Team Sky Looking To Continue Bright Start

As some of you should know by now, it's been a good start for Team Sky so far as they managed to win two stages during last month's Tour Down Under in Australia. It was a fine start for the team and one that had the team's chief principal Dave Brailsford througly delighted, never mind the riders and the growing fanbase of the team.

After all, the team are in the sport to win and would have been quietley confident of a good start. That being said it's still quite impressive when any new team gets of to a good start (in any sport to be fair) and for the team to made their mark so soon is great credit to Brailsford and everyone involved with the team. The Tour Down Under was great for the team as it helped the team see just how good the team was in race conditions. There were good reports coming out of the training camp in Valencia that the team was working well and that Brailsford's target of doing well over the season was not just fighting talk.

Victory in the Cancer Council Helpline Classic in Adelaide, the prelude to the Tour was a great bonus for the team. It was a good win for the team and came on a day of great attendences around the city. It was particulary impressive given that Team Sky dominated the front of the peloton making it hard for any other moves from the opposition to evolve and come to the front.

Team HTC Columbia, a team well known for winning stages and races over the last couple of years (of course famously with Mark Cavendish over the last 2 years) could not break through. With the peloton whizzing around the circuit on the last lap, it was left to Greg Henderson to take advantage of the tremendous lead out by the team to win the stage ahead of fellow Team Sky rider Chris Sutton to claim a famous 1-2 for the team.

The Tour itself was a good experience for the team and they experienced another victory, this time on the final and sixth stage of the tour which also happened to be a 1-2 as well. Sutton this time getting the victory on the line ahead of Henderson, who finished on the podium with a derserved 3rd place in the GC. Henderson a proud Kiwi would have been delighted with his performance and I have to say the bits of highlights I saw on the tv on SkySports showed that the team looked organised and ready for a goos season. Speaking of tv, it was good to see more coverage of the sport and especially on Sky. Eurosport and ITV4 of course do great coverage of the Tour and some of the other grandtours. That being said it's important the lesser known tours get shown on tv, as not only will it keep the old fans happy but bring in newer ones further raising the profile of the sport.

Over the last couple of days, Team Sky have been competiting in the Etoile de Besseges race. This race is usually the first race of the European Season and the team's riders particulary John-Lee Augustyn, Nicolas Portal and Michael Barry all shone on the fourth stage of the race yesterday. Augustyn the talented South African is just one of the young riders on the team that British cycling fans should be keeping tabs on and along with the team today were placed well, which will no doubt please the team so early on.

Barry who was involved in the final descent on the stage with Augustyn as well as fellow Team Sky rider Nicolas Portal feels so far the team have learnt from this experience so far. "As a team we were able to test our legs on some hard climbs and the team was present at the hardest moments, so far this race has given us a chance to learn more about each other and been a real stepping stone for us to gel as a team." Augustyn by the way is the highest placed of the team's riders in 62nd place going into the final stage of the race which finishes today with a sprint finish.

Also starting today is the Tour of Qatar which marks the debut of Team Sky's marquee signing Bradley Wiggins. Qatar is probably one of the last places you'd think when you think of cycling, but has grown in popularity and the 2010 event will mark it's ninth competition. With the market in the Middle East growing since the turn of the decade it's important that cycling follows sports like football and formula 1 in having a step in the middle east and racing in Qatar is a great way to attract new sponsors and new intrests in the sport. Incidently you can catch coverage of the 6-day event on Eurosport, so it should be worth tuning in to see not just Team Sky but the other teams like Team HTC-Columbia and Lance Armstrong's RadioShack outfit.

But back to Wiggins. Wiggins and Team Sky came under fire after his signing for bullying their rivals into getting their riders with David Millar, Wiggin's team mate at Garmin and Jon Vaughters, the american's team director being critical of the team for their hard approach to sign the Olympian. Wiggins however has hit back saying "People are trying to attach a stigma to us, but it is a load of b*****s, I think there is a lot of jealousy around from certain riders because they are not in this team."

Wiggins of course is looking forward to racing in Qatar. "The expectation to win is always there with us, to stand here and say we're not that bothered would be a lie. It's a big objective for us tomorrow which will hopefully put us in good focus for the year ahead." The first stage started early this morning and it was intresting to watch as the team worked well getting the fastest time out of the other teams to win the stage.

