Brad Wiggins

[OKRider79]

sure, i hear ya. i really do. but this new-found climbing ability is pretty incredible. maybe the pace has been more moderate than it normally is, but if he's there with contador on ventoux, put me down for skeptical. having said that, i've got nothing against wiggo.

Bob Stapleton isn't skeptical. He mentioned that after seeing Wiggins' training numbers when he was with Columbia, he thought it was just all a matter of commitment. I wish I could find the link, but Stapleton basically said that the talent has been there all along, it was just a matter of dedication that was lacking.

 

[ilillillli]

Bob Stapleton isn't skeptical. He mentioned that after seeing Wiggins' training numbers when he was with Columbia, he thought it was just all a matter of commitment. I wish I could find the link, but Stapleton basically said that the talent has been there all along, it was just a matter of dedication that was lacking.

i don't doubt that it's possible. really i hate to be so cynical, but in the past i've been a big tyler hamilton, iban mayo, and david millar, and ivan basso fan. so i'm a little gun shy. if wiggins legit, more power to him.

 

[UK_fan]

Hi, I'm new to this so please be tolerant if this is the wrong place to post this.

I am loving seeing Wiggins and a Brit doing well. So could someone please explain why he lost 15 seconds today. I could not really see the split on the coverage and it looked if anything to be a couple of metres. Has this happened before and can it be appealed because it seems very unfair to Wiggins and Levi and others behind them.

Without that I could really see him having a crack of the podium IF he survives Verbier with the front runners as he can TT.

 

[ilillillli]

can anyone start a poll: who's more likely to make the podium, levi or wiggo?

even without a poll, what's everyone's take?

 

[mr. tibbs]

can anyone start a poll: who's more likely to make the podium, levi or wiggo?

even without a poll, what's everyone's take?

Wiggins. If Leipheimer podiums I quit. (Cuz I'm pretty sure Astana's already got two podium spots wrapped up.)

 

[ilillillli]

Wiggins. If Leipheimer podiums I quit. (Cuz I'm pretty sure Astana's already got two podium spots wrapped up.)

Rast and Zubeldia on the podium? You're crazy!

 

[Dr. Maserati]

Hi, I'm new to this so please be tolerant if this is the wrong place to post this.

I am loving seeing Wiggins and a Brit doing well. So could someone please explain why he lost 15 seconds today. I could not really see the split on the coverage and it looked if anything to be a couple of metres. Has this happened before and can it be appealed because it seems very unfair to Wiggins and Levi and others behind them.

Without that I could really see him having a crack of the podium IF he survives Verbier with the front runners as he can TT.

Unfortunately if the gap is any wider than the gap in Bob Roll's teeth the clock stops at the new time.

 

[UK_fan]

Seems the jury have decided to give the time back! hurrah

 

[ilillillli]

attn: wiggins fans

bradley just got his 15 seconds back!

 

[podilato]

There is no doubt that Bradley Wiggins was/is a great track rider but we should take that with a pinch of salt. In track, especially pursuit you are only riding against the best 1-2 riders from other countries. Also, Great Britain were throwing money at track which allowed Wiggins to train for it.

It is said that his weight loss has a lot to do with it. Was he that fat before? How does a very lean professional athlete suddenly loses almost 10 kilos in a few months.

According to http://www.letour.fr, Wiggins has only 3 non time-trial in his entire career (which were in relatively small races). And what of his previous stellar performances in Grand Tours?

Giro 2003- missed time cut, Stage 18
Giro 2005- Finised 125th
Tour 2006- Finished 124th
Giro 2008- Finished 134th
Giro 2009- Finished 71st
Tour 2009- Currently 6th

Nothing unusual there then.

 

[whiteboytrash]

Giro 2003- missed time cut, Stage 18
Giro 2005- Finised 125th
Tour 2006- Finished 124th
Giro 2008- Finished 134th
Giro 2009- Finished 71st
Tour 2009- Currently 6th

Nothing unusual there then.

