Wiggins could miss TDF due to chest infection, knee injury

[MatParker117]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/others ... ?ico=sport^headlines

Sir Bradley Wiggins’s defence of his Tour de France title is in jeopardy amid concerns over his health.
Wiggins, who withdrew from the Giro d’Italia suffering from a chest infection and a knee injury, is making slow progress in his attempt to be in shape for the world’s toughest bike race.
The 33-year-old’s problems could be even more complicated, with his place in the Team Sky pecking order in fresh doubt after his poor showing in Italy.
The British team, having said Chris Froome would be leader at the Tour, are no longer confident that Wiggins is prepared to play a supporting role not only to Froome but perhaps also Richie Porte, the Tasmanian who is being groomed as a future overall contender.
Sir Dave Brailsford, the Team Sky principal, could be prepared to leave Wiggins at home and travel to Corsica, where the Tour starts on June 29, with Froome as leader and Porte as back-up.
Whereas Froome and Porte are close friends and near neighbours in Monaco, relations between Wiggins and Froome have been frosty since the latter finished runner-up at last year’s Tour.

Would be the first winner to miss the next iteration since Contador. If Wiggo does miss it I imagine Froome will wear No 1. and the team will be:

Froome
Porte
Kiryienka
Sivtsou
Lopez
Thomas
Kennaugh
Boasson Hagen
Eisel

 

[Cyivel]

#PrayforWiggo

 

[Viking]

I hope he can ride. The potential infighting among the Skyborgs could be interesting!

 

[Pricey_sky]

I hope he can ride. The potential infighting among the Skyborgs could be interesting!

There wont be any infighting, As soon as Froome goes big on a decent climb its curtains for Wiggo.

 

[taiwan]

I hope he can ride. The potential infighting among the Skyborgs could be interesting!

Interesting until the blanket coverage in the cycling press causes your brain to vomit

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Now not to be too cynical, but I think that the two real ailments are bruised ego and cowardice, because at the Giro Wiggins lost his nerve; once Froome attacks on a mountain without his earpiece telling him to stop and pull Wiggo allong, he will have lost his physical edge as well.

 

[orangerider]

Too bad, was looking forward to the entertainment of French cameramen panning backwards to show Wiggins being dropped once Contador launches his first early attack.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Interesting until the blanket coverage in the cycling press causes your brain to vomit

Oh mierda. You've just made me realise we're in for a carbon copy of the 2009 Tour, the worst Grand Tour known to man. All the ingredients are in place:

- favourite in super strong team
- former hero in same team who rode the Giro pretending he wasn't aiming at the Tour
- totally garbage second week
- Ventoux finish
- Team Time Trial in stage 4
- mostly neutered or token Pyrenean stages
- mountaintop finish on the penultimate stage
- will he-won't he tug of love about leadership of strongest team
- Le-Grand-Bornand finish late in the race
- hilly TT in the Alps

Pity I like Hushovd more than Sagan. Looking forward to one of the French teams getting in yellow for week 2 and then Sky letting the break go for a week and soft-pedalling, and also poor Egoi Martínez getting outsprinted by somebody from the upper echelons of the Giro GC at the top of every mountain from the breakaway.

 

[Afrank]

Now not to be too cynical, but I think that the two real ailments are bruised ego and cowardice, because at the Giro Wiggins lost his nerve; once Froome attacks on a mountain without his earpiece telling him to stop and pull Wiggo allong, he will have lost his physical edge as well.

Yep, pretty much this. Wiggins is also running short on motivation I expect. He can talk a big game about defending his title and winning the Tour all he wants. But he knows that he's no where near the climber Froome is. And an in form Froome will leave him behind in the mountains.

the good part of all this is Froome can rest a little more easier knowing he doesn't have to worry about Wiggins claiming his leadership as much as before. The bad part is we may not get to see the Froome-Wiggins controversy play out on the road. And I was kinda looking forward to Froome, Contador, and others leaving him behind in the mountains.

 

[Jelantik]

Yep, pretty much this. Wiggins is also running short on motivation I expect. He can talk a big game about defending his title and winning the Tour all he wants. But he knows that he's no where near the climber Froome is. And an in form Froome will leave him behind in the mountains.

the good part of all this is Froome can rest a little more easier knowing he doesn't have to worry about Wiggins claiming his leadership as much as before. The bad part is we may not get to see the Froome-Wiggins controversy play out on the road. And I was kinda looking forward to Froome, Contador, and others leaving him behind in the mountains.

++1.
Me two! I wonder if wiggins loose his motivation after sutton also publicly claimed to support Froome for TDF leader. He seemed to be fragile mentally.
Hmmmm... I wonder if wiggins is okay that his name this year will be reduced to a footnote

the interesting part of the news is this:
The British team, having said Chris Froome would be leader at the Tour, are no longer confident that Wiggins is prepared to play a supporting role not only to Froome but perhaps also Richie Porte, the Tasmanian who is being groomed as a future overall contender

sounded like if wiggins does below froome in his mountain form, he doesn't seem to want to be a super domestique to either of his team mate. So maybe just tell the public about wiggins health? (you know .. control the narration) instead of telling that sir wiggo is no way jose wanna be a super domestique..

 

[One Eyed Aussie]

There wont be any infighting, As soon as Froome goes big on a decent climb its curtains for Wiggo.

That's a long way into the race. Cycling fans deserve at least a week's worth of this soap opera.