The eight riders contesting the Tour of Qatar for Team Sky are: Kurt-Asle Arvesen, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Russell Downing, Juan Antonio Flecha, Lars-Petter Nordhaug, Ian Stannard, Geraint Thomas and Bradley Wiggins. For an outside bet look out for Sky's Hagen to do well, after all he is one of the stars of the future and will be learning all the time alongside experienced heads like Arvesen and Flecha around.

Responding to more rumours about Cavendish linking up with the team when his contract with Team HTC-Columbia Wiggins said that the move at the moment is highly unlikley. Reffering to the team ethic at Sky and the difficulty of a team managing with two elite sprinters Wiggins said that it would be difficult. "Our riders that came from Columbia came to Sky to get more of a chance for themselves, as i know that Dave Brailsford is quite keen that if Cav were to come, that there won’t be a team built solely round him."

That comment i found quite intresting and it summs up what Team Sky are about, in the fact that it's obvious that Brailsford is looking for that right balance to make the team successful. But depending on how Columbia perform this season, as Wiggins proved over the winter if a rider wants to join a team, the rider will get his move so Cavendish -> Sky shouldn't be ruled out completly. Though it's something that at the moment is highly unlikley. More from the team in a fortnight's time.

Posted by Adam Dennehey

Swift Move For Team Sky

After much talk about the move in the last couple of weeks, it was announced on the 3rd of January that Team Sky, the new British Pro-Cycling team had finally signed the young and talented British rider Ben Swift. There was originally controversy as Sky named him in their squad for the Tour Down Under last month while he was still, allegedly under contract to Katusha. On January 3rd 2010, the day before the official Sky launch, photos appeared on the web showing Swift in the new Team Sky kit, confirming the speculation.

In 2009, 22-year old Swift enjoyed a debut professional season that many riders would dream of; he finished a Grand Tour and the Giro d'Italia, and he scored a win and a string of top ten placings, including a top three finish in a stage of the Giro.

Commenting on his debut season, Swift said; "I’m really pleased with my first season. But I think I’m more surprised than pleased. I never expected to ride the Giro, then to get placings there, and to finish - that's what I was most happy about."

At the same time, Swift gave credit to Katusha for allowing the Brit the chance to race with Sky and for the opportunity that the Russian outfit gave him. "I'm massively grateful to Katusha for the opportunities they gave me," says Swift, "but coming to Team Sky feels like coming home because I know so many of the support staff and riders. I will be in the perfect environment to grow as a rider with Team Sky."

For Team Principal Dave Brailsford, Swift is a valuable addition to an already impressive line-up. He said; “Ben is a real talent and his future looks bright because he ticks all the boxes that it takes to make it in this sport. He’s extremely serious, skilled on bike, he can climb and sprint and I really believe he can go far with us. We’ve worked quite some time with him on the track and I think the next years could be a massive breakthrough for him on the road as well”.

Swift's arrival means that Team Sky have now completed their 26-man roster for the 2010 UCI tour. The full compliment of riders is as follows:

Bradley Wiggins, Geraint Thomas, Steve Cummings, Pete Kennaugh, Chris Froome, Ian Stannard, Russell Downing and Ben Swift [Great Britain] Davide Vigano, Dario Cioni, Morris Possoni [Italy], Edvald Boasson Hagen, Kurt Arvesen, Lars Petter Nordhaug [Norway], Chris Sutton, Simon Gerrans, Mathew Hayman [Australia], Sylvain Calzati, Nicolas Portal [France], Thomas Löfkvist [Sweden], Kjell Carlstrom [Finland], John Lee Augustyn [South Africa], Juan Antonio Flecha [Spain] Michael Barry [Canada], Greg Henderson [New Zealand] and Serge Pauwels [Belgium].

Remember as always, that throughout the cycling season SportTrades Report will be bringing you the latest news to do with Team Sky, as soon as we get it.

More Good News For Team Sky!

Cycling is one of the sports that we're now going to be following on SportTrades Report from now on. As well as hearing about the latest news with regards to the new British Pro-Cycling team Team Sky, we're also on the look out for any young amatuer cyclist to follow throughout the season whatever lower level of the sport that you're in.

Following on from Team Sky's announcement on Thursday that they've signed Bradley Wiggins, they've also had some good news as they've got more backers to the team. Deals announced early on Monday show that the team are now getting investment from Sky Italia and News Corporation who have both put backing into project called Sky Pro Cycling. Announcing the new investors Robert Tansey, Chair of the Sky Pro Cycling Board and Brand Marketing Director of BSkyB, said: “We have the perfect partners backing this team and welcome Sky Italia and News Corporation on board.

