The search for a new sponsor at Team Sky has been described in some quarters as Dave Brailsford's biggest challenge yet, and while that sentiment holds water, it's also based on the assumption that Brailsford has the desire to continue within cycling. Brailsford may have said as much in the immediate aftermath of Sky's announcement to withdrawal from cycling, but one could conceivably argue that the news of Sky's decision offers Brailsford the perfect exit strategy, and one that he can shape the narrative of as the season plays out.
It will come as no surprise that after a decade at the top of the WorldTour, Brailsford was already considering his options post-cycling, even before Wednesday's bombshell announcement, and the consensus within his close circle was that Sky were always considering stepping down at the end of their 2020 vision. The fact remains, however, that Brailsford is Team Sky, and vice-versa, and the bond between the two will ensure that the team can only survive if the man at the top carries on.
The recent news merely moves Brailsford's timescale forward. And after all, what's left for Brailsford to achieve in the sport considering Team Sky's domination of Grand Tours in recent years? He once had a goal of winning the Tour with a French rider but those dreams look somewhat impossible given certain factors, among them the disdain Team Sky garnered from the French public during this year's Tour. Despite the bad publicity that Team Sky, Brailsford and British Cycling have attracted, the man at the top of the pyramid is still held in high esteem by many within the sporting fraternity.
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One cycling manager told Cyclingnews: "If I were Dave, I'd go now," and it wouldn't be too difficult to envisage him walking across the road from the Manchester velodrome and taking up a position at Manchester City.
Read more...
- Sky to end sponsorship after 2019
- Brailsford: I'm sure we've got a future beyond Sky
- UCI to closely follow Team Sky sponsorship search
- New Chinese WorldTour team open to talking to Team Sky
- Pinarello to support Team Sky beyond 2019
The challenges within the sponsorship market
The difficulties within the sponsorship and economic markets will be just as crucial as Brailsford's enthusiasm when it comes to Team Sky's future. With just a few months to find financial backing to the tune of around £35 million, time is a considerable factor.
The transfer market
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/sky-withdrawal-provides-brailsford-a-perfect-exit-from-pro-cycling
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