In his role as head sports director, Sean Yates is familiar as the figure in the race car, on the radio, talking tactics. ‘My job is to look after the team on the road, most obviously the riders and how they ride the race, but also the masseurs, mechanics, bus drivers, physios, doctors and so on, making sure the team is operating harmoniously. I’m like a foreman on a work site, making sure everyone is towing the line, not cutting corners, all working towards the same goal – to be the best of our ability. I function through intuition. I don’t always say a lot but my head is always working, assessing the mental and physical feelings of the riders, seeing the big picture.’
In the overall game plan, the first long time trial – 38 kilometres from Arc-et-Senans to Besançon – was where Wiggins was planning his first killer blow. The team were working hard to save him as much energy as possible so that he could blast his GC rivals on the twisty riverside route. Resplendent in his yellow skinsuit, he went out to do what he does best: he knew he would suffer, he knew it would hurt, but he focused and executed brilliantly. It’s not easy to maintain a consistent pace; as Froome acknowledged, ‘It is good to know you are on track for a good time, but you have to be careful you don’t overcook it. It’s a fine line to gauge that effort.’
Wiggins and Froome stormed to a Team Sky 1–2 as the team notched up its third stage victory – and Wiggins claimed his first Tour de France stage victory. It was another emphatic display. It had never been done before in British cycling, but the team viewed it as a repeat of what they’ve been doing all season: taking it day by day, treating the Tour just as they would any other race.
‘This is what we’ve trained for. Sean was saying to me on the radio in the last 10km – “think of all those hours, all those sacrifices you’ve made” – and this is what that was all for and that really motivated me,’ Wiggins said. ‘All the hard work during the winter, missing my children’s birthdays, being on training camps and things. This is what it’s all for – these moments. I didn’t set out for the stage win, it was a battle for the GC, but to get the stage win is a bonus. And that’s fantastic as well.
‘We’re nine days into the Tour now and there were two tough stages before today. Everyone was tired last night and you never know how you’re going to recover. Time-trialling’s what I do best, though. I get into my zone, know exactly the routine I have to go through during the stage and I felt great today. The minute I turned the first pedal stroke on the warm-up I felt fantastic so I knew I was on a good one.’
For Yates, his protégé’s time-trialling prowess would be one of his Tour highlights. ‘I live my dreams through Bradley’s legs. We think alike. I understand him. I can relate to him really, really well. I may be in the car, but I can imagine just what he’s feeling, what he needs. That feeling is growing all the time into a unique bond. I’m not the most open of guys, and neither is Bradley. I know he doesn’t want to mess around with his kit, his bike, whatever. If your goal is to get the best out of yourself on a bike, everything else detracts from that. You have to be uncompromising. Love it or be tormented by it, or something in between. You have to know what you want, have it straight in your head.
‘A few years ago I was frustrated by the way he was going about his business. He has always been a fantastic athlete but he was not delivering to the best of his ability, but it all came together. Tim Kerrison helped him realise what he wanted and what he needed to do in order to achieve that. And Bradley became calm in himself.’
Bernie Eisel. Cavendish’s experienced wingman. Age: 31. Nationality: Austrian. Career highlights (as of eve of 2012 Tour de France): 12 Grand Tour appearances and a host of stage wins.
Richie Porte. Talented climber and time-trialler. Age: 27. Nationality: Australian. Career highlights (as of eve of 2012 Tour de France): Race leader for stages 11–13 and winner of young riders’ classification in 2010 Giro d’Italia.
‘Time-trialling is what I do best. I know exactly the routine that I need to do. I felt great from the first pedal stroke and I knew I was in for a good one.’
Bradley Wiggins