On Bastille Day, the French riders were out to put on a show while Team Sky quietly got on with the business of keeping Wiggins out of trouble, covering all attacks and executing the plan discussed in the morning meeting which would indulge in some intra-team payback. The idea was to take up the running on the last drag with two kilometres to go and come into the final corner on the front. ‘Wiggins found himself in that position with Edvald on his wheel and that was a bit of payback to give him the opportunity for the stage win,’ commented Brailsford, after Boasson Hagen had sprinted to third.
‘It was nice to see. We didn’t win the stage but the important thing was to set Eddy up and give him the opportunity. It was a nice gesture and probably a little bit of thanks for all the work Eddy has been doing in the mountains all week.’ The Norwegian appreciated the move: ‘It was a special moment to see the yellow jersey doing a lead out for me … even if I didn’t quite make the line. It showed how thankful he was and how much we have achieved together.’
A glance at the final results made the day seem uneventful, but with the wind and a series of roundabouts to negotiate at the finish, the stage required absolute vigilance. Knees, Wiggins’s designated right-hand man for the flatlands, was as protective as ever. ‘In the first week, I was not thinking too far ahead. I was concentrating on bringing Brad through the first six or seven days. He crashed last year and all I could think was that I didn’t want to see him lying on the ground. When we reached the mountains, it was good to see what he could do.’ The spread-wing tattoo inked across Knees’s shoulders proclaims ‘I believe I can fly’, and the team in full-on unified motion did seem like a cross between a host of guardian angels and a small flock of eagle-eyed escorts, hovering with intent to kill off any rivals’ hopes of catching Wiggins.
And so another day was crossed off. A glance at Wiggins’s personal space on the bus was getting like Groundhog Day: yet another cuddly lion, yellow jersey, copy of L’Equipe with Sky making the headlines, more empty bidons. Physically, he remained in great condition. ‘He is a superb athlete who can absorb the workload and reap the benefit. He has a fantastic constitution,’ says Yates, while Brailsford claims he has the perfect physique for a Tour de France winner. ‘He’s a tall guy, and long levers are significant from a biomechanic point of view. A power-to-weight ratio is important, so, because he’s tall, his weight needs to be as limited as possible. Bradley’s lost an enormous amount of weight but retained his power. He’s in perfect shape and that is difficult to achieve.’
Maintenance of condition is the day-to-day business of the carers. During the race hours, their job is to prepare the riders’ gear (helmets, clothing, shoes and spares of each), supply fresh bidons galore (3,000 bottles are drunk during the three weeks), prepare the food for the musettes in collaboration with team chef Søren Kristiansen, oversee the pre-race warm-up and post-race massage. They operate with an armoury of healing hands, compression tights, cotton wool with decongestant and blue kinesiology tape to apply to shoulders, legs and feet to speed-heal or support muscles and connective tissue.
‘There is a team of us divided between the race and the hotel who are focused on making sure the riders are as comfortable as possible. As well as food, drink and physio, we provide the best hygiene and cleanliness,’ explains Mario Pafundi. ‘It’s about looking for marginal gains everywhere. I clean hotel rooms, remove dust and dirt, check under beds and furniture. When it’s hot, we put in air conditioning or a dehumidifier. We transport anallergic bed sheets and thermogel mattresses for each rider. We work hard to create the best atmosphere for the full complement of staff. If riders sense other people around them are tired, it is contaminating.’
‘Bradley never looked to be in any danger. The important thing today was to be at the front. This stage is another box ticked. It was a really niggly and hard day but we have come through unscathed.’
Dave Brailsford