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dpa
Frankfurt
British media giant Sky are to withdraw from cycling after the end of the 2019 season by ending their involvement with the hugely successful Team Sky, the company said Wednesday.
Racing since 2010, Team Sky have won 322 races including eight Grand Tours and dominated the Tour de France with six victories in the last seven years.
However, they have also been subject to allegations of doping violations with four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome being cleared for returning an adverse finding in a doping test during the Spanish Vuelta.
And Bradley Wiggins also came under scrutiny over his use of medical exemptions and a mystery package delivered to a former team doctor at the conclusion of a race in 2011.
Froome, Wiggins and Sky consistently denied wrong-doing.
“The vision for Team Sky began with the ambition to build a clean, winning team around a core of British riders and staff,” team principal Dave Brailsford said.
“The team’s success has been the result of the talent, dedication and hard work of a remarkable group of people who have constantly challenged themselves to scale new heights of performance.”
The team said it could continue to race under a different name should a new backer be found for 2020.
The BBC reported the decision was “partly influenced” by media giant Comcast recently purchasing Sky for 30 million pounds though Team Sky chairman Graham McMillan played this down.
“The decision was taken by Sky in the last few weeks,” he wrote on Twitter.
“Comcast are aware and supportive of what we have decided to do, but this is our decision not theirs.” Whether a new backer with the willingness to spend significant money remains to be seen. Few in the sport have been as committed financially as Sky.
But the team not only includes British star Froome but current Tour de France champion Geraint Thomas and young Colombian Egan Bernal, widely considered a future Grand Tour champion. There is the promise of success but scandal may also not be far away.
According to British media, former team doctor Richard Freeman is expected to account for the 2011 delivery delivery of testosterone patches to the national cycling headquarters in Manchester.
Team Sky, led by Brailsford, have dealt with everything thrown at them so far, however, and are not in the mood to give up now.
“We aren’t finished yet by any means,” Brailsford promised. “There is another exciting year of racing ahead of us and we will be doing everything we can to deliver more Team Sky success in 2019.”
Frankfurt
British media giant Sky are to withdraw from cycling after the end of the 2019 season by ending their involvement with the hugely successful Team Sky, the company said Wednesday.
Racing since 2010, Team Sky have won 322 races including eight Grand Tours and dominated the Tour de France with six victories in the last seven years.
However, they have also been subject to allegations of doping violations with four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome being cleared for returning an adverse finding in a doping test during the Spanish Vuelta.
And Bradley Wiggins also came under scrutiny over his use of medical exemptions and a mystery package delivered to a former team doctor at the conclusion of a race in 2011.
Froome, Wiggins and Sky consistently denied wrong-doing.
“The vision for Team Sky began with the ambition to build a clean, winning team around a core of British riders and staff,” team principal Dave Brailsford said.
“The team’s success has been the result of the talent, dedication and hard work of a remarkable group of people who have constantly challenged themselves to scale new heights of performance.”
The team said it could continue to race under a different name should a new backer be found for 2020.
The BBC reported the decision was “partly influenced” by media giant Comcast recently purchasing Sky for 30 million pounds though Team Sky chairman Graham McMillan played this down.
“The decision was taken by Sky in the last few weeks,” he wrote on Twitter.
“Comcast are aware and supportive of what we have decided to do, but this is our decision not theirs.” Whether a new backer with the willingness to spend significant money remains to be seen. Few in the sport have been as committed financially as Sky.
But the team not only includes British star Froome but current Tour de France champion Geraint Thomas and young Colombian Egan Bernal, widely considered a future Grand Tour champion. There is the promise of success but scandal may also not be far away.
According to British media, former team doctor Richard Freeman is expected to account for the 2011 delivery delivery of testosterone patches to the national cycling headquarters in Manchester.
Team Sky, led by Brailsford, have dealt with everything thrown at them so far, however, and are not in the mood to give up now.
“We aren’t finished yet by any means,” Brailsford promised. “There is another exciting year of racing ahead of us and we will be doing everything we can to deliver more Team Sky success in 2019.”
