Wiggins Discussion thread.

[One Man Grupetto]

A very talented bike rider. But a bike racer? Absolutely not.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Tour of britain, WCTT, a move to the clsssics squad for a couple of years, and swansong in rio's velodrome. That would be my guess

Completely agree. It all points to a last hurrah in Rio. He got a lot of attention from his gold in London and now tops the British medal table in terms of medals won IIRC, he will love the ego boost of adding to that.

 

[Carstenbf]

He did make a lot of sacrifices to get himself into top shape last year

Indeed. Reminds me of reading an article in May of last year before the Tour in which Riis said "I tip my hat for Wiggins and his TdF preparations". Remember silently thinking to myself, "Wow, if Bjarne says that .."

 

[del1962]

The end of the one-trick pony.

a man who won the tour and a host of olympic track golds is a one trick pony?

 

[Dazed and Confused]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/201...ns-never-ride-tour-de-france-again?CMP=twt_gu

Stick a fork in Wiggo, he's done.

Limited fighting spirit in the man, I would say.

Anyway, perhaps he can put Sky on the map in the classics.

 

[webvan]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/201...ns-never-ride-tour-de-france-again?CMP=twt_gu

Stick a fork in Wiggo, he's done.

Kind of makes sense, at the end of the day what's the point of going for multiple tour wins? Because you can I suppose, but in his case the stars aligned last year and he's already 33. What's a bit sad is that the 2012 TDF seems like a long time ago already and it was spoilt for him to some extent by that needless showboating by Froome. Still what he says about Froome in that interview is pretty gracious and he doesn't come out as being bitter at all. Good for him. But he does put a little pressure on him with "(Froome is) the team leader; and if he wins the Tour, that continues through to next year", so if he doesn't, well...

Tour of Poland, Tour of Britain and TT at the Worlds would certainly "save" his season.

Actually I just looked up the Tour of Poland profile http://www.steephill.tv/tour-de-pologne/ and it looks like they have a very decent route this year with Madonna di Campigli and the Passo Pordoi ... and a 37k ITT on the last day. Nibali will be there too, should be interesting and help with TDF withdrawal ;-)

 

[JRanton]

Limited fighting spirit in the man, I would say.

Anyway, perhaps he can put Sky on the map in the classics.

Oh sure, I can really see him sticking it to Boonen, Cancellara and Sagan on the cobbles. Come on...

 

[JRanton]

He's also riding the US Pro Challenge in Colorado. Bit of a mini-world tour for Wiggo. Keeping up appearances.

 

[ToreBear]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/201...ns-never-ride-tour-de-france-again?CMP=twt_gu

Stick a fork in Wiggo, he's done.

I think it's understandable. Had he been skys only tour contender I think he would have found motivation for the teams sake.

Still he is in his best years physically IMHO, but the problem is finding motivation. And when he has fulfilled his dream, it's only natural that he sees things in a new light. Having kids and having to be away from them for long periods I imagine is something that is very difficult.

Does anyone know when his contract expires?

 

[nick101]

I think it's understandable. Had he been skys only tour contender I think he would have found motivation for the teams sake.

Still he is in his best years physically IMHO, but the problem is finding motivation. And when he has fulfilled his dream, it's only natural that he sees things in a new light. Having kids and having to be away from them for long periods I imagine is something that is very difficult.

Does anyone know when his contract expires?

I'm almost certain it finishes at the end of 2014

 

[ToreBear]

I'm almost certain it finishes at the end of 2014

OK thanks. A go at PR for him sounds plausible. Might even get top ten.

 

[JRanton]

I think it's understandable. Had he been skys only tour contender I think he would have found motivation for the teams sake.

Still he is in his best years physically IMHO, but the problem is finding motivation. And when he has fulfilled his dream, it's only natural that he sees things in a new light. Having kids and having to be away from them for long periods I imagine is something that is very difficult.

Does anyone know when his contract expires?

It's understandable but the ''best numbers ever'' nonsense pre-Giro and the Giro-Tour double claim just makes him look silly. Also, missing the pre-Giro altitude camp is pretty disrespectful to the race and more importantly to his teammates. It just makes the decision by Sky to make both Uran and Henao wait for him look even more ridiculous. Not saying it effected the overall result in the end, because it didn't, but they weren't to know that at the time.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Oh sure, I can really see him sticking it to Boonen, Cancellara and Sagan on the cobbles. Come on...

Probably wouldn't win however can not do any worse than Sky did this classics season. Very quick on the flat (one of the most powerful actually) and has decent stamina so top 10 would not be out of reach.

