Victory in the Tour de France this year was the latest in a series of high points for Team Sky since inception. But there has also been much controversy of late (Homepage photo by Pete Goding)
Team Sky has reacted to news that its current sponsorship and ownership arrangements are ending next year by telling fans “there are no guarantees” for it beyond 2019.
It has penned an open letter to its fans, suggesting changes within Sky of late - namely Concast’s £30bn takeover of the company - influenced the decision to pull out of cycling.
“This news will no doubt come a surprise to many people but, as you may know, there has been a lot of change at Sky recently,” the team said of the news that Sky is ending its sponsorship in 12 months.
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“It is the start of a new chapter for the company and sometimes it is inevitable that change brings further change with it. That is what has happened here,” the open letter to fans continued.
“Over the past nine seasons, Sky has backed us all the way, enabling us to achieve some amazing results and inspire millions of people to love our sport.
“We’d like to thank Sky for all of their support, and in particular the opportunity to help Britain become a cycling nation.
“First things first, nothing changes for next year. Sky are fully committed to the end of 2019 and together we have ambitious goals for the season.
“We all want to close the Team Sky story with the strongest possible finish. We are more motivated as a team than we have ever been.
“In terms of the future, we are open minded. If we can find a new long-term partner to take the team forward into a new era, then we will do so.
“And we will be doing everything we can to make that happen over the coming weeks and months.
“Equally, any future partner would have to be the right partner - one who shares our ethos and buys in to our values.
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What a journey it has been! Thank you Sky ?
Let’s make 2019 the best year yet ? pic.twitter.com/SwaoBKknAm— Chris Froome (@chrisfroome) 12 December 2018
“This news has only just been announced; we can’t predict what will happen from 2020 and there are no guarantees.
“Whatever happens, we will make sure there is clarity one way or the other about the future of the team before the Tour de France next July.
“And rest assured we are not done yet by any means. Right now, the team is at training camp... We can’t wait to see you all out on the road in the New Year.”
Team Sky controversy in recent years
The British WorldTour outfit has enjoyed many successes; six Tour de France titles and overall wins at the Giro and Vuelta among them.
However, there have been many controversial chapters for the team of late. And that will not have helped Team Sky convince its sponsors to stay on.
Details of the TUEs availed of by Bradley Wiggins were published by Russian hackers in late 2016.
And while Wiggins broke no rules, the fact he availed of TUEs before key goals, including the 2012 Tour which he won, raised more than a few eyebrows.
Around the same time news of the TUEs broke, a controversy blew up about a jiffy bag delivered to Team Sky in France in 2011.
A UK Anti-Doping inquiry and a British parliamentary probe found no evidence of doping. And the team insisted the bag contained nothing more than an over the counter decongestant.
But Team Sky was unable to furnish records to prove what was in the bag. And the parliamentary committee concluded Team Sky used medicines, sanctioned under TUEs, for performance gain and not just to treat ailments.
More recently, at the 2017 Vuelta, a urine sample given by Chris Froome showed high levels of the asthma drug salbutamol.
And while he was ultimately cleared, it was another period of intense controversy for an already damage Team Sky.
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