WHEN Dave Brailsford said there would be a British winner of the Tour de France before 2015, the cycling world was sceptical.
Two years and one yellow jersey later, many are glad he has been proven right.WATCH: Dave Brailsford interview
When Team Sky was founded back in 2009 few people could have predicted British cyclists would win a haul of Olympic and Paralympic medals and secure a 1-2 at the Tour de France.
But despite a year in which Mr Brailsford spent 200 days travelling across France, Spain and Italy, he maintains there is no place like his home town Ilkeston.
"It's where things come back to normality – the people here are down to earth and as long as you can understand their accent, it's a great place to be.
"I'm very lucky that I travel around the world but there's nothing like coming home.
"I try to get out on the bike when I can.
"In terms of cycling, we go to some truly fantastic places, but in and around this area – Ambergate, Wirksworth and off up into the Peaks – it's some of the best cycling scenery and roads in the world."
One of Mr Brailsford's last engagements of the year saw him return to within a stone's throw of where he grew up.
Days after winning Coach of the Year at the Sports Personality of the Year ceremony, he was at West Park Leisure Centre in Long Eaton to pick up Freedom of the Borough.
Reflecting on the year, he said: "From a racing point of view it was incredible to be part of the team that got the first British winner on the Tour de France podium.
"Then the home Games... to be part of that experience and whole project, to be part of the atmosphere of the country, was fantastic.
"And there were so many different parts that touched so many different people, it was a real pleasure to be part of that.
"People ask me what my secret is all the time.
"In the main, our philosophy is based on a couple of things.
"One is that we look at all the different things in a performance and try to improve all of them by a small percentage – this idea of marginal gains has stood us in good stead.
"The other thing, of course, is to really think about the person – think about the individual you are trying to support and trying to achieve that excellence by creating the right type of environment to get them motivated.
"You need to support them – and the way they see the world – to move forward."
As the performance director for Team Sky and British Cycling, there have been a number of highlights for Mr Brailsford this year.
It rained gold in the Olympic velodrome, as well as on the streets of France, so what was the one moment that stood out?
"There were so many good moments this year, but maybe the moment Bradley led Mark Cavendish out on the Champs-Elysées, just wall to wall Union Jacks all the way down the road," he said.
"Mark Cavendish won the stage, Bradley won the tour and it was just like Britain had taken over the Champs-Elysées in France.
"I have been involved in the sport so long and it's the biggest thing by far.
"To win the biggest event in your sport, it's history, it's never been done before, so that was probably the highlight."
But with the success comes more pressure.
With Brits Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome chomping at the bit to lead Team Sky in the Tour next year, it may be difficult to satisfy both riders.
But Mr Brailsford doesn't see it as an issue.
"Everyone thinks it's a problem, but I think it's a fantastic situation.
"Having two of the best riders in the world in the team is a great thing.
"They're competing and battling for their place in the team, but also working together.
"It puts the team in a great stead and it's up to us to manage that and ensure we get the best out of them/
"That's the situation and it's a very positive thing."
But while it is always about the bike, it isn't always about the competition.
"I think the real important thing about cycling is to have fun.
"On of the great things I love about cycling is that it can be done as a family.
"It doesn't matter how old you are, how young you are, you get together and enjoy a similar experience – that's one of the aspects I really like about cycling.
"Of course safety is an important thing – you need to learn how to ride a bike properly, learn how the gears work, the brakes and all the rest of it – but you have that sense of freedom and the wind in your hair, if I had any.
"It's something that I get so much pleasure from – riding along watching Millie, my daughter, riding beside me."
