Tour De France 2012: Team Sky Has Been Vital to Bradley Wiggins in Iconic Race

Bradley Wiggins is on the verge of becoming the first British cyclist to win the Tour de France. While the decorated 32-year-old British racer has undoubtedly earned the 2012 Tour de France win with steadiness, he certainly must pay a major thanks to his Sky teammates. 

Guys like fellow countryman Chris Froome and Mark Cavendish, the winner of the most recent Stage 18, have been integral in Wiggins' ascension to the top of this year's Tour.

Typically, there is plenty of team strategy in the Tour de France, and Team Sky has done a remarkable job aiding Wiggins to what should be a legendary Tour victory. 

Cavendish is arguably the best "sprinter" in the world, and has won two stages in this year's Tour—Stage 2 being his other win besides Stage 18. After winning Stage 7, Froome lost to Wiggins in Stage 9 by 35 seconds. 

Froome now sits in second place, two minutes and five seconds behind Wiggins entering the penultimate stage on Saturday, a time trial from Bonneval to Chartres. 

This article from The Guardian discussed how the up-and-coming Team Sky has mastered teamwork en route to Wiggins' probable triumph, 

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There have been falls, although not as many as other teams, and a couple of moments when Froome appeared to need a word in his ear to restrain him on the climbs. But a grand tour is a compelling amalgam of teamwork and individual effort, and in only their third year at the Tour, Sky's directors, coaches and riders have shown a complete mastery of sport's most complex alchemy. 

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Froome's on the verge on becoming a star, but he has understood that this isn't his Tour de France to win and has cooperated. The same goes for Cavendish and a few others on Team Sky. 

Though Wiggins, barring an unforeseen disaster, will be the lone winner of the 2012 Tour de France, it'll also be a huge victory for Team Sky and all its members.

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