Sir Bradley Wiggins has not congratulated Chris Froome on his Tour de France victory, Froome's fiancee Michelle Cound has revealed.
"We haven't heard anything directly from Bradley since the win," Cound told the Mail on Sunday.
"But then I've not ever met or even spoken to either Brad or Cath. It's not like we're in the same places. Our paths don't cross."
The comments come despite the fact that in recent days, Wiggins has stated that he would support Froome at the next Tour.
He told Sky Sports News: "I don't see why we can't work together and I'm sure we will be back at the Tour next year, if I'm selected. I would like to be there, but it is not my decision.
"The individual performance from Chris [at the Tour] was incredible. To win three stages and dominate the way he did, I think it showed the pre-race hype was right."
Wiggins is however not billed to ride for Sky at the USA Pro Challenge through Colorado, which Froome will headline, starting tomorrow.
But perhaps the two British Tour de France winners have managed to put their alleged and much-spoken-about differences behind them.
"I wouldn't say we're mates or that we hang out," Froome has said.
"We're both professionals who get on with the job. This year he's been on a completely different race programme to me. He focused on the Giro, I focused on the Tour. There's not much to it really."
And the idea of Wiggins supporting Froome at the next Tour isn't impossibility, the younger rider said.
"It's a good thing for the team, a privileged position for the team, having two Tour winners and having the possibility of being able to play those different cards."
"At the end of the day people will need to remember, whatever race we go to, we will go there with a clear plan and, as professionals, we will stick to that plan regardless of if we're mates or not."
Froome also revealed in the interview that he has a surprising tipple of choice.
Following his victory in Paris, he had to make do with champagne, rather than his favourite, Baileys
He said: "I do like Baileys but there wasn't any there that night … there were bottles of tequila floating around. There was definitely champagne, and red wine."
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45 comments
Non story why bother must be a slow news week.
What's wrong with Baileys its fine, better mixed 50/50 with 100 proof Pussers rum HHmm could that be why I weigh 130 kilos with a dickey ticker!!
Wow guys, why don't you just focus on CYCLING?
She is no Giulia Occhini.
Michelle is Chris's manager so why not give interviews?
"Life already sounds far from normal for Cound, who gave up her job as a cycling photographer in South Africa to join Froome in Europe last year. She now looks after his personal and commercial affairs when he is away training or competing, which is most of the time."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/23385376
To make character judgements on the basis of a Daily Mail article? Really?
This is just sensationalist stirring if you ask me. And more likely than not a bunch of out of context quotes.
Arghhhhhg...roadcc, pls stop this madness. Jeez, you're turning into cycling's answer to one of those chuffing women's gossip magazines my girlfriend buys by the bucket load.
Just. Stop.
What he said.
I think Froome has conducted himself immaculately in every interview I have seen or read from him. I'd hate to see this reputation tarnished from comments attributed to his fiance. She has as much right as anyone to free speach, and I actually agree with her apparent view that Wiggins could have at the very least sent a text, however it is Froome who pedals a bike for a living and as such it is his opinion and comments that should be heard above all.
"Froome congrats beef with Wiggo."
What did the beef do to be worthy of this? And where was Bertie?
Non-news.
Michelle can say what she wants about Brad etc but I really don't find it the least bit interesting.
And it's a pity road.cc felt the need to link directly to the Hate Mail, it helps pay their wages
As much as I like Chris Froome, especially his abilities on the bike, I think he should tell his fiancé to button it.
Michelle Cound has a big mouth that needs to remain shut. Let her fiancé speak for himself instead of stirring things up all the time.
Perhaps she could just mind her own business and use a little less of the Royal "we": if Froome is unhappy, let him say so.
Well, she is in a long-term committed relationship with the man so I'm not sure why she would need to "mind her own business"
I can't see why everyone has taken such offence here - Michelle Cound appears to be simply answering a question from the journalist. What was she supposed to do, refuse to answer or make something up? For those of you with such a negative view of her you might read Ned Boulting's interview with her and Froome in the last Rouleur - great article and one which provides a very different picture of her and Froome away from all the stupid fanboy hate she seems to attract
This. FFS.
He should have congratulated him, we need cycling to have a great looking reputation where riders are cordial to each other.
Tony Farrelly, it appears Michelle Cound has hijacked your account too!
Presumably all those slagging Michelle Cound off don't think the support of their wife/girlfriend has played any part in any successes they might have had in their professional lives and if those wives or girlfriends ever offer an opinion or advice on work-related matters they're firmly told to mind their own business?
True, it's unlikely the Daily Mail or the Mail on Sunday is ever going to want to interview our better halves about our sometimes fraught professional relationship with Colin from accounts or that moody tech editor, Mat Brett, but if the MoS did come sniffing round we'd obviously tell them they weren't to talk and that would be the end of it… Yeah, right.
Like Kath Wiggins she's not employed by Team Sky so she can say exactly what she likes. If people don't like it well that's tough but, they should deal with it without resorting to sexist abuse.
Scoop!
He's still not given you any kudos for those Strava PB's I take it.
You need to change your password Tony ! #youvebeencounded
@ScoctPoth We don't moderate comment on the site, but your comments on this story have broken the terms and conditions you agreed to when you became a member. Do it again and your account will be deleted.
Wow. Misogyny on this website. You live and learn. I would hope that particular person is binned forthwith.
Sorry but who gives a s***, cound is just a waste of space attention seeker who has nothing better to do with her life wish she'd just take a long walk off a short pier and do everyone a favour as she isn't helping the team withcrap like this.
SHIT!!! Brad rang me in Paris and said "Nick say well done to Foomedog for'is." I was drunk, totally forgot! Blame me "D'oh!"
crying.gif
Jesus man... you had ONE THING to do!? ONE, JUST ONE!
No one from work has congratulated me on my bike ride today. My wife is seething.
It isn't so much the words, although they are offensive, as the underlying misogyny.
EDIT: This was in response to a post which has since been deleted, and not meant to suggest that all criticism of Ms Cound is misogynistic.
7:27pm is a bit early to be drinking that heavily isn't it, even on a Sunday.
Non-story. Shoot me now...
ScotchPoth: Don't post anything if that's the best you can offer. I didn't log in here to read about your problems with women. (and replying to me with insults just escalates your personal issues).
For the record, more generally, I have no interest what she says either - her comments are irrelevant and petty nonsense. Tabloid rubbish.
This is stirring the sh!t by Cound. She's better off keeping this to herself.
If Chris feels stung by it, there's a phone. Get on the blower and get Wiggo making bold enthusing statements pouring in your ear like honey....
But this really seems a lot more like Cound vs. Wiggins. She probably fails to see the team dynamic in its correct proportions, and doesn't seem to have moved on from 2012 when Froome could have tested Wiggins on the mountains.....it's all history though.
Wiggins only seems to have begun to move forward from the Giro now. He probably has a super ego (you probably have to when you're a GC rider), and has no doubt been stung by Sky dropping him from the Tour (injury or no injury).
When they bump into each other he'll probably do the right thing. I would be surprised to see Wiggins acting as a domestique for anyone though. I know he 'rode' for Cav one time last year, but he is otherwise massively disinterested at the moment - but I know he has his own agenda.
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