Sky has announced it will end its involvement in professional cycling in 2019 after a rollercoaster decade of backing one of the most successful and controversial teams in the sport's history.
The decision will bring to a conclusion Sky's ownership and sponsorship of Team Sky, which will continue to race under a different name if a new backer is secured to provide funding from the beginning of 2020.
The team will compete as Team Sky for the last time during the 2019 road racing season.
L-R) Team Sky's Jonathan Castroviejo, Luke Rowe, Geraint Thomas, Chris Froome, Wout Poels, Egan Bernal and Michal Kwiatkowski pose after the last stage of the 2018 Tour de France
Team Sky have won 322 races including eight Grand Tour and 52 other stage races
During a stunning decade of success, Team Sky have won 322 races including eight Grand Tours, 52 other stage races and 25 one-day races.
They have recorded a stunning six Tour de France victories in seven years but their success has been overshadowed by a series of drug controversies.
Insiders at Sky insist the decision has nothing to do with the Comcast takeover. It has been taken by chief executive Jeremy Darroch, who despite being a great ally of Sir Dave Brailsford has chosen to sever ties with the all-conquering road team.
The cycling team hoped they had done enough to convince their title sponsors to stick around, but while insiders at the media giant also insist this split has not been influenced by the potential for further controversy there is serious concern about the upcoming GMC hearing involving former Team Sky and British Cycling doctor Richard Freeman.
The hearing, due in early February, is expected to resolve the mystery surrounding the delivery of testosterone patches to the Manchester headquarters of both teams in 2011.
As Sportsmail revealed in March, GMC investigators have obtained evidence that suggests the patches were ordered by a senior member of the medical staff at the National Cycling Centre with a further request then made to the medical supplier in Oldham asking them to send an email saying the package had been sent in error.
Team Sky principal Sir Dave Brailsford said the team remains 'open minded about the future'
Chris Froome has been at the core of Team Sky's success, winning four Tour de France titles
Earlier this year the all-conquering road team faced severe criticism from both UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) and MPs for their medical practices and what a parliamentary report considered an abuse of the medical exemption system.
Sky denied giving banned substances to riders for non-medical reasons but the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) committee concluded that they had 'crossed an ethical line'.
Freeman, who in 2011 was the team doctor for both Team Sky and British Cycling, quit his job as the British Cycling head physician last year in the wake of the concerns that were raised about medical practices in both organisations by UKAD's 'Jiffy Bag' investigation.
Sir Bradley Wiggins came in for heavy criticism in 2016 when Russian hackers published medical records that revealed he had obtained a Therapeutic Use Exemption certificate (TUE) on three occasions to take triamcinolone, including before his historic 2012 Tour win.
A report by the DCMS select committee, released in March this year, stated Wiggins used the controversial drug to enhance his performance and not for medical reasons.
A significant part of the investigation concerned Sportsmail's revelations about a medical package ordered by Team Sky for Wiggins in June 2011 - a jiffy bag that allegedly contained triamcinolone.
Wiggins claimed he used the drug, which has a history of abuse in cycling because it can assist weight loss, without losing power, legally to treat asthma and allergy problems.
Sir Bradley Wiggins was the focus of the 'Jiffy Bag' investigation, which emerged in 2016
Team Sky doctor Richard Freeman quit his job as the British Cycling head physician last year
In an open letter from Team Sky to fans, they insisted they will do 'everything we can' to find a new partner and offer clarity on the situation before the Tour de France in July 2019.
'In terms of the future, we are open minded,' it read. 'If we can find a new long-term partner to take the Team forward into a new era, then we will do so. And we will be doing everything we can to make that happen over the coming weeks and months. Equally, any future partner would have to be the right partner - one who shares our ethos and buys in to our values.
'This news has only just been announced; we can't predict what will happen from 2020 and there are no guarantees. Whatever happens, we will make sure there is clarity one way or the other about the future of the Team before the Tour de France next July.'
Four-time Tour de France winner Froome thanked Sky for their support via Twitter and said he and his team-mates were 'not finished yet by any means'.
'Everyone at Team Sky has big ambitions for 2019 and this news has made us more determined than ever to make them happen,' he wrote.
'I can't predict the future but I can say this with absolute certainty, this is a really special team.
'We plan to be together in 2020 if at all possible and we will all be doing everything we can to help make that happen - in different colours with a new partner but the same values, focus and desire to win.'
Speaking about Sky's decision on Wednesday morning, team principal Sir Dave Brailsford said: 'While Sky will be moving on at the end of next year, the team is open minded about the future and the potential of working with a new partner, should the right opportunity present itself.
'For now, I would like to thank all Team Sky riders and staff, past and present - and above all the fans who have supported us on this adventure.
'We aren't finished yet by any means. There is another exciting year of racing ahead of us and we will be doing everything we can to deliver more Team Sky success in 2019.'
Jeremy Darroch, Sky's Group chief executive, added: 'After more than a decade of involvement, I couldn't be prouder of what we've achieved with Team Sky and our long-standing partners at British Cycling.
'But the end of 2019 is the right time for us to move on as we open a new chapter in Sky's story and turn our focus to different initiatives.
'I'd like to pay a special tribute to Dave Brailsford and the immensely talented team of riders and staff he has assembled at Team Sky. What they have achieved together would have been beyond the dreams of many just a few years ago.
'We thank you for joining with us on this journey and look forward to enjoying our last season of racing together.'
Link hienalouca.com
https://hienalouca.com/2018/12/12/sky-to-end-involvement-in-professional-cycling-as-team-looks-for-new-sponsorship/
Main photo article Sky has announced it will end its involvement in professional cycling in 2019 after a rollercoaster decade of backing one of the most successful and controversial teams in the sport’s history.
The decision will bring to a conclusion Sky’s ownership and sponsorship of Team Sky, which...
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Dianne Reeves Online news HienaLouca
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