torrey wrote:
I understand the love for Bernal, but he only has one Grand Tour under his belt. He is heir apparent, but has yet to show he is ready. In true Sky fashion, he needs to be a super domestique for his leader and ride away from said leader on one stage only to be called back shaking his head. Only then will he get the call.
I get what you're saying. Thomas has more experience. Thomas has won a grand tour. Thomas has "put in his time" as a domestique by what seems to be the Sky/Ineos way.
But the reason Sky has been relatively easy to manage in terms of team leadership is because Froome was just on another level than his domestiques. He let the road decide the pecking order and would build up multiple minute leads over his domestiques. When the last lieutenant dropped the hammer with 5-6 km to go, Froome would come around at 2-3 km and go ape shit at 120 rpms because he was that good...and good over 3 weeks. Sure, he's had his down points where his lieutenant had to drop back, but only after he had demonstrated his dominance and built up a lead worth protecting.
With Thomas, I'm not sure he can do that over Bernal. If Bernal goes to the front with 5 km to go and drops the hammer for Thomas, he might just put Thomas on the rivet with nothing left to attack. If Thomas is good enough to attack off of Bernal's tempo, then by all means...ride for Thomas. I just think Thomas and Bernal are too close (assuming both are on form) for it to be that easy to determine pecking order just because Brailsford says so. I believe the road will decide it, and Bernal will be thinking of himself until the time gaps say otherwise.
