Christopher Froome will lead the Tour de France as Bradley Wiggins will ride the Giro d’Italia 2013
Team Sky General Manager, David Brailsford has confirmed that Christopher Froome will lead the team at the Tour de France 2013, while Bradley Wiggins will try and win the Giro d’Italia in the season ahead.
"The Tour of Italy would be a very good target for Bradley and leave Froomy then to focus on the Tour de France," Brailsford told BBC Sport.
Bradley Wiggins’ win at this year’s Tour made him the first ever British rider to claim an overall victory at the most prestigious race of the season.
Christopher Froome also rode brilliantly and occupied the second overall position after the Tour de France final general classifications.
However, Wiggins attempt to win all the three World Tours will give Froome an opportunity to try his luck at the coming edition of the three-week race in France.
"I think the legendary status for him could be enhanced by winning the three grand tours. I think he should target the tour of Italy and then the Vuelta," Team Coach Shane Sutton briefed earlier this year.
Froome had his chances of winning the French Grand Tour this year, but stuck to the team’s plan and watched Wiggins claiming at the top podium position.
"I am still convinced that I could have won. But everything was clear within the team and I tried my best to do my job. I was not the chosen leader," Froome told L'Equipe.
The 27-year-old also bagged the seventh stage of the race and defended his team leader to ensure Vincenzo Nibali remains at the third spot after the two Brits.
He also held the Polka Dot Jersey during the stage 8 of the Tour, with a fourth overall finish at the Criterium du Dauphine and the Spanish Grand Tour, Vuelta a Espana 2012.
Froome has appeared in as many as six Grand Tour races throughout his young career including two Giro d’Italia, two Tour de France and two Vuelta a Espana under his belt.
"It's definitely a very challenging route. It's going to suit the climbers very well but the contenders are going to have to be riders who can hold their own in time trial too," he said.
However, Wiggins has not completely overruled the Tour de France participation and the news will only be confirmed after the team announced its final squad.
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