“Italy has a great heritage in road cycling, through its riders and manufacturers, and that is already reflected in our team. They have a real passion for the sport and we’re delighted that Sky Italia has joined us. “News Corporation is a leading broadcaster in sport globally and brings a huge range of skills and experience. Like our first partners, British Cycling – who have proven international success and are working closely with BSkyB to inspire people to get out and ride - each will now be represented on our operating board".

“Team Sky is a very exciting project with great ambition; not only to win in style and with the right racing attitude but to inspire the public to enjoy cycling too.”

Team Sky have of course been awarded a four-year UCI Pro Licence this autumn and will first compete at the Tour Down Under in January. The team already has strong Italian connections with a training base in Italy, three Italian riders - Davide Vigano, Dario Cioni and Morris Possoni - and a partnership with Italian bike producer Pinarello. In addition, British Cycling’s academy, where Max Sciandri helps to train Britain’s future talent, is based in Tuscany. It's all part of an exiciting looking project for Sky and one that is looking to build the sport not just proffesionally but for the public as well.

Bradley Wiggins Signs For Team Sky

The move that had been on any British cycling fan’s lips the last fortnight or so has finally happened, as today, in London, it was announced that Bradley Wiggins has signed for the new British Pro-Cycling team, Team Sky in a four-year deal.. It’s a major move, not just for Wiggins but for Dave Brailsford, team principal of Team Sky. Brailsford has had to work with Garmin and Jonathan Vaughters, the team principal of the team in order for the move to be sanctioned. In fact, the move has only happened in the last couple of days with the UCI verifying it last night.

The 30-year-old finished fourth in this year's Tour de France, equaling the best British finish and will be aiming to better that finish on the next tour which starts in Rotterdam next July. Wiggins admitted it was hard leaving his previous team. “It was always a difficult situation trying to leave Garmin because I had a lot of friends there," Wiggins said. "There was only one team I was going to come home for and that was Sky and Dave Brailsford who helped me to my Olympic success. We want to be the best we can possibly be for whatever the goal is and next year that's the Tour de France.

"This team wants to be the biggest and best and most admired in the world, and to be there from the start is something special. It's a bit of a strange day, it has been going on for a long while since I finished fourth in the Tour de France," Wiggins added. In fact the Olympian had been aware of Brailsford forming a team after the Beijing Olympics but signed for Garmin when told that the project was still out of reach at the time.

Brailsford was thoroughly delighted that Team Sky had finally got their man claiming that, “Brad will be at home in Team Sky. It is the perfect fit and he will be a marquee rider for us. “He is an exceptional athlete - a great performer at a great age. And he will get better still. At Team Sky he can continue to develop, surrounded by some of the coaches and performance experts who have worked with him for years as part of the British Cycling set-up”.

The fact that Wiggins knows the staff and other British riders on the team is obviously a major factor in the move and it was clear to see that it’s a comfortable move for both parties as they’re so sure of each other. Wiggins is obviously a marquee signing for the team and one who, after such a great season in 2009, will be a great addition to the squad that Team Sky has. I asked Brailsford about the other riders in the team, particularly the younger riders like Edvald Boasson Hagen of Norway, Geraint Thomas of Great Britain and John Lee Augustyn of South Africa, who of course is well known for that fall he had on the descent of the Col dela Bonette in the 2008 tour.

Brailsford reply was simple. “When we started to think about the riders that we wanted on the team, it was clear that there was an opportunity to get some talented youngsters who, with the help of our team and programme, can become better riders”. Hagen is certainly a name to watch out for having tasted success on the Ghent-Wevelgem classic, the Giro d’Italia when he won a stage, and of course, when he won the Tour of Britain over the summer.

It’s good that Team Sky are picking talent from abroad as Brailsford clearly realizes that it’s not just a passport that plays its part, it’s the personality and work of a rider that counts and certainly that has proven to be the case with the riders so far signed up. There is the good mix of youth and experience in the team. Riders like Michael Barry, Kurt Asle Arvesen, and the classy Juan Antonio Flecha are riders who will not only help the team develop but get results. During the Press Conference, Brailsford commented on how the team are not just a pro cycling team but a project which is aiming to get more and more people involved with, not only the sport but keeping fit. It’s a good move for not only Sky to get involved with, but for the nation to get out and about.

With that information in mind, I asked Wiggins whether or not he believed, he believed through the Team Sky project and campaigns, whether or not, in the future there would be non-white British professional cyclists. Wiggins hoped that there would be. “You only have to look at the diversity of the UK to realise the potential of the sport and just by looking at the numbers and the areas Team Sky and British Cycling are looking to fund, that there’s a good chance we will get people from all backgrounds involved in some capacity in the sport”.

