Today's Sunday Times newspaper has a very good article by David Walsh regarding SKY cycling team.
Last November in Manchester England, Dave Brailford, the manager of the SKY team approached Walsh after an Irish doctor became
chief medical officer to the team.
Basically, Brailsford asked Walsh what was the perception of the his team within the sport.
Walsh said that like a lot of people, he wanted to believe but given the sport and it's history.........................after hearing this Brailsford made Walsh an offer that he couldn't refuse.
Namely full access to the team whenever/wherever he wish.
Walsh is calling this an extraordinary offer.
"You join the team, anytime you like, for as long as you like. You live in the hotel, eat with us, attend our meetings. Everything.
Access to all areas and that doesn't mean you get to see only what we want you to see. You want to know what the doctor is carrying, you go to the doctors room and knock on his doctor. He won't have a problem with this. The riders? You speak to who you want, when you want, but try not to **** them off. That's my only issue. Link up with the team any time you want to:when we're in training camp, when we're at a race, we'll find you a room. If we're short a room, our doctor says that you can share with him.
Who you want to talk to is entirely up to you"
Walsh goes on to talk to two young American riders : Joe Dombrowski and Ian Boswell.
Both are new pros and walsh is invited to see them undergoing blood and other tests.
(Dombrowski doesn't like needles and can't bare to look at blood being withdrawn for UCI sample testing).
Dombrowski when he met the tea first was wearing a Liverstrong band. Wiggo told him "for a start, you can take that ****ing this off"
"It was not well received by Bradley. It was little bit uncomfortable for me at the start....."
Brailsfords last words "It is my responsibility to make absolutely sure that we do everything in our power to say to Mrs.Dombrowski and all other riders parents that your son will never be put in a position where he has to decide "should I or shouldn't I dope" If he or any other rider is not good enough to get to the level required by their contract, no one from this team will ever says "there's another way to get there". That will never happen"
It's another really good article and it is a statement of intent by Brailsford.
Walsh has committed to following the team to see especially how Dombrowski and Boswell progress in thie SKY careers.
Unfortunately ST's article are subscription one but I'll keep ye updated with further updates when they're published.
Last November in Manchester England, Dave Brailford, the manager of the SKY team approached Walsh after an Irish doctor became
chief medical officer to the team.
Basically, Brailsford asked Walsh what was the perception of the his team within the sport.
Walsh said that like a lot of people, he wanted to believe but given the sport and it's history.........................after hearing this Brailsford made Walsh an offer that he couldn't refuse.
Namely full access to the team whenever/wherever he wish.
Walsh is calling this an extraordinary offer.
"You join the team, anytime you like, for as long as you like. You live in the hotel, eat with us, attend our meetings. Everything.
Access to all areas and that doesn't mean you get to see only what we want you to see. You want to know what the doctor is carrying, you go to the doctors room and knock on his doctor. He won't have a problem with this. The riders? You speak to who you want, when you want, but try not to **** them off. That's my only issue. Link up with the team any time you want to:when we're in training camp, when we're at a race, we'll find you a room. If we're short a room, our doctor says that you can share with him.
Who you want to talk to is entirely up to you"
Walsh goes on to talk to two young American riders : Joe Dombrowski and Ian Boswell.
Both are new pros and walsh is invited to see them undergoing blood and other tests.
(Dombrowski doesn't like needles and can't bare to look at blood being withdrawn for UCI sample testing).
Dombrowski when he met the tea first was wearing a Liverstrong band. Wiggo told him "for a start, you can take that ****ing this off"
"It was not well received by Bradley. It was little bit uncomfortable for me at the start....."
Brailsfords last words "It is my responsibility to make absolutely sure that we do everything in our power to say to Mrs.Dombrowski and all other riders parents that your son will never be put in a position where he has to decide "should I or shouldn't I dope" If he or any other rider is not good enough to get to the level required by their contract, no one from this team will ever says "there's another way to get there". That will never happen"
It's another really good article and it is a statement of intent by Brailsford.
Walsh has committed to following the team to see especially how Dombrowski and Boswell progress in thie SKY careers.
Unfortunately ST's article are subscription one but I'll keep ye updated with further updates when they're published.