Team Sky aiming for yellow-green double in Tour 2012

Posted on Friday 30 December 2011 Written by Bernard under Road Elite - Comment

Bradley Wiggins says it’s not impossible that Team Sky can aim for both the yellow and green jerseys during the 2012 Tour de France.

With the arrival of world champion Mark Cavendish to Team Sky, Wiggins says the pair has a unique opportunity to take aim for two of cycling’s most prestigious jerseys.

“We have an opportunity to do something special in the Tour,” Wiggins told Sky TV. “(Aiming for green and yellow) that’s what makes teams great, when you try to achieve things. Having a challenge like that — people will say they don’t have a chance, they’re being greedy — but let’s wait and see.”

Cavendish won his first green jersey during last year’s Tour and will be the odd’s on favorite to repeat in 2012.

Wiggins, meanwhile, takes confidence out of a Tour route that includes nearly 100km of time trials and only three summit finishes.

Emboldened by his third overall in last year’s Vuelta a España, Wiggins believes he has a good chance to reach the final Tour podium and isn’t discounting a shot at overall victory.

Team Sky management says that having Cavendish on the team will not be a negative for Wiggins’ GC aspirations and even suggest that having the team work for Cavendish on the flats will only help keep Wiggins in a better position inside the peloton.

“They are close, they do get on, but like anyone, they do have their moments,” Team Sky principal David Brailsford said of his two leading stars. “They’ve known each other a long time.”

The two-time individual pursuit Olympic champion has already said he will not race on the track during this year’s London Games, instead choosing to take a shot at a medal in the individual time trial event.

Wiggins crashed out of last year’s Tour in the seventh stage with a broken clavicle in what was his best form of his career. He even suggested that the crash might have had a silver lining.

“Things can go too easy sometimes,” Wiggins said. “It happened for a reason. I have dealt with it and moved on. Life goes on.”

source : Velonews.com

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