Team Sky focus turns to Wiggins

David Brailsford
12 April 2012

Team Sky will turn their full attentions to Bradley Wiggins after securing a much-awaited Tour de France stage win.

Welshman Geraint Thomas surged up the final climb on Thursday with Edvald Boasson Hagen in tow and the 24-year-old from Lillehammer burst across the line for victory on the rain-soaked 226.5-kilometre sixth stage from Dinan to Lisieux.

But the goals are higher for the British team, who are seeking to propel Wiggins to the podium in Paris on July 24, and team principal Dave Brailsford said: "To come here, get a stage win early on, takes the pressure off Bradley. It is all about momentum, energy and confidence. It's exciting times."

Wiggins, who remained sixth overall behind race leader Thor Hushovd, was pleased Boasson Hagen was rewarded for his selfless work for the team.

Wiggins, who finished fourth in the 2009 Tour but 24th in 2010, said: "He's the first to sacrifice his chances for me.

"Now, when he's working in the days to come he'll know he's already got something."

On his personal goals, Wiggins added: "There's no comparison to last year. It's chalk and cheese.

"But there's a still along way to go and you've got to tackle every day at a time."

Brailsford added: "There is no better leadout man in the world than Geraint Thomas. He's got the ability across the board, he's a fantastic asset to this team."

In 2012, Thomas is likely to be seen leading out Mark Cavendish, who has been linked with a move to Team Sky at the end of his HTC-Highroad contract. Cavendish was unable to contest the finale on Thursday, but Friday's 218km seventh stage finishes in Chateauroux, the town where he claimed his first Tour win in 2008 and few would be against the Manxman adding to his prolific record.

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