Future looks bright for Brailsford's team, says Wiggins

Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins believes the loss of Team Sky's sponsorship will not be detrimental as new money coming in ensures key man Dave Brailsford's plans will be unaffected.

The media giant announced in December it would be ending its association with the team at the end of the year. The partnership has extended beyond 10 years, with the team securing eight Grand Tour victories during that period.

Reports have suggested Britain's richest man Jim Ratcliffe, with a £21billion fortune, will step in and Wiggins thinks that will benefit the team under the continuing leadership of general manager Brailsford.

"Dave will want to retain control and it is Dave's way in terms of the way he manages the team, the way he sets the team up," the Olympic gold medallist said in the first episode of the new series of The Bradley Wiggins Show by Eurosport.

"I think he would have been reluctant to have another multi-national company that came in that wanted it for the advertisement and to get their name out there, but would want the control in terms of 'This is how we want to do it in terms of how we advertise our company'.

"I think that would have been a big point for Dave. So in some ways it's an ideal situation.

"He (Ratcliffe) is the richest man in Britain and you would imagine that the kind of money they have asked for is nothing to him.

"Dave can continue running out this team with all his plans and philosophies, so it's an ideal situation for him and he is answerable you'd imagine to one man - it's his money. It will certainly help that team."