Wiggins Discussion thread.

[del1962]

he has too. other wise he is no body. No other team has the strength of team sky members. And he needs that to shepherd him around the mountain.

Not necessarily, he was third in TDF with Garmin, perhaps a fresh team might help him.

 

[Jelantik]

So then all the chat would be about BMC and Froome/Evans/TVG with the same occurence of Evans getting the Giro-elbow.

i think BMC is probably in the same boat except they are a little softer approach . (like shuffling Evans to do the Giro. But hey, the guy responded with 3rd place). So Evans is in a good place now, at least, until the french road decides. Unlike wiggins, his giro crumbled down, so it make it difficult to plea his case for TDF leadership. I may believe that wiggins is injured. But I 100% believed that he never wants to be Froome's super domestique. (he said that in his interview in so many ways and in so many occasions at the start of this year)

 

[The Principal Sheep]

i think BMC is probably in the same boat except they are a little softer approach . (like shuffling Evans to do the Giro. But hey, the guy responded with 3rd place). So Evans is in a good place now, at least, until the french road decides. Unlike wiggins, his giro crumbled down, so it make it difficult to plea his case for TDF leadership. I may believe that wiggins is injured. But I 100% believed that he never wants to be Froome's super domestique. (he said that in his interview in so many ways and in so many occasions at the start of this year)

Yes, also slight difference in that Sky were duelling over victory, BMC duelling over potential podium/top 5. I think Wiggins had hoped on some form of protection for Tour and learned he’d have none, that plus he is likely weaker than last year whilst Froome has perhaps improved.

 

[Pippo_San]

So you don't think there is any fatigue associated with trying to win consecutive GTs?

It's all in the mind dude, all in the mind.

Wax on, wax off.

 

[Angliru]

Sounds like girlie gossip to me...for a start didn't Froome sign a 3 year contract after the 2011 Vuelta ? Where BMC wanting to buy him out last year, don't remember any rumours about that, and with Evans and TVG?

One thing is certain, Froome had better not mess up like he did in Spain last year (yeah he was "tired" but he still raced poorly in the first week) if not there's going to be some "material" hitting the fan!

As for what's in store for Wiggo...hard to tell, he's probably pretty pssed off, a new team with Yates and Sutton in the mix? Maybe Belkin could use a proven GT rider at this point.

In Froome's defense, if their intention was to have him seriously contend for Vuelta gc they should've given someone else primary responsibility at the Tour of ushering Wiggins around the mountains. Froome finished 10 minutes behind Contador once the Vuelta was over. No amount of smart riding would've made up for the fatigue that led to that 10 minute deficit.

 

[Winterfold]

interesting blog from millar.

maybe the Froome's girl tweet's last time about Froome and Wiggins not lining up at TDF with the same kit was after all little glimpse of the truth of what's going on behind the close door.

exerpt:
Apparently when Chris Froome was considering putting his signature on a new contract to stay with the Brit team after last year's Tour he insisted on sole team leadership and no Wiggins at the 2013 TdF. It was that or hello BMC.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/ro...und-the-honeymoon-is-over-for-sky-and-wiggins

If this is true (as Millar caveats his post, but I would expect him to have good sources) then that makes me think Sir DB is even more of an ar5e than I previously thought.

I wonder what Shane and Sean would have said about it?

Oh, it no longer matters.

Wiggo wins the Tour + Gold, wears himself out completely but as it turns out got stitched before he could do anything about it, and the two cycling brains in management get ditched while the swimming coach sets about knackering the genuine talent.

Marvellous. Really I think a yellow jersey, rouleur or not, deserves a bit more respect than that...

 

[webvan]

He probably also let go at some point, hence the 10 minutes...still he has everything to prove in a GT (and DB can't have forgotten the 2011 disaster, yeah Porte's there but still) so I doubt it played out like that gossip we are being served by ol'Robbie.

Also Wiggo had that little "bandage" on his left knee at the Giro, so there was something there. Maybe we'll find out when the season is over...

 

[hfer07]

interesting blog from millar.

exerpt:
Apparently when Chris Froome was considering putting his signature on a new contract to stay with the Brit team after last year's Tour he insisted on sole team leadership and no Wiggins at the 2013 TdF. It was that or hello BMC.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/ro...und-the-honeymoon-is-over-for-sky-and-wiggins

Millar's blog prior to the Giro gave the SKY creed a warning of what Wiggo was about to face, & many fanboys discredited it the same way they're doing his latest POV.........

but Millar is simply telling the cruel reality that many are having trouble realizing....

 

[Fatclimber]

If this is true (as Millar caveats his post, but I would expect him to have good sources) then that makes me think Sir DB is even more of an ar5e than I previously thought.

I wonder what Shane and Sean would have said about it?

Oh, it no longer matters.

Wiggo wins the Tour + Gold, wears himself out completely but as it turns out got stitched before he could do anything about it, and the two cycling brains in management get ditched while the swimming coach sets about knackering the genuine talent.

Marvellous. Really I think a yellow jersey, rouleur or not, deserves a bit more respect than that...

Makes me think quite the opposite of Sir Dave. Instead of catering to the team Diva he actually holds him accountable to the deal they worked out. Everyone else held up their end of the bargain why shouldn't Wiggo?

The yellow jersey does deserve respect, it's the defiant back stabber wearing it that is questionable.

