Brailsford: 'Trying to win everything is recipe for failure'

Team Sky chief and Team GB performance director David Brailsford has said that having Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish aiming for glory in the Tour de France and Olympic Games is a 'recipe for failure'.

Brailsford, speaking to the BBC, said that the two British star riders will have to prioritise their aims for the year as the season rolls on. Wiggins is aiming for overall victory in the Tour de France and Olympic Games road time trial; whilst Cavendish is out to defend his green jersey at the Tour and win the Olympic Games road race.

"We have four goals in close proximity. The Tour de France yellow jersey, the green jersey, Olympic road race and Olympic time trial, all of which revolves around Mark and Bradley," said Brailsford.

"At this stage in the game, as you head into that period, you look at what the form is like and like everything else in life you have to prioritise."

"To give each an equal significance and try and win everything is probably a recipe for failure. What we really need to do is look at them and say 'if we can have one of those things, which one would you take and how would you build your chances around that'," Brailsford continued.

"We're quite clear in our minds about our approach going into this year and it'll pan out when we get there."

Since Cavendish joined Wiggins at Sky at the start of the 2012 season, Brailsford is in the position of being able to prioritise both riders' professional and national cycling duties - a luxury that few teams and riders can boast going into Olympic year.

Brailsford's comments are perhaps the first clear indication that something will have to give - and that Wiggins will likely aim for the Tour de France overall and Cavendish will concentrate on the Olympic Games road race. Anything else achieved along the way in targetting those priorities will be a welcome bonus.

Already this year, Bradley Wiggins has taken a major stage race win at Paris-Nice and Mark Cavendish has scooped victories at the Tour of Qatar, Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne and Tirreno-Adriatico.

Cavendish will be in action in Sunday's Ghent-Wevelgem classic in Belgium, one of his key targets for the season.

Related links

British professional road wins 2012

External link

Brailsford interview in BBC website