Wiggins, a man in love!

[NashbarShorts]

two words: Tyler Hamilton

Totally forgot about that one. DOPE!

 

[Galic Ho]

hasn't stopped Lemond though has it?


And Hrotha....labelling wiggins as 100% ignorant or moronic....makes you 100% a band wagon jumper who seems slightly incapable of formulating a logical opinion of why someone who knows Armstrong personally....and has competed professionaly as a cyclist for many years....to a not bad standard...would admire the guy

Einstein on ignorance:

“He who joyfully marches to music in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would surely suffice.”

Hey Dopey, Wigans is the guy marching joyfully to music in rank and file. Slap yourself in the head and wake up. Your boy was juicing on the track program and last year. This year he sucks, so too Lance. Odds are this year was probably their cleanest in two long careers.

All of this was evident well before January 1 2010 ticked over. Glad I agreed with Bro Deal that Wigans would suck this Tour. However I didn't feel the need to stick the boot into those two during the Tour. They were irrelevant and will continue to be for those fans who don't run through life with blinkers on.

 

[Benotti69]

(Well, that and LA getting Zomegnan to blacklist Simeoni from last year's Giro.)

Simeoni rode on the same team as Ricco, which might be why they were not invited to the Giro..

 

[auscyclefan94]

I think, as usual, Wiggans is joking around.

He said this last week




http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/21/sports/cycling/21tourdefrance.html?_r=2&pagewanted=2&ref=sports

The poms seem to like to use that excuse to cover up his idiotic comments.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Yeah, he sent me a couple of PM's before they got him. He blames Bala Verde for banning him all the time. If that is the case I would like to nominate him for Mod of the Year.

I don't think so! Nah, only joking

 

[grimsbychris]

Given that the article tells us that Armstrong arrived at San Sebastian as the newly crowned Olympic champion! you have to question whether anything in the article has any validity?

 

[Roland Rat]

The poms seem to like to use that excuse to cover up his idiotic comments.

So what's your excuse?

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Simeoni rode on the same team as Ricco, which might be why they were not invited to the Giro..

last year's Giro. You know, while Riccò was suspended. Riccò is the reason Ceramica Flaminia didn't go to this year's Giro. But then Simeoni has now retired, and Simeoni was also very vocally against them signing Riccò. They didn't go to last year's Giro because Simeoni - despite riding with the Italian national champion's jersey on his shoulders - was blacklisted, because Lanceypoos refused to turn up to ride at a race which had Filippo Simeoni at it. Given the choice between the Italian national champion and The People's champion, he chose Lanceypoos.

 

[Darryl Webster]

Wiggo does seem to have cultivated ( but I dont think by design) a persono of somone who doesnt give a fXXX.
One of the implications is its hard to know when hes being genuine or sarcastic or just plain indifferant.
Judging on the employment of two ex pro`s by Sky with dubious connextions/ past in senior positions the "whiter than white" stance has to be questioned.
Brailfords comments re possible new staff most certainly sugest that time has cometo put Murdocs dollers before integrity.
Wiggo has been quoted as being pariculerly fond of the one that doesnt give a 4xxx.
Guilty by Assosiation?....NO...but iether Wiggo has no knowledge of the past or dosnt give a rats ***.
If it`s the case that he`s being "sarcastic" or facetious he might want to take a look at Robby Williams career ...and ask does he realy want to become a parody of himself ?.
Less of the "wit" and a bit more sincerity might do Wiggo some good but somehow I think he`s beyond hearing.

 

[sublimit]

The poms seem to like to use that excuse to cover up his idiotic comments.

Race Radio is right, Wiggans talks in rhymes and says apparently dumb things to confuse people.

Taking a Wiggans comment seriously is too obvious and probably wrong.

 

[andy1234]

Don't be surprised if Wiggins makes comments because he likes to wind people up, including people on forums like this.
He reads these forums and was pretty sick of the doping allegations following last years tour. He probably thinks F**k it, let them discuss this....