 

[The Hitch]

I think the conversation went something like this:

Dave: So Brad, what's would you like to do for the rest of the season?
Brad: I am going to train like mad on Tenerife and have another shot at the Tour.
Dave: If you are fit enough for the Tour you will be going as a Super Domestique to Froomy and as our plan B.
Brad: No I am going there to win and nothing else.
Dave: Oh no your not
Brad: Oh yes I am otherwise I am not going to ride it at all.
Dave: Okay you wont ride it at all. I will sort out the press fallout but I suggest you go and have a think about where we go from here

I actually feel a tad sorry for Wiggo in the sense that he has spent the best years of his cycling life riding around a Velodrome and the good later years have been so up and down for him that he is now being eclipsed by the young breed of up and coming Tour specialists. The same "clique" of people that turned him into the track and tour specialist are now looking for the next generation. I do however think that the stars aligned for him in 2012 the same way as they did for Philippe Gilbert a couple of years ago.

Stars aligned is some sort of metaphor for being miles better than everyone else?

 

[Jelantik]

He probably also let go at some point, hence the 10 minutes...still he has everything to prove in a GT (and DB can't have forgotten the 2011 disaster, yeah Porte's there but still) so I doubt it played out like that gossip we are being served by ol'Robbie.

I don't remember exactly, but I wonder how many minutes that contador ended up at TDF 2011? He also got his Giro leg at that point. Maybe that's a good comparable results between the two? No?

 

[Jack (6 ch)]

Not necessarily, he was third in TDF with Garmin, perhaps a fresh team might help him.

He might like to join Vini Fantini.






(Given his taste for the grape)

 

[Beech Mtn]

So, Wiggins is out of contract at year's end, is sat home from the Tour despite being reigning champion, all so he can watch a guy he apparently dislikes swan about France wearing "his" number 1 dorsal.

I can't be the only one wondering if some night Wiggins gets pi$$ed (in more ways than one), and calls up somebody from The Daily Mail to rant about British lottery money being spent to pump up the TdF chances of some kid from Africa and some Australian???

 

[maxmartin]

So, Wiggins is out of contract at year's end, is sat home from the Tour despite being reigning champion, all so he can watch a guy he apparently dislikes swan about France wearing "his" number 1 dorsal.

I can't be the only one wondering if some night Wiggins gets pi$$ed (in more ways than one), and calls up somebody from The Daily Mail to rant about British lottery money being spent to pump up the TdF chances of some kid from Africa and some Australian???

I think W is playing waiting game to gauge his options. If Froom fails spectacularly in the Tour, I think W will sign with SKY again and pick up leadership in the next year. If Froom wins the Tour, W most likely will look for another team.

 

[The Hitch]

So, Wiggins is out of contract at year's end, is sat home from the Tour despite being reigning champion, all so he can watch a guy he apparently dislikes swan about France wearing "his" number 1 dorsal.

I can't be the only one wondering if some night Wiggins gets pi$$ed (in more ways than one), and calls up somebody from The Daily Mail to rant about British lottery money being spent to pump up the TdF chances of some kid from Africa and some Australian???

Im pretty sure his sponsor has his phone tapped

 

[Beech Mtn]

Im pretty sure his sponsor has his phone tapped

Touché

 

[BroDeal]

I think W is playing waiting game to gauge his options. If Froom fails spectacularly in the Tour, I think W will sign with SKY again and pick up leadership in the next year. If Froom wins the Tour, W most likely will look for another team.

What happens if Froome does not fail spectactularly but comes up a bit short?

 

[_nm___]

I think W is playing waiting game to gauge his options. If Froom fails spectacularly in the Tour, I think W will sign with SKY again and pick up leadership in the next year. If Froom wins the Tour, W most likely will look for another team.

that's interesting because just 4 weeks ago everybody still thought that sky is Bradley Wiggins' team and that if anybody was going to leave it was going to be Chris Froome

 

[pastronef]

I think W is playing waiting game to gauge his options. If Froom fails spectacularly in the Tour, I think W will sign with SKY again and pick up leadership in the next year. If Froom wins the Tour, W most likely will look for another team.

so, where could Wiggo go?

back to Vaughters?
FDJ?
Argos?
Cannondale?

 

[martinvickers]

So, Wiggins is out of contract at year's end, is sat home from the Tour despite being reigning champion, all so he can watch a guy he apparently dislikes swan about France wearing "his" number 1 dorsal.

I can't be the only one wondering if some night Wiggins gets pi$$ed (in more ways than one), and calls up somebody from The Daily Mail to rant about British lottery money being spent to pump up the TdF chances of some kid from Africa and some Australian???

Take a lot of neck for a lad from belgium to complain about some kid from Africa...

 

[maxmartin]

so, where could Wiggo go?

back to Vaughters?
FDJ?
Argos?
Cannondale?

BMC, they are suckers for old champion, TJVG might be nice enough to share the Tour or TJVG might have a crack on Giro

 

[martinvickers]

so, where could Wiggo go?

back to Vaughters?
FDJ?
Argos?
Cannondale?

Garmin wouldn't have the problem with sutton/yates that Sky have. Might be a good fit, especially if he were world tt champ.

 

[Beech Mtn]

so, where could Wiggo go?

back to Vaughters?
FDJ?
Argos?
Cannondale?

Wiggins could go many places because he brings along a ton of World Tour points for the last 2 years. Under the system, a guy can get paid quite a bit for his points, even if the team really doesn't expect to race him much in future.

(Similar to Euskaltel's offer to Freire - ride so we can apply your points towards WT license, then retire in April)

 

[maxmartin]

What happens if Froome does not fail spectactularly but comes up a bit short?

I think W will sign with SKY assuming next year leadership and British public will be behind him. See this Froom guy can't finish the job. So the pressure on Froom is enormous in this year Tour, if he want to keep SKY leadership,there is no other choice but to win.

 

[maxmartin]

Garmin wouldn't have the problem with sutton/yates that Sky have. Might be a good fit, especially if he were world tt champ.

I think W burned that bridge when he transferred from Garmin to SKY