Wiggins also added that in France, there is an emerging trend of Arab/Algerian riders getting involved at amateur level and that with the attention the sport’s getting now, not just from him and the team there are doors opening up for people into cycling. It’s hard to disagree with that as you only have to look at the diversity of the nation and see the potential that Wiggins was speaking about.

With a four year deal, it’s one that Wiggins is looking to enjoy and he admitted that it could be his last contract as a rider in the sport. With ambitions of getting onto the podium in the next tour and helping the team have a successful year it’s good to see that Wiggins wants to repay British Cycling and the Olympic team by stating that he’d still like to be involved in the sport when he retires. Wiggins said “developing youngsters is something that I’d like to do, it’s all part of the Team Sky project which has the drive to get people involved in the sport and keep the future of the sport bright in the UK’.

Lastly. there was almost a sense of a full-circle for Wiggins, who emphasised to the reporters that looking back 15 years ago, it’s hard to imagine that he’d be being interviewed by the press at a top hotel in London for a press conference of this scale. At that time Wiggins was working in various hotels in London doing various odd jobs before his cycling career kicked off. Three successful Olympics later and good performances as a road cyclist have led to him being reunited with Brailsford with today’s presentation in London.

The move to Team Sky is one that should be a fitting end to a great career as a cyclist, and all eyes will certainly be on the team when the new season starts next month with the Tour Down Under. With the riders signed up so far to the team, they certainly have every right to be ambitious and target the 2010 season with the intent to be as high up as the standings as possible. As a huge cycling fan myself, i hope that that proves to be the case.

By Adam Dennehey - SportTrades Report Manager (and avid Cycling Fan!)

Sean Yates Joins Team SKY

The new British Pro-Cycling team Team Sky who are bound to turn some heads in the 2010 Cycling season have announced that Sean Yates, a respected and well known figure will join the team in the New Year as Sports Director.

The 49-year old Englishman rode for Peugeot, Fagor, 7-Eleven and Motorola in his 14-year pro career and was a team mate of Robert Millar and Lance Armstrong. He became the third Brit to wear the yellow jersey at the Tour de France, in 1994, and rode 12 Tours during his career. Sean Yates has previous experience as a sports director heaving held the role recently at Astana since 2008 and before that was at Team Discovery Channel and Team CSC.

Sean Yates said; “I’m extremely excited to join Team Sky. Obviously for me, to be part of a British team at the highest level is something truly special. I have a lot of experience in a winning team and I look forward to helping Team Sky to fulfil its goals. The scope and the ambition of the project is unique and I think we have put together a great team. I really believe we can be contenders on all levels in the future and I’m proud to become part of that.”

Dave Brailsford, Team Principal for Team Sky, said: “Sean brings a wealth of experience and we’ve been very keen for a long time to bring him on board. He’s well known as a hard-working sports director with a deep understanding of the sport and good connection to his riders and staff. He will be a true asset to our management team and a great colleague for the other Sports Directors we have signed.

“Our ambition is to have our Sports Directors collaborating with the best available expert knowledge on all the relevant aspects of sport and we believe that it will provide Team Sky with a unique fundament to perform and win. Sean and the other Sports Directors will be working in a performance driven team where I’m convinced we can bring out the very best in the riders.”

Yates will join Team Sky in the New Year as Sports Director. He will join Scott Sunderland, Steven De Jongh and Marcus Ljungqvist, the other Sports Directors for the team.

Team Sky will compete from the start of 2010, beginning with the Tour Down Under, and hopes to gain an invitation to next year’s Tour de France. The initial squad of around 25 riders will be supported by a team of coaches, technicians and support staff drawn from across the cycling world, many of whom work throughout the year with British elite and developing riders.

The Team Sky riders announced to date are; Geraint Thomas, Steve Cummings, Pete Kennaugh, Chris Froome, Ian Stannard, Russell Downing, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Thomas Löfkvist, Kurt Arvesen, Simon Gerrans, Juan Antonio Flecha, Kjell Carlstrom, John Lee Augustyn, Greg Henderson, Lars Petter Nordhaug, Morris Possoni, Michael Barry, Serge Pauwels, Chris Sutton, Sylvain Calzati, Nicolas Portal, Mathew Hayman, Dario Cioni and Davide Viagno.

When we hear more news on Team Sky, we'll let you guys know.