 

[Benotti69]

last year's Giro. You know, while Riccò was suspended. Riccò is the reason Ceramica Flaminia didn't go to this year's Giro. But then Simeoni has now retired, and Simeoni was also very vocally against them signing Riccò. They didn't go to last year's Giro because Simeoni - despite riding with the Italian national champion's jersey on his shoulders - was blacklisted, because Lanceypoos refused to turn up to ride at a race which had Filippo Simeoni at it. Given the choice between the Italian national champion and The People's champion, he chose Lanceypoos.

Yep you are right. I forgot that Ricco had not signed to them. Zonegnan is an idiot like McQuaid and ASO and the others who think the omerta can continue unabated.

 

[Winterfold]

Much as it pains me to say it, because it is =ve about LA - apart from the 'i love' bit - he does make a reasonable point.

LA is one of those rare people who transcended their sport and got bigger than cycling, and whatever you think of him, or how he did what he did, there are more people and money in cycling because of LA.

As for Wiggo - looking at that pic - I wonder if this was what Lim predicted when he said the second year after a bit weight loss was really hard? I guess next year could go either way - cant see him getting back on the track that thin any time soon.

Of course, this could be one of his random 'the Sky PR guys arent around' moments.

 

[131313]

whatever you think of him, or how he did what he did, there are more people and money in cycling because of LA.

I really need to see some empirical evidence for me to believe it. I hear it repeated enough times, but outside of some anecdotal reports from some folks, I just haven't seen it.

There's another thread devoted to this exact subject, but the fact is that, at least in the US, there does not seem to be any more people or money in the racing arm of the sport.

The areas of the country that have grown the sport of bicycle racing have done so because of the grass roots efforts of a few people, not because of Lance Armstrong. Ultimately, those people are way more important to the sport, and have a much bigger impact.

 

[hrotha]

When people talk about the positive impact of Armstrong, they're only taking the ups into account, but we're in for one hell of a down in the near future, and the analysis of his impact will only be complete when the whole story is over. Whether the impact will remain positive remains to be seen, but I wouldn't bet on it.

 

[Anonymous]

100% clean just like all the others who "have never tested positive". Basso, Armstrong, Contador, Menchov, Evans, Valverde, I could go on and on....

Yea, if his adulation was sincere in what he wrote, I think we can see what he really meant by going from Wigan to Man U...

 

[DirtyWorks]

Public Strategies V ??.??

Much as it pains me to say it, because it is =ve about LA - apart from the 'i love' bit - he does make a reasonable point.

LA is one of those rare people who transcended their sport and got bigger than cycling, and whatever you think of him, or how he did what he did, there are more people and money in cycling because of LA.

Bzzt! Wrong again.

I'm not sure why this assumption gets consideration as fact when there is no truth in it.

-If there were meaningfully more people riding bikes because of Pharmstrong, then there would be more shops and more equipment brands now than pre-Pharmstrong. The bike industry is about the same. I'd argue what little growth has come from two areas, improved roads policies, more kinds of bikes that are more comfortable.

-If these people you refer to aren't buying new bikes + equipment, then what? Are they using bikes purchased second-hand? Nope. You'd see it in the bike industry metrics if they did. Buying Liv**trong stuff maybe? That doesn't make cycling any better off.

-Where is this 'more money' you refer to? Not in local cycling of any kind in the U.S. Things are unchanged for the most part for the last decade-plus.

Meanwhile, the industry for the most part, continues to over-promise to consumers who leave the sport 12 months or so later and feel tricked for having dropped a couple grand only to discover it doesn't get much easier. That group of consumers come and go doing one or two charity rides and then call it quits.

This false thinking is a major pet peeve of mine.

 

[DirtyWorks]

but we're in for one hell of a down in the near future

I disagree. Most American cycling is local. Cycling has been hit harder because of economic conditions and USAC policy, than a retiring celebrity. I lived through it in the industry when LeMond retired. It was not a big deal. This won't be either.

The sport would actually be better off if there were prosecutions.