My god..... dare I say it reminds me of Armstrong's track record !

 

[anubisza]

gotta love how no one can do well these days, without everyone assuming it's doping. Man, I don't know why pro cyclists bother.

 

[Irish2009]

My god..... dare I say it reminds me of Armstrong's track record !

I was thinking the same thing. Don't most of the Lance lovers say his "sudden ability" to climb in 1999 was due to weight loss after cancer and learning to "spin". Before the lovers/fanboys jump to Armstrongs defence.........don't it's not about him.

 

[benlondon]

Armstrong didn't lose weight!

I was thinking the same thing. Don't most of the Lance lovers say his "sudden ability" to climb in 1999 was due to weight loss after cancer and learning to "spin". Before the lovers/fanboys jump to Armstrongs defence.........don't it's not about him.

Though in fact it's been well established in David Walsh's books on the subject of Lance, that he did not lose any weight worth talking about. It was one of several myths that the Lance camp put about - together with the high altitude tent he spent time in (but in fact spent most of its time sitting unused in Lance's garage) while Lance went down the far more effective route of dosing with large quantities of EPO, steroids etc. Also unlike Wiggins, Lance was never a top time triallist in his pre-cancer days. He finished 6.23 down on Indurain in a TdF time trial in 1994 & was caught for 2 mins after 16km although admittedly Indurain was probably doped to the eyeballs at the time.

Wiggins definitely has lost a load of weight & if he's managed to do that with minimal effect on his power output it's no surprise he's climbing far, far better. As for his earlier results in grand tours. Once you're outside the top 20 it's not worth competing for the GC so riders will understandably conserve energy and join the grupetto for some stages even if they are capable of staying with one of the earlier groups. And if most of your training is devoted to going very fast for 4km you're hardly likely to be brilliant over 2,500 km

 

[ilillillli]

Though in fact it's been well established in David Walsh's books on the subject of Lance, that he did not lose any weight worth talking about. It was one of several myths that the Lance camp put about - together with the high altitude tent he spent time in (but in fact spent most of its time sitting unused in Lance's garage) while Lance went down the far more effective route of dosing with large quantities of EPO, steroids etc. Also unlike Wiggins, Lance was never a top time triallist in his pre-cancer days. He finished 6.23 down on Indurain in a TdF time trial in 1994 & was caught for 2 mins after 16km although admittedly Indurain was probably doped to the eyeballs at the time.

Wiggins definitely has lost a load of weight & if he's managed to do that with minimal effect on his power output it's no surprise he's climbing far, far better. As for his earlier results in grand tours. Once you're outside the top 20 it's not worth competing for the GC so riders will understandably conserve energy and join the grupetto for some stages even if they are capable of staying with one of the earlier groups. And if most of your training is devoted to going very fast for 4km you're hardly likely to be brilliant over 2,500 km

this is entering borderline clinic territory. shut it down.

 

[podilato]

Who said cyclists can't do well. It's when they do it from out of nowhere. Compare it to other modern sports. Would someone ranked 125th win Wimbledon? Would the 100th ranked team in football win the World Cup?
If not then how can it happen in cycling, whoever it is?
The cycling author Matt Rendell who has written books on Pantani and doping said any unbeleivable performances in cycling should raise suspicions.

Also, the weight loss. How was it acheived? Someone who is overweight can lose weight quickly but how can a professional athlete? Aren't they already slim? You don't ride and finish Tours and Giros being overweight. You can't lose that much weight if you are already that lean and not lose power.

According to Greg Lemond, when EPO was first being introduced a lot of performances were explained as new diets so his manager at the time wanted to do the same and put strict controls on the riders on the team. This had the effect of riders losing weight but also in poorer performances because the riders had no energy.

I also think it is very naive to say that if you are not fighting for a top place you can just cruise and finish a Grand Tour.

I think a lot of cycling fans have become members of the Cult of Personality.

 

[Columbiafan]

Goran Ivanisevic won Wimbledon when ranked outside the top 100, I thought???

