Sky have prepared with the intention of winning the GC, and everything else has taken a back seat. Now they have achieved it, and earlier than expected, I wonder if their focus will change for future TdFs, or if they will continue with the single minded approach towards the yellow jersey winner.
To give Mark Cavendish the best chance of maximising stage wins in future, they would need more than just BW and EB-H. I wonder if they’d consider just tinkering a little to try to improve Cav’s chance, at the slight expense of overall GC strength.
As others have said, this year’s tour seemed to be designed to suit BW. Even so, he was so strong that maybe it wouldn’t have really mattered what the course was like.
I’m looking forward to see how Sky approach next year’s event, and whether or not there will be many changes to suit both the course and exactly what Sky are trying to achieve, eg just the yellow jersey, or other jerseys as well, or stage wins as well.
Finally, looking back on this year’s event, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. I was not in the least bit bothered about the supposed lack of excitement, and the “negative” approach of Sky and Wiggins. It was a professional performance which to me was very impressive and we should applaud that. Once the win was guaranteed they loosened up a bit, but until then they concentrated on securing the win. I was a bit disappointed that Froome wasn’t allowed (or so it seems) to chase Valverde, but it’s only a small disappointment and if there was still any doubt in anyone’s mind (be it Wiggins or the team management), then they were right to “guarantee” the GC result first.