Team Sky
Team Sky was formed in 2009 by Dave Brailsford with the aim of winning the Tour de France within 5 years.
The team made their ProTour debut in 2010 at the Tour Down Under. A month later, they secured their first one day victory when Juan Antonio Flecha won the Belgian semi-classic Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. In May that year, Bradley Wiggins became the first Team Sky rider to wear the leader’s jersey of a Grand Tour, after he won the opening prologue of the Giro d'Italia. Later that month, Ben Swift won the Tour de Picardie and became the first Team Sky rider to win an overall classification.
Team Sky then took part in their first Tour de France. Geraint Thomas finished second in Stage 3 and this resulted in him wearing the White Jersey as leader of the Young Riders' competition. Team Sky ended their debut season with 22 wins and a further 50 podiums.
The team looked to build on their achievements the following year. They began the season well in Australia, with Ben Swift winning two stages of the Tour Down Under, and finishing 3rd overall. At the end of May, Geraint Thomas won the 5-day Bayern-Rundfahrt. Edvald Boasson Hagen and Bradley Wiggins also won stages at the event and Boasson Hagen won the points jersey. The following month Bradley Wiggins achieved the team’s biggest victory to date at the Critérium du Dauphiné.
The team faced a number of challenges in that year’s Tour de France. The tour started well with Team Sky coming third in the team time-trial and Edvald Boasson winning the team's first ever stage of the Tour de France on Stage 6. However a number of injuries and Wiggins’ retirement from the tour forced a change of tactics. Edvald Boasson Hagen came second on Stage 16, and then won the following stage with a solo breakaway, plus he also finished second on the Stage 21 on the Champs Elysees.
Further success came in the Vuelta a España. Team Sky riders Chris Froome and Bradley Wiggins came second and third respectively in the general classification, while Froome also won stage 17.
Team Sky are a British professional road racing team and home to the winner of the 2012 Tour de France, Bradley Wiggins and the runner-up Chris Froome. The team also features other leading names in road cycling such as Mark Cavendish.
Everything then came together in 2012. The team started the season well and Bradley Wiggins in particular showed good form, winning the Critérium du Dauphiné, Tour de Romandie, Paris-Nice prior to the Tour. Expectations were high and Team Sky duly delivered. The team dominated the Tour with Bradley Wiggins wearing the yellow jersey from stage 7 onwards, Chris Froome coming a convincing second in the GC and Mark Cavendish winning three stages including the sprint on the final stage in Paris.