Team Sky had their first major press conference at the Tour De France this morning.
Last year they had chosen the team hotel but today they opted for the media centre in the Gymnase de l'Etendeure in the small town of Les Herbiers in the Vendee region, ahead of the 98th Tour which starts on Saturday.
The team had their blood samples taken at 9.30am before the manager and the team which includes British road race champion Bradley Wiggins, former British road race champion Geraint Thomas and up and coming sprinter Ben Swift from Rotherham, who made his mark in the Tour Down Under and is certainly a man in form.
As you would expect there was quite a big British press pack to this event with the likes of ITV4 including the good people that are Ned Boulting, Gary Imlach whose dad played for Coventry City and Matt Rendall who are showing more coverage of the race than ever before, as well as sections of the written press and foreign media.
The gentlemen and a few ladies of the press were kept waiting for over twenty minutes before the conference got underway.
Team Sky Manager David Brailsford felt there was a nice momentum for his team. Speaking to Covsupport News Service,
Bradley Wiggins (pictured below) who said that a podium place in the tour was not the be all, said that winning the British Championship and being able to wear the British Champions jersey in the tour was fantastic. He added; "Not many riders have worn the jersey in the tour, Geraint (Thomas) has but you can look at the greats like Robert Millar who hasn't. "Any historian or fan will realise exactly how much this means."
Ben Swift (pictured below) also spoke to Covsupport News Service and said that riding in his first tour was going to be great and something he was looking forward to.
Geraint Thomas, (pictured below) who wore the white jersey early on in last years tour said although he was riding for Wiggins and the team, he be happy if any jersey came his way.
There was good news that the shingles suffered by Edvald Boasson Hagen was only currently a rash on his bike and Sky would be to put out their full team as planned on Saturday.
Pictures copyright of Covsupport News Service. Credit CNS/KM