By Kerry Purget
  
  There is trouble brewing in the Britcycles camp ahead of their fourth tilt at the lucrative Perm Tour, with reports of discontent between riders and a team split down the middle.
  
  With less than 24 hours to go to the prestigious cycling event, it is understood that team principal ryant's decision to promote French roeleur Walter Buisson as leader over homegrown lad Declan Doherty has fractured relations both in and outside the team.
  
  Doherty has been in good form approaching the halfway mark of this season, winning at Uphill Firenze and finishing 7th in the Norway Tour's general classification standings.
  
  On the other hand, Buisson has long been viewed as a super domestique, his last notable result a 2nd place finish at Bochum Fahrt two seasons ago.
  
  With fans understandably frustrated and confused at the recent turn of events leading up to the tour, the fire was stoked early on Friday afternoon when Doherty's agent Fergal Cheek held an impromptu press

conference.
  
  While Doherty has been silent on the issue, Cheek was pulling no punches as he fronted the media.
  
  "My client deserves better!" he thundered. "It's disgraceful that he's been pushed aside by a frog who last won in Division 8."
  
  Besides Buisson and Doherty, Britcycles has sent a strong team to contest Perm that includes the likes of Gerard Carey, Curtis Maples, Dino Gambino and veteran Conan Sawhill.
  
  Carey, Maples and Sawhill are believed to be firmly behind their erstwhile leader and fellow countryman, while Gambino has recently spoken of Buisson in glowing terms to the Italian newspapers.
  
  "We have chosen the appropriate rider for the difficulties that Perm poses," ryant said diplomatically when asked about the issue. "In my opinion, a pure climber like Doherty might not be as successful as a Tour rider like Buisson.
  
  "We are looking for a top-nine GC and hopefully a stage win."
  
  When told of Cheek's earlier remarks, the Britcycles boss was not

amused.
  
  "Be quiet, I know what I'm doing," he snapped while visibly gnashing his teeth. "Buisson is not the answer to everything, but I know that Doherty will fail in the time trial while Buisson might do better.
  
  "I believe I have the skills to extract everything from [Buisson] while Doherty will have other races to impress in.
  
  "We are a team of professionals and we'll always work for the best possible result no matter who the captain is at the time.
  
  The Britcycles principal did admit though that race results could force his hand and a mid-tour change was always a possibility.
  
  "As always, we will assess our chances after the King Stage and give our support to the leading rider."
  
  The first stage of the Perm Tour kicks off on Day 46 in the hills of Ochjor. The tour is brought to you by Syphollex Revived, Russia's premier makers of dark nutty chocolate.
  
  Kerry Purget is a failed Australian road cyclist and current pundit for Dodge Pirate Radio Kommercial (formerly known as the Dodge Racing Channel).