 

[taiwan]

Oh mierda. You've just made me realise we're in for a carbon copy of the 2009 Tour, the worst Grand Tour known to man. All the ingredients are in place:

- favourite in super strong team
- former hero in same team who rode the Giro pretending he wasn't aiming at the Tour
- totally garbage second week
- Ventoux finish
- Team Time Trial in stage 4
- mostly neutered or token Pyrenean stages
- mountaintop finish on the penultimate stage
- will he-won't he tug of love about leadership of strongest team
- Le-Grand-Bornand finish late in the race
- hilly TT in the Alps

Pity I like Hushovd more than Sagan. Looking forward to one of the French teams getting in yellow for week 2 and then Sky letting the break go for a week and soft-pedalling, and also poor Egoi Martínez getting outsprinted by somebody from the upper echelons of the Giro GC at the top of every mountain from the breakaway.

Whoa did not realise the extent of the similarity. Niemiec = Pellizotti? We can look forward to another late blooming GC guy who rode Gito having a breakout as well. OMG Francis Mourey will top 5? Or maybe Stef Clement

 

[BroDeal]

I have a sniffle and an owie.

 

[The Hitch]

Whoa did not realise the extent of the similarity. Niemiec = Pellizotti? We can look forward to another late blooming GC guy having a breakout as well. I'll alert the clinic.

Is Niemiec doing the tour? If so to what end. They got no one to work for and hell be too tired to do anything himself unless he just wants to live the experience. Better off going for Vuelta and Worlds (try for top 10 or something) unless he just wants to experience riding the tdf, which i think he can do next year anyway.

 

[Pricey_sky]

That's a long way into the race. Cycling fans deserve at least a week's worth of this soap opera.

I make stage 8 (Ax-3) the first stage where we could get GC action between Froome an Wiggo. So you could still get a week of the soap opera.

 

[taiwan]

For once I have my facts right.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/niemiec-to-tour-de-france-after-impressive-giro-ditalia

 

[JRanton]

++1.
Me two! I wonder if wiggins loose his motivation after sutton also publicly claimed to support Froome for TDF leader. He seemed to be fragile mentally.
Hmmmm... I wonder if wiggins is okay that his name this year will be reduced to a footnote

the interesting part of the news is this:
The British team, having said Chris Froome would be leader at the Tour, are no longer confident that Wiggins is prepared to play a supporting role not only to Froome but perhaps also Richie Porte, the Tasmanian who is being groomed as a future overall contender

sounded like if wiggins does below froome in his mountain form, he doesn't seem to want to be a super domestique to either of his team mate. So maybe just tell the public about wiggins health? (you know .. control the narration) instead of telling that sir wiggo is no way jose wanna be a super domestique..

I noticed Froome said in an interview today that Porte is in extremely good condition heading into the Dauphine so yes, it's entirely possible that Wiggins would be ahead of both Froome AND Porte in the mountain train at the Tour. That would be quite a humiliating situation for the defending champion and more than likely one he wants to avoid.

 

[Carols]

Now not to be too cynical, but I think that the two real ailments are bruised ego and cowardice, because at the Giro Wiggins lost his nerve; once Froome attacks on a mountain without his earpiece telling him to stop and pull Wiggo allong, he will have lost his physical edge as well.

IMO spoken for truth He'll find a way to weasel out of not looking like a chump when the big boys start flying. Not starting is a good way.

 

[mewmewmew13]

I'm doubtful he will actually ride the Tour..this is just the initial escape of gas from the balloon
...but darn I was really looking forward to the circus that it could be

 

[JRanton]

I also think it's possible that Wiggins will leave Sky at the end of this year. He's out of contract and I assume he'll want another crack at the Tour next year especially with it starting in Britain and with Porte likely leading at the Giro and Froome at the Tour. I'm not sure where he'd go. He gets on well with Basso so perhaps Cannondale would be an option? Back to Garmin (Wigan)? A new world tour team?

 

[veganrob]

I don't think anyone would want him for a GC rider. Or even want him at all.

 

[BroDeal]

I don't think anyone would want him for a GC rider. Or even want him at all.

He would probably get along famously with Andy Schleck. The two could trade excuses.

 

[mewmewmew13]

He would probably get along famously with Andy Schleck. The two could trade excuses.

i tweeted this today..Andy and Wig should look for a 'rehab tour'

 

[leftover pie]

Too bad, was looking forward to the entertainment of French cameramen panning backwards to show Wiggins being dropped once Contador launches his first early attack.

like armstrong in 2010, he got way too much airtime

liggerwin: "oh and there's armstrong in the 3rd group, he's 20 minutes down on the leaders, BUT COULD THIS COULD BE THE STAGE WHERE HE MAKES HIS MOVE??!"


if wiggo goes to the tour he better wear one of those stretchy jerseys to help carry all those water bottles.

 

[Jelantik]

I also think it's possible that Wiggins will leave Sky at the end of this year. He's out of contract and I assume he'll want another crack at the Tour next year especially with it starting in Britain and with Porte likely leading at the Giro and Froome at the Tour. I'm not sure where he'd go. He gets on well with Basso so perhaps Cannondale would be an option? Back to Garmin (Wigan)? A new world tour team?

I can't see him leaving the sky though. He is definitely better in climbing than previous year. But I just don't see him in the class of Froome, Contador, Schleck, Purito when it comes to climbing. He needs a strong team to control those guys, and sky is the team with a exceptional strong team members across the board. But hey who knows, maybe he'll be back with Garmin