Cycling Pro Road & Mtb

Team Sky awarded place in Tour de France 2010

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Parent Category: Cycling Pro Road & Mtb

Category: News 2010

Published on Wednesday, 31 March 2010 17:43

Written by Marcella Crisanti

Reacting to the news, Dave Brailsford, Team Principal for Team Sky, said: “A place in the Tour has been a dream for so many of us for so long – now it’s a reality. I’d like to thank the A.S.O. for showing their confidence in Team Sky; we will do everything we can to help create an exciting race with a group of highly talented and motivated riders who race to win.

“I'd also like to thank all of the Team's main partners - BSkyB, Sky Italia, News Corporation and British Cycling - and all of our providers. Especially, I’d like to thank Jeremy Darroch and his team at BSkyB who believed in this project from day one and have been amazing in their support not only for Team Sky but cycling at all levels in Britain. This could not have happened without them.”

“We are a rider-centred Team and the riders must take the credit for getting us selected for this year’s Tour de France through their fantastic early season performances - I thank each one of them greatly. They are a fantastic bunch of guys and I know they will arrive in Rotterdam ready to give it their very best."

“I have said before that this could be an epic story; that we want to make heroes, persuade a generation to pull on Team Sky colours and simply inspire people to ride.”

Bradley Wiggins, fourth in last year’s Tour de France before signing for Team Sky in December, said; “As a team we are thrilled that we’re going to compete in the biggest bike race in the world. I’m hugely proud to be in a British-based team taking on the Tour de France and I’m convinced we’ll leave our mark. Team Sky has huge ambitions, not just for the team but for cycling and inspiring the public to get out and ride. The reaction to the team has been amazing and it’s been a great start to the season.  Now we can continue our preparations knowing we are definitely there on the start line.”

Jeremy Darroch, Chief Executive of Sky, added; “This is a tribute to the leadership of Dave Brailsford, the strength of his exceptional management team and the dedication of the riders.  So much has been achieved in the last year, from encouraging hundreds of thousands of people to get on their bikes to creating a pro team that has a place in the biggest race in the sport.  Team Sky’s success should inspire all ages and abilities to get out and ride, for fun and for fitness, as we aim to get a million more people out on two wheels over five years.”

Team Sky supports Sky’s work as Principal Partner of British Cycling, helping to fuel the sport from grass roots to elite level, and builds on the principles that have made British riders a consistent success on the track.  Through the team, the aims are: to inspire people of all ages and abilities to get on their bikes, through the team’s positive profile, attitude and success; add further support to competitive cycling in Great Britain; and to create the first British winner of the Tour de France.

Team Sky was created by BSkyB with British Cycling in February 2009 before Sky Italia and News Corporation joined the Sky Pro Cycling project in December.  The Team was awarded a four-year UCI Pro Licence in the autumn and made its debut at the Tour Down Under in January.  Since then Team Sky has won the team time trial in the Tour of Qatar, taken stage wins in the Tour of Oman, won the prestigious Belgian semi-classic Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, and had stage wins in Tirreno-Adriatico and Paris-Nice and most recently the A.S.O organized race, Criterium International.