Cycling: Sparring between rivals Chris Froome and Sir Bradley Wiggins sends Team Sky into turmoil

Both riders want to challenge for the Tour de France

Chris Froome has plunged Team Sky into turmoil by insisting he will lead the British-based outfit at the Tour de France in July – as his girlfriend, Michelle Cound, exposed the extent of the divisions over who is to be the No 1 rider in a series of tweets.

Froome's team-mate Bradley Wiggins, who won the Tour last year, said on Monday that a decision had yet to be made by management. He added that Sky's team principal, Dave Brailsford, would decide on the leader in the week before the Tour and "at this stage, it may be that we end up joint leaders for that first week."

But Froome said: "I have made it clear that winning the Tour would be my main objective for 2013. I have been reassured by the management at Team Sky that I have their full backing, and at no time has the leadership of the Tour team been in question."

Cound, who had a disagreement on Twitter with Wiggins' wife during last year's Tour, tweeted: "To those claiming that this Wiggins/Froome thing is some sort of publicity stunt, you are wrong. Chris & Brad on the same start line, in the same kit? Mmmmmm… doubt it!"