Sky’s the limit for Wiggins

“I think this year we focused too much on the peas and not enough on the steak.”

That was Team Sky’s principal Dave Brailsford in 2010, after the first year of cycling’s richest revolution hadn’t gone quite as planned. Bradley Wiggins had flopped in the Tour and the dream of a British winner by 2014 still seemed outlandish, for all the money being thrown at the prospect. Brailsford blamed distractions, media hype, the weight of expectation.

Now, two years ahead of schedule, Wiggins will gobble what little meat is left on the bone en route to Chartres today.

Unfortunately, cycling fans have been denied any sauce.

After last year’s roller-coaster riding, it’s a little ironic that Sky’s big breakthrough hasn’t made great TV.

Brailsford and his chequebook have left nothing to chance in team building and tactics and Sky have neutralised all opposition almost from Liege, with little appetite among the challengers to attack their stranglehold.

“Leading this team is like being given the captaincy to lead England into the World Cup,” Wiggins once said.

And you have to admire his achievement.

After all, Ramsey’s Wingless Wonders weren’t the most exciting bunch either.