Wiggins Discussion thread.

[hfer07]

Do we know if Wiggins was dropped today or whether it was the mechanical?

We saw Froome edge past him on the seriously steep section before the moto went kaput but he was still in the saddle (once a track rider, always a track rider).

Guess we won't know unless a spectator ran alongside for the duration.


Can't help but think Wiggo is getting some stick for a great ride.

gear choice-Wiggins used 38-32 whereas Cobo spun smoothly on 34-32....

 

[daveinzambia]

Do we know if Wiggins was dropped today or whether it was the mechanical?

We saw Froome edge past him on the seriously steep section before the moto went kaput but he was still in the saddle (once a track rider, always a track rider).

Guess we won't know unless a spectator ran alongside for the duration.


Can't help but think Wiggo is getting some stick for a great ride.

he said he had mechanical on previous descent but nothing on the actual climb (unless you count not having a low enough gear as a mechanical)

he just rode into a wall and could not compete although would say some of the comments in cycling press are slightly harsh considering the riders he finished ahead of.

Cobo was just a class above today

 

[JRanton]

That was an excellent climbing performance by Wiggins and he doesn't deserve any criticism in the cycling press. 5th on Angliru? You'd have been laughed off the forum if you'd predicted that prior to the start of this Vuelta.

 

[blackcat]

Froome would be leading the Vuelta if he never had to work for Wigans, today, and in the past week

*** edited by mod ***

 

[Chris L]

@Blackcat: Take it to the Froome Appreciation thread. Team Sky could have backed Froome but then he might have blown up like he's done in the past and Team Sky walk away with nothing. Or they can back Wiggins who's got a Dauphine win this season and a 4th place finish in a GT against a much stronger field. Froome is still an unknown quantity.

By the way, I posted this on another thread, Wiggins actually had a lower gear than both Froome and Mollema - see gear inches below:

Cobo - 34 x 32 - 27.9
Froome - 36 x 28 - 33.8
Mollema 36 x 28 - 33.8
Wiggins - 38 x 32 - 31.2

 

[greenedge]

I would love if he can finish in the top 3 but i think he should acknowledge he can work for Froome and secure him the overall win.

 

[Winterfold]

just sayin'

3rd Paris-Nice
1st Dauphine
3rd Vuelta
2nd Worlds ITT

yep he sucks

 

[Midnightfright]

just sayin'

3rd Paris-Nice
1st Dauphine
3rd Vuelta
2nd Worlds ITT

yep he sucks

No classics results? He's crap

 

[Ragerod]

Definitely his best season. Crashing out of the TDF has certainly been a blessing in disguise.

 

[ParfaitAmour]

Amazing result, I placed him 3rd today... but it's all good.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Definitely his best season. Crashing out of the TDF has certainly been a blessing in disguise.

That and learning from his 2010 mistakes. After his breakout GC showing in 2009, I think it was a terrible mistake to only focus on the Tour for 2010 because it didn't assuage any doubts that he could climb with the best. Just backing up that performance at a lesser race like Paris-Nice or País Vasco would have been enough to see him seriously, instead he seemed woefully underprepared. This year he came in looking in form (maybe too in form for the early going, remembering the days of Iban Mayo) and showing that he is a serious GC rider who can compete at major races and even win them.

 

[El Pistolero]

That and learning from his 2010 mistakes. After his breakout GC showing in 2009, I think it was a terrible mistake to only focus on the Tour for 2010 because it didn't assuage any doubts that he could climb with the best. Just backing up that performance at a lesser race like Paris-Nice or País Vasco would have been enough to see him seriously, instead he seemed woefully underprepared. This year he came in looking in form (maybe too in form for the early going, remembering the days of Iban Mayo) and showing that he is a serious GC rider who can compete at major races and even win them.

Nah, he wasn't too early in form. Iban Mayo set the record up Ventoux at the Dauphiné right? Wiggins was getting dropped on every climb(though with very limited time gaps) and only won because of the time trial. Don't think your Mayo argument holds up

 

[will10]

Great season.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Nah, he wasn't too early in form. Iban Mayo set the record up Ventoux at the Dauphiné right? Wiggins was getting dropped on every climb(though with very limited time gaps) and only won because of the time trial. Don't think your Mayo argument holds up

Hence the "maybe", because we'll never know since he crashed out.

The Tour was so backloaded this year that being in good form in weeks 1 and 2 was practically irrelevant, so we have no idea whether Wiggins could have held form for he all-important week 3.

