#SKYvOGE – behind the hashtag
Those who follow teams and riders on Twitter will probably have spotted the hashtag #SKYvOGE. Is it serious? How serious?

Sky vs Orica-GreenEdge
In the blue corner you have Team Sky, so often painted as robo-riders emerging from the Death Star team bus. In the ‘green’ corner you have those fair dinkum, happy-go-lucky Aussies from Orica-GreenEdge. That’s the way many observers see the two teams.
Well, in an effort to inject a bit of humour and offer an insight into the off-the-bike life and character of the riders on both squads, we should prepare ourselves for some video-based high-jinks with plenty of Twitter banter and that hashtag. A series of five video challenges featuring the riders and staff will be released in the weeks leading up to the Giro d’Italia.
“The idea probably did come about over a couple of beers,” laughed Nick Howes, the Team Sky social media and web chief. “I get on really well with Dan Jones at Orica, who was the man behind their back stage videos and we thought it would be a good laugh. Everyone knows we have a bit of reputation for being super-serious at Sky and I wanted to show that that’s not really the way it is. We’ve got a big social media presence and Orica has a reputation for funny videos and it went from there.”
But just because two social media networking types thought it was a good idea, there was the small matter of convincing the riders and senior management. “The thing is that the riders get on really well. A lot of them train together or know each other from previous teams. Obviously when they’re racing, it’s serious, but after the finish line, they can have a laugh. They’re not robots, you know?”
So the riders were up for the #SKYvOGE challenge and once Sir Dave Brailsford had bought in, it was – literally – game on. The teams got together to record a series of challenges involving what can only be described as a five-round Championship series of blokes having a laugh. You may never look at those riders in the same light again. “We got the staff involved as well,” added Howes “and we’re thinking about getting the two bus drivers involved in some kind of parking challenge. Given Orica’s history, we should be favourites for that!”
The first video of the #SKYvOGE challenge will be posted online on Monday. If you’re on Twitter, you won’t be able to miss it. Whether Bradley Wiggins will take part in future challenges isn’t yet known...
http://youtu.be/ATIDaZ2FnEk
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Froome out of Tirreno, Thomas to lead in France
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
-
Tech of the week: Rouvy app extends its reach to Zwift Ride users, Vittoria goes large with a new Corsa Pro tyre, Parktool does the heavy lifting and more...
Combined, Ride and Rouvy means its thousands of virtual courses can now be enjoyed with the benefit of Zwift's virtual shifting tech
By Luke Friend Published
-
Tweets of the week: Wout van Aert's Valentine's stunt, Tadej Pogačar scares his rivals, and Lorena Wiebes makes winning look easy
Saddle up, it's time for your weekly dose of the best of social media
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'A stage win in the Tour de France really changed my profile': Steve Cummings on working as a chef, idolising Michele Bartoli, and playing football like Trent Alexander-Arnold
Jayco-AlUla Sports Director discusses his most significant career victory and how he got into cycling
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tom Pidcock to remain 'part of the Pinarello family' after joining Q36.5 Pro Cycling
British star will continue to ride Pinarello bikes after leaving Ineos Grenadiers
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers hire new head of engineering as reshuffle continues
Former British Cycling lead, Dr Billy Fitton, is the latest of a handful of new appointments within the British squad
By Tom Davidson Published <