Wiggins Discussion thread.

[Parrulo]

Too many Menchov is a way bigger contender than wiggins. nibali has won a gt while the Olympic champion has been up there in mountains hills and tts 2 years now.

Each of these guys have a far bigger chance than frank schleck.

bigger chance then frank schleck and bigger chance then wiggins himself. . .

 

[Mellow Velo]

I just hope it's an edition where all those favourites avoid road carnage and get to the cutting edge of the race, intact.
Then, may the best man win.
If Brad comes out on top, under those circumstances, then maybe he'll get some credit that's overdue.

 

[Richeypen]

I just hope it's an edition where all those favourites avoid road carnage and get to the cutting edge of the race, intact.
Then, may the best man win.
If Brad comes out on top, under those circumstances, then maybe he'll get some credit that's overdue.

Wiggins will never win over some on here. If he wins the Tour it will be because there is too much TTing/boring race/etc etc bla bla bla

 

[cineteq]

I still don't like Wiggo, but he finally convinced me he's a contender for this year TdF, not also for his condition and determination, but also his team, Sky, was outstanding in helping him.

PS: This might be his only chance to win the Tour though.

 

[Parrulo]

Wiggins will never win over some on here. If he wins the Tour it will be because there is too much TTing/boring race/etc etc bla bla bla

he will never win simply because there are better GT riders, GT's are completely different beasts then 1 week races and let's not kid ourselves, winning itt based 1 week race doesn't make you a tour favorite all of the sudden. just ask tony martin.

wiggins is a great rider but it's a simple fact that there are much better riders for multiple climbs mountain stages and riders with much better recovery.

just to prove my point: the great iit machine that is bradley wiggins only put 1 minute into andy on the annecy itt after having lost over 3 minutes the previous day on the only proper mountain stage of the 2009 tour.

now go ahead and come up with your best excuse as too why did that happen other then lack of climbing ability and recovery (the most important aspects in GT's)

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Second that, hope no GT contenders falls this year but that's like hoping for christmas to happen every day

 

[Libertine Seguros]

It would have to be Menchov yes, although Menchov is his usual crappy "off form" self right now, I wonder why it is that some riders like Evans, Contador or Wiggins can be competitive year round and some dudes like Menchov or Schlecket are "one trick ponies" per season.

Is Wiggins really 'competitive year round'? It's difficult to say, because he's only just really found his feet as a GT rider. 2009 he didn't ride as a leader until about 2 weeks into the Tour.

In 2010 he tried the Menchov/Schlecklet approach of riding a fair few races without really trying to be competitive, and it didn't work for him, so he changed (fair enough).

In 2011 he did decently in Paris-Nice, but on a parcours hugely biased to the time triallist. But he then didn't do much of any note until the Tour build-up (with the Dauphiné win obviously the key point here). I'm not convinced he'd have been doing the Vuelta had he not crashed out of the Tour - certainly not at the level he did it.

In 2012 he's had prime early form again, perhaps better this year too, so it remains to be seen how the rest of the preparation goes. He looked to have hit the Tour in good form last year, but as we know from Evans at the Giro in 2010, sometimes it's hard to be at the top in June and sustain it for a whole GT. Wiggins tried the Schlecklet approach and clearly it didn't work for him, so he's trying a different approach, which appears at least on the face of it to work better. After all, now, even if he screws up the Tour, he's likely to have a good season.

 

[Froome19]

just to prove my point: the great iit machine that is bradley wiggins only put 1 minute into andy on the annecy itt after having lost over 3 minutes the previous day on the only proper mountain stage of the 2009 tour.

now go ahead and come up with your best excuse as too why did that happen other then lack of climbing ability and recovery (the most important aspects in GT's)

It was nearly 3 years ago..
Bradley is a changed rider now (for the better)

 

[webvan]

True and he lost most of these 3 minutes on the way down...

@libertine seguros - good summary, you're right he's only had one full good year, 2011, but 2012 is off to a promising start. My theory on Evans is taking a hit with his poor show at TA...Horner may be another rider Wiggins has in mind.

 

[Froome19]

True and he lost most of these 3 minutes on the way down...

