As we followed the 2012 Tour de France from our bike shop in Harlingen, Texas, one thing that was memorable about this year's competition was the strategy of Britain's Team Sky. Sky's success reminds the world, that this is, for better or for worse, a team sport.
Bradley Wiggins took home England's first yellow jersey, no surprise to anyone who had been following the race. Wiggins held a comfortable lead for a good part of the race. The win was a virtual certainty by Saturday, after Wiggins won his second time trial. It would have taken something major to turn the tides on his win at that point.
Wiggins finished on Sunday with his teammate Chris Froome close behind. Froome followed just 3:21 after him, dramatically short, especially considering the team dynamics which had caused a stir in some of the previous stages.
Froome surpassed expectations with his outstanding performance on mountain climbs, putting Team Sky's winning strategy to the test. The team had put its money on Wiggins ability to win the time trials, and Froome was held back in several stages in order to ensure Wiggins' lead. The tension over this strategy erupted in an exchange of catty tweets between Froome's girlfriend and Wiggins' wife, starting in the 11th stage.
Team Sky's teamwork also made its mark when Mark Cavendish was supported in taking a fourth consecutive stage win on the Champs-Elysees. Wiggins was happy with Sky's teamwork. "It's magnificent," he said. "For us to finish like this as a team, helping Mark to victory and allowing him to defend his record here... it's incredible."
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