22 July 2012 - Team Sky Rider Bradley Wiggins on a day he will remember for the rest of his life
"I've had 24 hours for this to soak in and today we were just on a mission to finish the job off with Cav. So job done and what a way for him to finish it off. I’m still buzzing from the Champs-Elysees.
"I've got to get used to going into the history books now, but I’m just trying to take everything in today first. It’s very surreal at the moment because this type of things [usually] happens to other people. You never imagine it happening to yourself."
22 July 2012 - Team Sky Rider Chris Froome on a memorable final day and his ambitions for the future
"Getting onto the Champs Elysees and hearing the eruption from the crowd as we came through the first tunnel sent chills right through me. It hasn’t sunk in yet what we have achieved here. Winning the stage with Cav was just the icing on the cake after three weeks of amazing, amazing racing.
"I’m going to go on to the Olympics now, and then the Vuelta a Espana if all goes well, and we’ll see how the legs are there.
"I’d love to come back to the Tour one day and keep this whole thing with Team Sky going. We’re going to try and ride for the GC every year and whoever it is carrying the yellow jersey knows the team is going to be right there for them. We’ll be back 100%.
"Standing next to Bradley on the podium has only inspired me. It’s was quite an emotional day."
21 July 2012 - Team Sky Rider Bradley Wiggins on moving within touching distance of the Tour de France
“It’s what I wanted to do - I wanted to go out with a bang.
"53km is a long way but it’s what I do best. I came out in March and looked at this course with Sean [Yates, Team Sky Sports Director]. I felt fantastic out there. The first pedal stroke in the warm-up I normally know whether I’m on it or not. I knew today the minute I rolled off that ramp that I was on a good one."
"It's the Tour. It doesn't get much bigger than this. You couldn't write a better script. What a way to finish.
"I wouldn't say it was a lap of honour, because it hurt, but I just wanted to finish the job off in style."
20 July 2012 - Team Sky Team Principal Dave Brailsford on another fantastic stage victory
"We were determined to repay Mark for his loyalty, his teamwork and his contribution to this team over the last few weeks. I know Bradley and the guys were very motivated this morning to try and say thanks to him. When you lead Mark Cavendish out like that the result is never in doubt.
"When you look at the Tour he has only sprinted four times. He has crashed once, and then when you look at the three other times he was beaten once and then won the other two - which in anybody’s book is a fantastic return. He’s demonstrated once again why he’s such an amazing rider and a genuine world champion.
"The one thing I’d like the team to be known and remembered for is the unity and that teamwork. The guys work tirelessly for each other, they get on really well and they showed again today that they all back each other, it doesn’t matter what the situation is. Credit to Mark for taking advantage of that today and showing why he is the best sprinter in the world."
19 July 2012 - Team Sky Rider Richie Porte on getting the mountains out of the way
“It was a fantastic day for the team. It was the last really nervous stage for us and it’s nice to get it over and done with. All credit to Liquigas. They took the race to us today and they were really strong.
“It’s just nice to finish off the Pyrenees on such a good note. It’s not over until the fat lady sings in Paris. But as a team it’s incredible and we’ve ridden as such a strong unit. We lost Kosta in the first week and guys like Christian Knees have just stepped up and filled in in every role possible.”
18 July 2012 - Team Sky Rider Bradley Wiggins on a ticking off another tough stage
"It was hot out there today - probably the hottest day we've had all Tour - and coming a day after the rest day, everybody responded differently to it. As a team we passed the test again. We were fantastic and it was an ideal scenario putting even more time into Cadel. We couldn't get rid of Nibali - he was strong out there - but it was a great day.
"Vincenzo is a class bike rider and has won the Vuelta and been on the podium at the Giro, so you can never underestimate him. It was nice to finish with him and be able to take everything he could throw at us.
"I don't think everyone else has let us go. Tomorrow is another day, and another challenge, and then everyone's thoughts will turn to the time trial - which is as significant as a mountains stage in itself. Today's another day ticked off though and tomorrow's a whole other day.
"We'll get tomorrow out of the way first before we can even begin to think about Paris. Tonight the process starts again with recovery, massage, rehydrating, and then warming down to ensure we're good to go again in the morning."
16 July 2012 - Team Sky Sports Director Sean Yates on a hectic start to an otherwise straightforward day
"It took a long time for the break to go and there was not one metre of flat before it went.
"It was damned hard work to keep everything in check as well because there were lots of guys trying to get in it.
"As well as those that could potentially pose a GC threat, we had to monitor the RadioShack guys as well as they wanted to stretch their advantage in the team classification. Franck Schleck tried to get in a few moves for instance which we had to shut down."
