Cathal Dennehy: Is there a difference between doing the right thing and being seen to do the right thing?

David Brailsford will again pull the strings for the Jim Ratcliffe-owned Team Ineos Grenadiers at this year’s Tour de France, which starts in Lille today.

TOUR DE FRANCE: UAE Team Emirates - XRG team riders cycle through Lille's city center towards Lille-Flandres train station during the official team's presentation days prior to the start of the 112th edition of the Tour de France cycling race, in Lille, northern France, on July 3, 2025. Pic: ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP via Getty Images

For many years he was seen as the man with the Midas touch – a lateral-thinking, high-performance brainiac who could waltz into any environment and make it a success. He was the guru behind the medal rush in British Cycling, the puppet-master pulling the strings as Team Sky took over the Tour de France. The guy who could halt the slow-motion train wreck that is Manchester United.

He was Mr Marginal Gains.