Team Sky admits to previously buying Fluimucil 160 miles from Dauphiné finish
Team instead chose to have the drug sent from Manchester to the French Alps in the care of a British Cycling coach
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

It has been revealed that Team Sky had previously bought Fluimucil from a Swiss pharmacy just 160 miles from the finish of the final stage of the 2011 Critérium du Dauphiné, raising questions over why they did not use the same pharmacy for the Fluimucil delivered to Bradley Wiggins after that race.
The team instead chose to use a British Cycling (opens in new tab) coach to deliver a package apparently containing the decongestant from Manchester to the French Alps, where it was delivered to Wiggins and team doctor Richard Freeman
In response to written questions from the chair of the Culture, Media and Sport committee Damian Collins MP, Team Sky said that Dr Freeman had purchased Fluimucil from a pharmacy in Yverdon, Switzerland in April 2011, a three hour drive from La Toussuire, the location of the final stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné where the package was delivered.
>>> Everything you need to know about the British Cycling/Sky mystery package saga
Collins said it was increasingly unclear why Sky had chosen to made BC coach deliver the package from Manchester to Geneva, when they had purchased Fluimucil relatively nearby just three months previously.
"It makes it even less clear now why the package had to be collected from Manchester and flown out from the UK when we now know it was being sourced from a Swiss pharmacy just two or three hours’ drive away," Collins told The Times (opens in new tab).
"The more we know about the package, the less sense any of it makes."
>>> MPs will not question Bradley Wiggins over medical package and TUEs
Team Sky had previously said that Dr Freeman could not have purchased Fluimucil from a French pharmacy because he did not have prescription rights in the country, and clarified that to say that the particular form of Fluimucil that the team uses is not "to Team Sky's knowledge" available to purchase in France.
They also said that the drug was typically ordered from a pharmacy in Munich, with any excess supplies being stored by British Cycling in Manchester.
Thank you for reading 10 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
Henry Robertshaw began his time at Cycling Weekly working with the tech team, writing reviews, buying guides and appearing in videos advising on how to dress for the seasons. He later moved over to the news team, where his work focused on the professional peloton as well as legislation and provision for cycling. He's since moved his career in a new direction, with a role at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
-
-
No turns, giving up and learning from mistakes: dissecting a curious stage three of the Volta a Catalunya
Why did the chase group give up? What was Primož Roglič playing at?
By Chris Marshall-Bell • Published
-
Carbon vs steel for bikepacking: which frame material is best for multi-day adventures?
We put a carbon and steel gravel bike to the test on a four-day loop around Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains
By Stefan Abram • Published
-
Tough Redcar and Cleveland course for British National Championships
North East region also set to host round of the National Road Series
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
'If in doubt, sit them out': British Cycling releases concussion guidance for riders
Anyone with even the mildest concussion symptoms will be advised to return to competition for at least 21 days
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Lotus working on second generation of Olympic gold medal winning British Cycling bike
UK automotive engineering giant is joined by hi-spec engineering firm Renishaw
By Vern Pitt • Published
-
Tom Pidcock: 'It won’t be difficult to beat my 2022 Classics results'
Ineos Grenadiers' multi-format star ready for central role in one-day racing this Spring
By Adam Becket • Published
-
No Egan Bernal at Paris-Nice as knee injury disrupts season
Former Tour de France champion "OK" but return is unknown at the moment
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'Just don't wreck yourself' - Fred Wright on his GB track gamble and the Olympics
The Bahrain Victorious rider is set to compete at the European Track Championships next week
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Global backers in talks over new British WorldTour team
Former management of Ribble Weldtite courting interest in new project
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
'I remember the crowds more than anything': Tom Pidcock recalls his Alpe d'Huez Tour de France stage win
Our male rider of the year, Tom Pidcock, talks us through the highs and lows of his 2022 campaign
By Tom Thewlis • Published