15 July 2012 - Team Sky Rider Bradley Wiggins on his decision to neutralise the race after rival Cadel Evans was held up by tacks being thrown on the road
"No one wants to see something like that have an impact on the race. As a group the thing to do was to wait, the stage win was over. The climb was over. There was nothing left to contest really.
"Everybody sees those situations differently but personally I wouldn't want to benefit from something like that. I thought the best thing to do is to wait.
"If you can't gain times on the climbs, then you don't do it when someone's punctured - not even when it's an ordinary puncture. So when it was something like what happened today, something external affecting the race, then it's even more so.
"There were so many punctures at once that it was obvious that something had happened.
"The climb was so narrow that the team cars were a long way back and waiting seemed the honourable thing to do."
14 July 2012 - Team Sky Team Principal Dave Brailsford on team tactics for a tough finale
"We'd planned this morning that we'd try and take it up on that last drag with 2km to go and come into the final corner on the front," he said. "Bradley found himself in that position with Edvald on his wheel and I think that was a bit of pay back to give him the opportunity for the stage win. It was nice to see.
"We didn't win the stage but the important thing was to set Eddy up and give him the opportunity. If he'd had the legs then fantastic, but it was a nice gesture and probably a little bit of thanks for all the work Eddy has been doing in the mountains all week.
"We'll get back tonight and reflect on today and sit down and look at tomorrow's stage this evening. Bradley is strong, he feels good, and we're going into the Pyrenees with confidence."
12 July 2012 - Team Sky Rider Bradley Wiggins on respect for his opponents
"I think Nibali is getting stronger all the time, it certainly appears that way.
"I was pretty surprised Cadel went on the Glandon - it was a long way out and we had strength in numbers.
"But it's been a fantastic day again for us; it's another one ticked off and I'm sure the next few days will produce something completely different again."
11 July 2012 - Team Sky Rider Bradley Wiggins on defending yellow for another day
"We were fortunate that we got the right breakaway away," said Wiggins afterwards. "We were prepared to lose the jersey if need be to [Michele] Scarponi who was the best-placed up there.
"This is about being in yellow in Paris and if that means sacrificing the next days and keeping the boys back a bit [then so be it]. Fortunately that came back once we hit the climb and we kept the jersey.
"I was waiting for Nibali to start playing his joker card and he did. Fortunately he went solo and we knew he'd have to have some good legs to stay clear on the next climb and then down into the valley.
"We do have to gamble a little bit here and we can't just chase everything that moves. We didn't panic and we got down and rode hard on the next climb and got him back. It all worked out."
9 July 2012 - Team Sky Sports Director Sean Yates on making history
"Bradley and Froomey delivered what they promised and what they've been working towards all year. It was a top drawer performance. It's never been done before in British cycling and you can't get much bigger than that.
"It's a repeat of what we've been doing all year. We started out taking it day by day, treating it just as we would any other race and it was a continuation of the same theme.
"Our goal is still to have the jersey in Paris. That means not jeopardising Bradley's GC position. We're going to try and do that in the best way possible. It's the best ever performance by a Brit in the sport. It's up there with the greats in my opinion. There are still 11 stages to go and a lot of teams who haven't won a stage. For sure they will be trying."
8 July 2012 - Team Sky Rider Chris Froome on surviving a tough day
"It was a hard day out there - harder than most people expected. We're happy though because we managed to keep Bradley at the front. There was a bit of cat and mouse with the other GC guys today but there's just the time trial before the rest day now.
"We knew Nibali and Evans would push the limits when it got technical on that descent - that's why Brad an I stayed on their wheel and didn't let them get much time.
"I'm not here to make any statements in the time trial, I'm here to do my job and we'll see how it goes tomorrow."
7 July 2012 - Team Sky Rider Chris Froome on his memorable stage win
"It wasn't the plan to go for the stage win, my only concern was keeping Bradley up there. We'd come to see this climb previously and I knew what the finish was like. When it came to it I thought 'I'm there, I've got the legs, so why not give it a kick and see what happens'.
"I just couldn't believe it when Cadel [Evans] couldn't follow my wheel. I thought 'wow! This could actually come off and it did.
"I'm speechless really at what we've achieved today in terms of British cycling - it's a dream come true and I never thought I'd win a stage here, so I'm chuffed to bits but there's still a long way to race."
7 July 2012 - Team Sky Rider Bradley Wiggins on becoming just the fifth Briton to take the leader's yellow jersey
"It's an incredible feeling to have done what we've done and it hasn't sunk in yet. It sounds corny but this is something I've dreamt of since I was a child - sat on the home trainer in Kilburn watching my hero Miguel Indurain do it. Those dreams have come true now and I'm sat here at the top of a mountain in yellow. It's phenomenal.
"We've trained for performances like that all year and on the climb I was shouting at Froomey with 1.5km to go to save a little bit because he didn't need to go any harder. I knew he could win the stage if he just kept a little bit back and it was a great finish for him.
