https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/philippe-gilberts-cycling-dream-team/
Bradley turned pro one year before me at FDJ and went on to became a big star within cycling, but even back when we first met it was clear he had something special about him. You have to put everything back then in context, but in those days we had no emails or Whatsapp when it came to team communications, so the riders would be given confirmation over their race schedules via fax.
I remember there were times when Bradley simply wouldn't turn up for races and then just pretend like he'd never received the fax. We'd have staff waiting for him at airports but Brad would be nowhere to be seen. He'd say nothing, and never explain, but then at the next race he'd show up and be motivated and ready.
I did a number of races with him, but one that stands out was the Tour de l'Avenir. He won the prologue and we had a really strong team. We managed to keep Brad in the leader's jersey, but the weather was really bad on one particular stage and we were at the front hammering it for Brad when all of a sudden the director comes on the radio and says: "You can stop riding now because Brad is sat next to me in the car." He stopped racing while we were riding and never even told us.
