go and say something and get a tattoo, and then a journalist can go and paint around it and make it into something completely different, that’s how I feel. Not everyone. Not all journalists, but a few can, and that’s how they want to get their articles and whatever out there, which I think is a bit unfair.”
- Timeline of UKAD investigation into Team Sky and British Cycling
- Cope feels 'stitched up' over role in Team Sky mystery-package saga
- British Cycling admits failures in Wiggins medical delivery
- Collins: Team Sky and British Cycling 'left in terrible position'
- UKAD reveals Freeman received delivery of testosterone in 2011
- Brailsford: Freeman gave me an injection of triamcinolone
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
via Cyclingnews Latest News http://ift.tt/2mTVyqv
No comments:
Post a Comment