"My priority was to watch Cadel because I knew I was going to take yellow. It's fantastic - Froomey's taken the stage and is King of the Mountains, and I'm in yellow, so it was an incredible day.
7 July 2012 - Team Sky Sports Director Sean Yates on a historic day for the team
"We came here to try and win the Tour, and there's still a long way between here and Paris, but we've set the bar high today and this team has delivered, just like they have done all year.
"Up to now in the Tour it's been sprint stages and we've been waiting for today. We laid down the law though today and proved we are very, very strong.
"We're here to ride our bikes and do that to the best of our ability and if we do that the riches will come, and are coming. Everything is running as planned but there's a long way to Paris and you can't take anything for granted. Today's performance tastes sweet though and I'm really happy for Froomey. We'll just continue to do our job to the best of our ability now."
6 July 2012 - Team Sky Principal Dave Brailsford on the crash which defined the stage
"In a split second everything changed and all hell was let loose.
"Five minutes before that crash happened Brad came right up to the front with Christian and it was one of the best moves he's made so far.
"The first phase of this race is now over and he's still upright on his bike, which was the main objective, and he hasn't lost any time."
5 July 2012 - Team Sky Sports Director, Sean Yates
"It's another day down and another day closer to the mountains. It was an incident-free day for us and for most of the other teams which was what we had hoped for.
"The final didn't work out quite how we wanted it but the guys were all there and they did a good job. We upped the ante and next time it will be better. Cav dropped back a bit at the finish and had a bit too much work to do at the end.
"We need to keep this going starting tomorrow and we will look to keep Bradley safe and set Mark up heading into the finish."
4 July 2012 - Team Sky Sports Director, Sean Yates on a late crash
"It was certainly not what we wanted to see," he said. The lead-up to a sprint is very dangerous and we see this kind of thing time and time again. Nobody wants to see crashes for anybody and we were among the victims again today.
"There wasn't a lot of room there in the bunch. At that speed with a touch of wheels, before you know it you are lying on the deck. The guys are battered and bruised but they will fight on. These guys are tough. We saw Cav jump back up after his accident at the Giro.
"Up to that point the day had been relatively straight forward and a lot calmer than yesterday. But it's never over until it's over. The crash was inside the 3km and so the rule applies and Bradley held station on the GC."
3 July 2012 - Team Sky Rider, Chris Froome on a tough day for the team
"Today was mayhem and towards the end everyone was fighting to be at the front of the bunch because that's the safest place to be. You can't have 200 riders on the front though and there were a lot of crashes as a result. We are a man down because of that and it looks like Siutsou's broken his leg - that's a big loss for us but in terms of the general classification, Bradley's still safe so that's one positive.
"As for my tumble at the end, I was trying to stay out of trouble but there was a Vacansoleil rider immediately in front of me and he went into the barriers and he took me with him. There was nowhere to go. Bradley was just behind me and he got caught up in it but thankfully didn't hit the ground. Condition-wise, my legs are feeling great so I just want to get into the mountains now and away from these flat, nervous roads."
2 July 2012 - Team Sky Sports Rider, Mark Cavendish
"It wasn't too technical but there was enough technicality to make it a bit chaotic with all the other riders there. Normally I'm out of the way in the front but today I could kind of freestyle.
"It wasn't as windy as I thought it was going to be and that didn't play as much of a factor. It's been a good start to the race for the team. Brad stayed out of trouble and hopefully he can continue on towards yellow. We're here to win the yellow jersey. I'm here to do what I did today.
"I've been on the back foot but I've been more relaxed than ever coming into this Tour de France as the pressure hasn't been there for me to do anything. [A win] doesn't give me any more confidence as it's never easy to win a Tour de France stage, with a team or on your own. I just have to fight for everything that I do."
1 July 2012 - Team Sky Sports Director, Sean Yates
"Bradley was able to stay out of trouble which was the main thing today. It was good to see Edvald up there to take a good result at the finish.
"Froomey was unlucky to puncture just at the wrong moment as we hit the waterfront along the river. It was lined out going 70k an hour. Richie waited along with Christian. By the time they came back to the convoy riders were getting shelled. It was not possible to get back on. Riders were all over the place.
"Mick also came down but managed to get back for the finish. It was a good effort from the team up to that point. Sometimes there's nothing you can do about bits of bad luck like that."
30 June 2012 - Team Sky Rider Bradley Wiggins
"I'm really happy, the legs felt good and I stayed calm and relaxed.
"It's a good start and the main thing was to stay upright, safe and trouble-free - it's nice to get this first day out of the way.
"Fair play to Fabian, he's the best in the world at what he does and I think he proved that again today."
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