Team Sky principal Dave Brailsford has insisted he will not leave his post despite the ongoing scrutiny over the mystery package delivered to Bradley Wiggins at the 2011 Critérium du Dauphiné and his management of British Cycling.
A draft copy of the unpublished UK Sport review into the culture of British Cycling has described Brailsford as an "untouchable" figure who took decisions about the multi-million-pound budget himself, while the 53-year-old has also been criticised for failing to fully explain what was in the mysterious jiffy bag delivered to Wiggins in 2011 by Dr Richard Freeman.
Brailsford, who has not spoken to the media since Team Sky's training camp in Mallorca in early January, was spotted during the Tirreno-Adriatico road race this week and initially refused a request to take questions. But he eventually relented and told Cycling News he has no intention of leaving Team Sky.
‘Not hiding’
“Of course I’m not hiding. I’m fine in myself and I’ve got confidence in my team,” he said.
“No [I’m not thinking about leaving]. My thoughts are about what’s good for the team and what’s right. We’re just here to win as many races as possible and do it the right way and that’s my primary concern and that’s what I think about.
“I’m disappointed that anything from the past, I’m not saying that there was any wrongdoing, but that the current guys within the team get any reflection from something, which has nothing to do with them. I’m very disappointed they have to do that. On the other hand, we’ve got to move forward. Personally, I’m fine.”
Three-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome was one of the Team Sky riders who has refused to back Brailsford publicly earlier this week, but the team principal insisted there was nothing more to it.
“We had a good conversation, that’s it,” was all he would say about Froome.
Challenging period
However, Brailsford admitted the current situation was one of the most challenging periods he has faced.
“It’s the highest profile. I don’t think it’s the worst. It’s the most high-profile, which adds another dimension to it. When the media decides to round up,” he said.
“I’ve got no gripe with the media. The media are doing a job, like the UK Anti-Doping is doing a job. When you think about it, if there’s any issue at any time, you’ve got to establish the facts. Once you’ve got the facts, then you can establish whether there was any wrongdoing.
“I welcome the fact that [UKAD] are independently looking at it. It’s not me giving my view, which would to a certain extent be perceived to be biased, it’s an independent view and then the facts can be established and then the people can make the right decision about what to do going forward.
“My job is to oversee and think, what is best for the team now, the partners, the riders and Chris, and think how do we make sure we perform and win races, which is what we’re here to do. On a personal level, I’ve been through a lot over the years and it’s important to make sure that you can look at yourself and say that there has been no wrongdoing. I’m confident of that.”
– Guardian service
