Well done Wiggo

[stevewool]

We British ought to remember that the "British" Team Sky is only one third British...

Bradley Wiggins (GB) Age 32

Mark Cavendish (GB) 27

Chris Froome (GB) 27

Edvald Boasson Hagen (Norwegian) 25

Michael Rogers (Australian) 32

Richie Porte (Australian) 27

Christian Knees (Geman) 31

Bernhard Eisel (Austrian) 31

Kanstantsin Siutsou (Belgian) 29

who cares

[CBM]

who cares

Here's why I think it matters:

The Sky team was formed by David Brailsford with the express intention of going for a win in the Tour de France.

He tried to get sponsorship from the City, but got nowhere. BSkyB agreed to sponsor the team because James Murdoch is a cyclist; James Murdoch is no longer in charge at BSkyB because of the phone hacking scandals.

So - not a lot of UK corporate interest in cycling (of course, that may change now) and the team only exists because James Murdoch is a rider himself.

Having got the money, could Dave Brailsford, who, lets remember, is the head of British Cycling, with a string of Olympic medals, get together an all British team to support his three British stars (none of whom were born in Britain - pertinent to us here!) No - he could not find enough British riders to make up the six domestiques and had to get people from elsewhere.

Which tells me that there's a problem - Britain has three brilliant riders but just not enough strength in depth.

I hope this can be overcome soon.