 

[The Hitch]

Hence the "maybe", because we'll never know since he crashed out.

The Tour was so backloaded this year that being in good form in weeks 1 and 2 was practically irrelevant, so we have no idea whether Wiggins could have held form for he all-important week 3.

Week 2 had a Tourmalet - Luz Ardiden mtf stage then a Plateau de Beille mtf with 80 mountain points on offer.

 

[greenedge]

Congrats to Wiggins.

However i disagree with Millar's comment on CN that Wiggins and Martin have been the best out there this year. Unless if he is referring to Martin's great season in practically most races. Wiggins has not been a standout in the ITT's i don't think. Has he won any this year???

 

[daveinzambia]

Congrats to Wiggins.

However i disagree with Millar's comment on CN that Wiggins and Martin have been the best out there this year. Unless if he is referring to Martin's great season in practically most races. Wiggins has not been a standout in the ITT's i don't think. Has he won any this year???

Bayern Rundfahrt where beat Cancellara

 

[Midnightfright]

Congrats to Wiggins.

However i disagree with Millar's comment on CN that Wiggins and Martin have been the best out there this year. Unless if he is referring to Martin's great season in practically most races. Wiggins has not been a standout in the ITT's i don't think. Has he won any this year???

Well I think he won Bayrn Ruhndhart TT altough its hardly noteworthy he did beat Canc and like I said in another thread he's beat Fabian on the last 3 TT they have raced together finishing 1st,3rd and 2nd so he's done pretty well. Tbh I can't really think of anyone who has stoodout.

 

[daveinzambia]

Well I think he won Bayrn Ruhndhart TT altough its hardly noteworthy he did beat Canc and like I said in another thread he's beat Fabian on the last 3 TT they have raced together finishing 1st,3rd and 2nd so he's done pretty well. Tbh I can't really think of anyone who has stoodout.

i remember at the time a lot of shock that he had beaten Canc and beaten him well.

think Martin has stood out all season and looked a class above. deserved winner.

 

[Midnightfright]

i remember at the time a lot of shock that he had beaten Canc and beaten him well.

think Martin has stood out all season and looked a class above. deserved winner.

Yeah n doubt about it. He deserved the win it was confirmation of his dominance this season.

 

[euanli]

His pacing was superb yesterday. With just about a second difference between the two laps

1st lap: 27:30:43
2nd lap:54:59:68

 

[theyoungest]

Hence the "maybe", because we'll never know since he crashed out.

The Tour was so backloaded this year that being in good form in weeks 1 and 2 was practically irrelevant, so we have no idea whether Wiggins could have held form for he all-important week 3.

Assuming that he still had some of that Tour form in the first weeks of the Vuelta, I think he'd have been fine.

 

[Winterfold]

The interview about riding without radio/ at your own pace is the essence of what is behind his success this year. Even if he gets dropped on a climb it is a calculated drop and he doesnt panic.

He's worked out how to transfer his track and pursuit skills ( specifically pacing and very finely judged threshold effort ) onto the road over 3000km and up big mountains - well done to him. Well that and being the thinnest dude who ever road a TT bike at 60kmh

He looked so smooth yesterday - amazing to contrast him with ragged Spartacus looked by the end ( having started out looking good IMO )

 

[ParfaitAmour]

The interview about riding without radio/ at your own pace is the essence of what is behind his success this year. Even if he gets dropped on a climb it is a calculated drop and he doesnt panic.

He's worked out how to transfer his track and pursuit skills ( specifically pacing and very finely judged threshold effort ) onto the road over 3000km and up big mountains - well done to him. Well that and being the thinnest dude who ever road a TT bike at 60kmh

He looked so smooth yesterday - amazing to contrast him with ragged Spartacus looked by the end ( having started out looking good IMO )

This, about how comfortable the rider looks on the bike. Bradley & Tony were in synch with their bikes, Canc was all over the shop.

 

[Captain_Cavman]

This, about how comfortable the rider looks on the bike. Bradley & Tony were in synch with their bikes, Canc was all over the shop.

That's because Cancellara was going for the win and Wiggins was riding his own pace. If Cancellara had gone too early to be affected by what Martin was doing, I believe he would have beaten Wiggins by half a minute.

Wiggins looked similarly ragged at the Vuelta because he had Martin's time to aim at. I think he could have gone at least 30 seconds faster if better paced.