@libertine seguros - good summary, you're right he's only had one full good year, 2011, but 2012 is off to a promising start. My theory on Evans is taking a hit with his poor show at TA...Horner may be another rider Wiggins has in mind.

I think the fact that Evans is evidently not in good form and yet still did a high placing on stage 4 just backs you up, especially as today it seemed like he crashed or was held up on the descent. We'll see in the TT but i predict Evans to put in a perfomance far exceeding his apparent lack of form, if he tries

 

[Richeypen]

Is Wiggins really 'competitive year round'? It's difficult to say, because he's only just really found his feet as a GT rider. 2009 he didn't ride as a leader until about 2 weeks into the Tour.

In 2010 he tried the Menchov/Schlecklet approach of riding a fair few races without really trying to be competitive, and it didn't work for him, so he changed (fair enough).

In 2011 he did decently in Paris-Nice, but on a parcours hugely biased to the time triallist. But he then didn't do much of any note until the Tour build-up (with the Dauphiné win obviously the key point here). I'm not convinced he'd have been doing the Vuelta had he not crashed out of the Tour - certainly not at the level he did it.

In 2012 he's had prime early form again, perhaps better this year too, so it remains to be seen how the rest of the preparation goes. He looked to have hit the Tour in good form last year, but as we know from Evans at the Giro in 2010, sometimes it's hard to be at the top in June and sustain it for a whole GT. Wiggins tried the Schlecklet approach and clearly it didn't work for him, so he's trying a different approach, which appears at least on the face of it to work better. After all, now, even if he screws up the Tour, he's likely to have a good season.

Exactly. He has a big win under his belt already. He could do sweet FA for the rest of the season and it should still be put down as a positive one.

 

[The Hitch]

Second that, hope no GT contenders falls this year but that's like hoping for christmas to happen every day

That would be truly horrible.

 

[The Hitch]

Is Wiggins really 'competitive year round'? It's difficult to say, because he's only just really found his feet as a GT rider. 2009 he didn't ride as a leader until about 2 weeks into the Tour.

In 2010 he tried the Menchov/Schlecklet approach of riding a fair few races without really trying to be competitive, and it didn't work for him, so he changed (fair enough).

In 2011 he did decently in Paris-Nice, but on a parcours hugely biased to the time triallist. But he then didn't do much of any note until the Tour build-up (with the Dauphiné win obviously the key point here). I'm not convinced he'd have been doing the Vuelta had he not crashed out of the Tour - certainly not at the level he did it.

In 2012 he's had prime early form again, perhaps better this year too, so it remains to be seen how the rest of the preparation goes. He looked to have hit the Tour in good form last year, but as we know from Evans at the Giro in 2010, sometimes it's hard to be at the top in June and sustain it for a whole GT. Wiggins tried the Schlecklet approach and clearly it didn't work for him, so he's trying a different approach, which appears at least on the face of it to work better. After all, now, even if he screws up the Tour, he's likely to have a good season.

This is what I was going to say.

Yes PN is great but when was the last time Contador or Valverde didn't have a wt race or 2 in the palmares by june (unless you are going to joke Piti 2011).

You have to go back to 2006 for Contador and 2004 for when he didnt podium one. Only 2007 for Valverde with 05 for podium.

 

[ferryman]

It was nearly 3 years ago..
Bradley is a changed rider now (for the better)

Bradley is a totally changed rider from the guy getting dropped from the laughing group, what 4/5 years ago. His progress is, well simply out of this world (for the better obviously).

 

[Zam_Olyas]

[/B]
Bradley is a totally changed rider from the guy getting dropped from the laughing group, what 4/5 years ago. His progress is, well simply out of this world (for the better obviously).

all about "aggregation of marginal gains"

 

[Parrulo]

It was nearly 3 years ago..
Bradley is a changed rider now (for the better)

ya he is a much better rider now, from 29 to 31 years of age he progressed much more then riders that were 23/24 when he was 29 and are now 27. makes perfect sense.

True and he lost most of these 3 minutes on the way down...

hmmm i wonder if that's true. . .

oh look armstrong reaching the top of columbiere 2 minutes down on contador and schlecks after having dropped wiggins like a stone 1k away from the top. ya wiggins lost all of his time on the descent that day . . .

