Some extended 'Inner Chimp' Musings

The latest Cycle Sport Magazine has a very funny line about Team Sky. In the previews of each team for the new season it had a ‘Was’ and ‘Now’ line about each team.  For example the RadioShack entry read:

Was: The Lance Armstrong – Johan Bruyneel farewell Tour

Now: What, we’ve got to race after January?

The Team Sky one was as follows:

Was: The Manchester City of the Peloton

Now: The Wigan Athletic of the Peloton

Team Sky Live Web Chats:

At the recent cycling camp Team Sky had in Majorca, the team started taking part in live web chats via Cycling Weekly and the Team Sky website. This was a great new idea and provided an excellent forum where fans could ask the questions that the common cycling journalist normally fails to do. This move to make Team Sky more accessible to its large fan base should be greatly applauded and I hope it continues throughout the season. One way of improving them is to publicise them a bit better as many people missed out on them.

'Inner Chimp'

I was lucky enough to get one of my questions asked to Dave Brailsford and here it is with his response:

AntiTeamSky: Question for Dave - You say that for the riders to perform best they need to be given everything they need to be at the top of their ability. Do you agree that they do not need their Team Principal telling the media that Team Sky will win the Tour De France with a British Rider; surely this just puts far too much pressure on the riders?

Dave Brailsford: Hi AntiTeamSky actually there's a big difference between setting an aspirational goal as against telling the riders that this is what they have to do. With the riders the approach we take is to encourage them to be the best that they can be, as they are ultimately in control of this. It's an approach that has worked very successfully with the British team and one which we firmly believe in. P.S. What would it take to make you pro Team Sky? What about a day at a race with us?

While his answer was good it was what I expected. I suppose it is a tough balance to set goals, make statements to please the sponsors and not put too much expectation on the riders. I would love be able to interview Dave Brailsford one on one but I doubt that will ever happen. I would much prefer that than a day at a race with the team but thanks for the offer Dave.