 

[wwabbit]

I'm just happy that it is confirmed that he won't be riding the Vuelta.

 

[RownhamHill]

The end of the one-trick pony.

That must the famous (and dare I say, pretty easy) 'winning multiple world and olympic titles on the track, before reinventing yourself as a stage racer, and winning multiple stage GCs, podiuming GTs, including winning the Tour, oh yeah and winning an olympic TT title while you're at it' trick?

 

[Fearless Greg Lemond]

Still he is in his best years physically IMHO.

You serious? The guy is how old? 33?

Nah.

Above thirty normally the decline follows, see Merckx, Hinault. The more amazing last years and 2009/2011 performances of the Wiggo were.

Probably wouldn't win however can not do any worse than Sky did this classics season. Very quick on the flat (one of the most powerful actually) and has decent stamina so top 10 would not be out of reach.

You need a budt on Roubaix matey.

 

[simoni]

Wiggins has really done something to get to you all hasn't he? Chill out folks, life's too short.

 

[RownhamHill]

More to the point, he's apparently talking about doing altitude training in Colorado, for a crack at the Tour of Britain and the WC TT, which at first glance seems a little disproportionate. But interestingly he talks in the interview of targeting the 'World Championships' - we're just assuming that's the TT only.

- So does anyone think he's might be considering having a bit of a pop in the road race?
- What are the chances of any success?
- How funny would it be on this forum it be if he pulled that off?

I'm not suggesting he should or could target the road race, just idly speculating.

 

[Pricey_sky]

More to the point, he's apparently talking about doing altitude training in Colorado, for a crack at the Tour of Britain and the WC TT, which at first glance seems a little disproportionate. But interestingly he talks in the interview of targeting the 'World Championships' - we're just assuming that's the TT only.

- So does anyone think he's might be considering having a bit of a pop in the road race?
- What are the chances of any success?
- How funny would it be on this forum it be if he pulled that off?

I'm not suggesting he should or could target the road race, just idly speculating.

He will target the TT then maybe ride in the road race as support of whoever GB has in mind for the race.

 

[movingtarget]

Wiggins can please himself and it's good to see that the Tour is not the be all for everyone. Not sure if Wiggins can win another grand our if he attempts one but most riders would be happy to have his results against their name.

 

[Fearless Greg Lemond]

More to the point, he's apparently talking about doing altitude training in Colorado, for a crack at the Tour of Britain and the WC TT, which at first glance seems a little disproportionate. But interestingly he talks in the interview of targeting the 'World Championships' - we're just assuming that's the TT only.

- So does anyone think he's might be considering having a bit of a pop in the road race?
- What are the chances of any success?
- How funny would it be on this forum it be if he pulled that off?

I'm not suggesting he should or could target the road race, just idly speculating.

Why not the double? Two trainingblocks should do it, given his numbers pre - Giro were better than last years.

 

[Jelantik]

well one thing that the article is right, Wiggins is opening it up his chance to stay with sky. Otherwise, sky might as well just show him his diva *** the door. It's nonsense to think that he would dare to move to other team. They made him superman, none can do that to him. Besides he isn't 27. He is 33.

 

[hfer07]

I'm quite pleased he's being honest with himself & the world about it-because Its rather more harmful to the image he's got left to keep lying & amounting loads of BS to hide the reality than simply have the character to realize he's just not of truly champion's breed-He seized the only one chance he had to win the Tour & accomplished that quite well, in addition to other races where he raised British cycling level around the globe-so in that perspective Wiggo should be satisfied & would be wise to retire now with his head high than to be disposed by SKY like a left over....

 

[oldcrank]

Hopefully we will see Mr. Wiggins taking another run at the
biggest and most respected sporting stage in the world....
the Olympics. If he was to compete in his fifth consecutive
Olympic Games and win any medal, which would be his
eighth, it would place him amongst a very, very select few
of the most legendary and accomplished sports-persons of
all-time. Of course, it will be extremely difficult to earn a
spot on the GBR&NI Olympic cycling team for the 2016 Rio
Games, but here's hoping he does.

 

[williamp78]

Hopefully we will see Mr. Wiggins taking another run at the
biggest and most respected sporting stage in the world....
the Olympics. If he was to compete in his fifth consecutive
Olympic Games and win any medal, which would be his
eighth, it would place him amongst a very, very select few
of the most legendary and accomplished sports-persons of
all-time. Of course, it will be extremely difficult to earn a
spot on the GBR&NI Olympic cycling team for the 2016 Rio
Games, but here's hoping he does.

I do remember reading he may go back to the track for the team pursuit. Cav has also made similar statements.