 

[podilato]

I stand corrected. But in my defense I don't think it was explained as a result of him losing weight all of a sudden.

 

[Kennf1]

gotta love how no one can do well these days, without everyone assuming it's doping. Man, I don't know why pro cyclists bother.

The money perhaps?

 

[UK_fan]

I believe that Wiggins could lose the weight as he was muscle heavy from concentrating on the 4k pursuit in Beijing. Like the other sprinters, Cav, Husvold, Tyler etc... and track sprinters both Hoy and the the likes of the athletics boys they all carry the extra muscle to give them more power, but its all anaerobic. Wiggins admits he has lost some of his top end power, in fact one of the british papers (Guardian I think) is quoted as saying he has been told to put weight on straight after and he is medically too light. So, personally, I think the weight loss is related to loss of anaerobic muscle potential and an even more skinny frame. Apparently he is called the Twigg now by his teammates.

O/T As for Goran Ivanisevic, he had lost finals before, he was just coming back from injury. The way the tennis ranking system works means that even Federer, if injured for over 12 months, was to come back would have a ranking well out of the top 100.

 

[kease7]

Denmark won the european championships in 1992 when they were late entries/very unfavored!

 

[kease7]

Yes but Goran won it when he was a wild card at SW17!

 

[ruamruam]

Denmark won the european championships in 1992 when they were late entries/very unfavored!

Denmark failed to qualify from their group and only got to the finals after Yugoslavia were expelled because of UN sanctions due to war atrocities. After the former Yugoslavia was expelled Denmark, who finished third in the qualifying rounds were allowed into the finals ten days or so before the start of the finals.

ruamruam

 

[Anonymous]

Giro 2003- missed time cut, Stage 18
Giro 2005- Finised 125th
Tour 2006- Finished 124th
Giro 2008- Finished 134th
Giro 2009- Finished 71st
Tour 2009- Currently 6th

Nothing unusual there then.

but what else was going on in those years
2003 racing in his first year as a pro for a very poor FdJ (unless you count racing for linda mccartney_
2004 - olympics - focused on that and came out with two golds a bronze
2005 and 2006 he was there purely to try and do well in the prologue and then get some miles under his belt
2007 his team withdrew
2008 focus again was on the world championships and the olympic games

2009 is the first year where bradley has been almost 100% devoted to the road, its also his 5th year as a pro, of course there will be improvement..
you area also comparing where he FINISHED the tour, as opposed to where he currently stands at the half way point after 1 summit finish and two time trials..

statistics, lies and damn statistics or whatever the quote is.. but there is always a story behind them..

i think you could probably take any top rider nowadays and look at there first five years in the pelatone and results would be similar..

 

[runninboy]

I believe that Wiggins could lose the weight as he was muscle heavy from concentrating on the 4k pursuit in Beijing. Like the other sprinters, Cav, Husvold, Tyler etc... and track sprinters both Hoy and the the likes of the athletics boys they all carry the extra muscle to give them more power, but its all anaerobic. Wiggins admits he has lost some of his top end power, in fact one of the british papers (Guardian I think) is quoted as saying he has been told to put weight on straight after and he is medically too light. So, personally, I think the weight loss is related to loss of anaerobic muscle potential and an even more skinny frame. Apparently he is called the Twigg now by his teammates.

.

I agree. My own personal exp. I was a skinny runner, got into cycling, loved the kilo and got pretty good sized. Never really lost the muscle when i started riding road. Then i had to quit riding the bike for a year and went back to running. I lost alot of weight, when i came back on the bike i just could not turn a big gear i would shift into the 13 and immediately bog down. However i could climb at the front of the pack in races and i eventually found if i spun like crazy i could eventually turn the bigger gears again, but no power at all.
My TT's got faster than when i used to power a big gear.
weight makes a tremendous difference in efficiency and can dramatically improve your results all you have to do is learn to compensate for the loss of power that you took for granted as a heavier rider