 

[Horizon Deep]

Wiggins is a fan of Paul Weller!
Paul Weller is a Plagiarist i.e thieving *******!Make up your own minds!

 

[whocares]

Bzzt! Wrong again.

I'm not sure why this assumption gets consideration as fact when there is no truth in it.

-If there were meaningfully more people riding bikes because of Pharmstrong, then there would be more shops and more equipment brands now than pre-Pharmstrong. The bike industry is about the same. I'd argue what little growth has come from two areas, improved roads policies, more kinds of bikes that are more comfortable.

-If these people you refer to aren't buying new bikes + equipment, then what? Are they using bikes purchased second-hand? Nope. You'd see it in the bike industry metrics if they did. Buying Liv**trong stuff maybe? That doesn't make cycling any better off.

-Where is this 'more money' you refer to? Not in local cycling of any kind in the U.S. Things are unchanged for the most part for the last decade-plus.

Meanwhile, the industry for the most part, continues to over-promise to consumers who leave the sport 12 months or so later and feel tricked for having dropped a couple grand only to discover it doesn't get much easier. That group of consumers come and go doing one or two charity rides and then call it quits.

This false thinking is a major pet peeve of mine.

I think the poster means that Cycling (the sport...not the industry) has benefited by LA.....namely by bringing in more American viewership and more sponsors. In turn, more sponsorship dollars which bring more money into the sport for everyone involved. Wouldn't this explain the corruption of the UCI and the silence of those still in the sport? Everyone knows that sponsors would go running if the public knew just how dirty the sport really is. Just a thought.

I don't think LA gets more people riding but I think his story did get more people watching. Why else would Versus have a "Lancetracker" and "Lance Update"? Why would beer companies, Nike, car companies, etc overload TDF coverage with their commericals if they didn't think Americans were watching. Whatever you think of LA, you have to admit that his story has brought the casual fan (especially in America) to watch.

He has become bigger than the sport. If he goes down, the sport will take a massive hit and will probably lose the casual fans. With LA retiring, it will probably take a huge hit regardless if he goes down or not.

It's just like Tiger woods. When he plays in a tournament, ratings quadruple and sponsorship dollars go through the roof. As a result, the other golfers benefit because of a bigger purse.

 

[hrotha]

I disagree. Most American cycling is local. Cycling has been hit harder because of economic conditions and USAC policy, than a retiring celebrity. I lived through it in the industry when LeMond retired. It was not a big deal. This won't be either.

The sport would actually be better off if there were prosecutions.

I didn't mean a down for cycling in general, just in terms of Armstrong's impact on cycling. In the near future he's going to have some quite serious negative impact. It won't take anyone off the roads or make any bike shop open, but it'll be a credibility hit which in my opinion outdoes whatever positive impact he had up to this point.

 

[131313]

I think the poster means that Cycling (the sport...not the industry) has benefited by LA.....namely by bringing in more American viewership and more sponsors. In turn, more sponsorship dollars which bring more money into the sport for everyone involved.

Again, not to be redundant but I see no evidence of this claim.

The focus of the increased coverage has been on him and his personal story much more than the sport (the Versus viewership numbers seem to confirm that). The sponsorship dollars brought into the sport are targeted at capitalizing on his fame and marketing potential, not the sport per se (Radioshack, Michelob, Nike, etc). I see none of this "trickling down" to the sport in general.

 

[python]

i have stubbornly stayed out of the multiple wiggins-bashing thread. but after reading this one i have say, the man must be not very intelligent saying crap like that. i am done with him.

 

[bianchigirl]

Wiggins talking out of his ar*e because his gob's full I presume?

 

[DirtyWorks]

Bingo!

Again, not to be redundant but I see no evidence of this claim.

The focus of the increased coverage has been on him and his personal story much more than the sport (the Versus viewership numbers seem to confirm that). The sponsorship dollars brought into the sport are targeted at capitalizing on his fame and marketing potential, not the sport per se (Radioshack, Michelob, Nike, etc). I see none of this "trickling down" to the sport in general.

I second this observation.