 

[jens_attacks]

wiggins is way better than 2009,even if you aren't a fan you gotta see that.he just stormed col d'eze at 30 km/h.he said he was in paris-nice just at 95%.he'll be strong as hell in le tour.
i don't think there are just 5 rivals,this tour will be open to everybody.there will be some surprises i'm sure.

 

[movingtarget]

That would be truly horrible.

I felt sorry for Leipheimer in the PN. no one deserves that but it is part of the sport.

 

[movingtarget]

It was nearly 3 years ago..
Bradley is a changed rider now (for the better)

Wiggins is doing really well and Sky have had a great start to the year. Even off the bike Wiggins looks more relaxed like Evans was last year leading in to the TDF. I still there is a big difference between form in one week races and three week races. If Menchov can find some form along with Evans the TDF should be great race. Knowing how well off the good TT riders are this year in the TDF you would think that there will have to be more aggression on the mountains which is setting it up for an entertaining race. Andy Schleck will having to be climbing at his best to have any chance at all and even then it will be tough for him on this course.

 

[airstream]

he is better in tt than in 2009. if he will be better on the climbs we don't know.
great ride by wiggo. the only thing that saddens me is if he is really strong in the tour whereas the schlecks lose their chances because of tt in advance before the pyrenees for instance, sky will preserve the race very tightly and maybe even the 09 pyrenees will seem to us a paradise in terms of spectacle.

 

[Lexman]

Wiggins never touched me, more or less left cold nor warm but this years PN and his way of speaking french without any accent did it for me.

Wiggins and Evans will be on the same side : they like to ascend the mountains in a steayd high tempo, so yes Schleck will have to be superactif in the mountains since Evans and Wiggins will decide afterwards in the TT who will win the TDF.

Wiggins is in fine form and has a strong team, maybe stronger than BMC for the TDF, hopefully they don't pick too many riders in support of Cavendish...

 

[Swifty's Cakes]

he is better in tt than in 2009. if he will be better on the climbs we don't know. great ride by wiggo. the only thing that saddens me is if he is really strong in the tour whereas the schlecks lose their chances because of tt in advance before the pyrenees for instance, sky will preserve the race very tightly and maybe even the 09 pyrenees will seem to us a paradise in terms of spectacle.

In the Dauphine last year he lost a few seconds to riders who were nowhere on GC but more than matched everyone that mattered and in the Vuelta he was in good shape apart from the Angliru and in hindsight that was at least partly down to a very poor gear choice.
If he brings his 2011 climbing form to the tour then he'll be in contention for the GC.

 

[airstream]

In the Dauphine last year he lost a few seconds to riders who were nowhere on GC but more than matched everyone that mattered and in the Vuelta he was in good shape apart from the Angliru and in hindsight that was at least partly down to a very poor gear choice.
If he brings his 2011 climbing form to the tour then he'll be in contention for the GC.

Yeah, but during the first two weeks Vuelta had no one who's really able to blow up seriously, but as soon as Juanjo did it, Wiggins started losing ground little by little. If there hadn't been Cobo, Sky would have continued to lull the race on the climbs by means of Froome's smooth pulls and Wiggins would have won it. The Tour won't give him such a relatively easy life.

 

[movingtarget]

Yeah, but during the first two weeks Vuelta had no one who's really able to blow up seriously, but as soon as Juanjo did it, Wiggins started losing ground little by little. If there hadn't been Cobo, Sky would have continued to lull the race on the climbs by means of Froome's smooth pulls and Wiggins would have won it. The Tour won't give him such a relatively easy life.

Yes this will be the key. If climbers like the Schlecks and maybe Scarponi, Nibali and Rodriguez, possibly Rolland don't attack on every MTF and possibly other stages then the race will fought out between the better TT riders of the GC men. Bruyneel knows this and I can't see the mountain stages being one paced climbs even if Sky try to set a high tempo. Last year was different, the presence of Contador concerned everyone so they did not attack early unless they were way down on GC.

 

[BillytheKid]

I saw the replay of the ITT last night. Great match up between Wiggins and Westra. A major breakthrough for Wiggins.