Wiggins Discussion thread.

[Pricey_sky]

It's obvious that Wiggins is a character you either get along with or he runs you up the wrong way.

I've been critical of the many things Wiggins has done wrong in the past but one Giro where he went to pieces does not devalue any of his achievements of which there are also many.

Yes I agree that a lot of his road career has been focused on GC riding but that pales into insignificance when you consider how long he was working on the track. It is also with noting that for the last 18 months he has solely focused on the Worlds iTT and Roubaix on the road. If he wants to go to the Giro to get a stage win at the iTT before switching his attention to the track and an hour record then fair play to him for that. He has earned the right to focus on what he wants at this stage of his career. He has a palmieres that many can only dream of.

 

[offbyone]

What are you talking about? Cycling in a parallel universe?

So much? Unless you mean focus on prologues, focusing on having success there (but failing), that's just completely wrong. 2002 FdJ til before the Giro 2009 there was ZERO focus on success in a GT. Even in 09, some attempts to win prologues, some whining when Contador, a GT rider, won a prologue, something about that being not normal, that such guys win prologues, then a little first mountain test in the Giro 09 managed a senstational stage for his prior results to Alpe di Siusi. Then the Tour with a surprising 4th
2010 focus on the TdF: Failed completely
2011 focus on the TdF, BUT, unlike in 10, trying to get results before, which he did. And then crashed out of the TdF, got 3 in the Vuelta.
2012: TdF, won it.
2013: Focus on the Giro, failed.
So you could say he has had 4 years of GT GC focus. Not "so much of his career"

Promise he showed? None til July 09. There he did. Annual hype and repeated failures, you realize he "failed" twice, 2010 and 2011. And 2011 was not even a real failure, crash out of the TdF, then podium the Vuelta, thus confirming his TdF 09. And the hype, ok, depends where I guess, if you're from the UK, probably yes, in other places not so much, at least until 2012.

Yes, from 2009 on, his main focus was the TDF. You are right, focusing on grand tours for 4 years isn't that long in reality, but there was enough hype that every year seemed like 3 years.

And that 4 years was his entire road career. He didn't do anything on the road before 2009 unless you count a prologue.

I don't follow track, so I got blinders on when it comes to his success on the track. I would think I am not alone. So for many of us, the perception is that shortly after he started on the road his entire focus was winning a grand tour and he failed a number of times despite it being his sole focus. When you mix into the picture, the hype from team sky announcing that they will win a TDF in 3 years, it was hard not to notice the failures. In the end, it was a mighty success and the failures and struggles paid off, but his ambitions were hard to take seriously after that much talk and the lack of results. Then he won every race he entered in 2012.

 

[damian13ster]

Participating in the Giro just to try and clinch the ITT on stage 14 seems unambitious to me.

Go for Giro GC or focus on other races please.

????? He does focus on other races. Does it mean he cant enter a Giro for wahtever reason he wants to?

 

[wrinklyvet]

So for many of us, the perception is that shortly after he started on the road his entire focus was winning a grand tour and he failed a number of times despite it being his sole focus.

I have picked out one sentence from your quite balanced analysis. A lack of appreciation of the track and his victories there is one reason why many people think so little of Wiggins. But it beats me why anyone should think that with so many GC contenders about it should be an easy matter to achieve a GC victory in a Grand Tour, and then to stroll through a few more. I actually thought Wiggins achieved his win in quite a short period of years. He was was the first Brit to do it and that brought with it great credibility and fame in the UK. I am sure we don't blame him for anything that came after.

Say what you like about him, but Wiggins generated great headlines for the sport, especially in Britain. He is the man they remember. In a quiz on TV the other day a contestant wrongly identified him as the 2013 TdF winner. They don't remember Froome - yet. Nobody else is likely to generate anything like the "Wiggo effect."

He is interesting to those who think they might understand him and those who are sure they never will!

If he goes on to achieve anything else in the sport, as he intends, it looks like me to be the topping on a fairly special cake.

Good luck to him in Paris-Roubaix and in the Giro if he rides.

 

[Netserk]

I have picked out one sentence from your quite balanced analysis. A lack of appreciation of the track and his victories there is one reason why many people think so little of Wiggins. But it beats me why anyone should think that with so many GC contenders about it should be an easy matter to achieve a GC victory in a Grand Tour, and then to stroll through a few more. I actually thought Wiggins achieved his win in quite a short period of years. He was was the first Brit to do it and that brought with it great credibility and fame in the UK. I am sure we don't blame him for anything that came after.

HAHAHA

 

[wrinklyvet]

HAHAHA

Greetings to Denmark. I never realised that Danes had a sense of humour like that.

P.S. Are there any credible Danes who have raised the profile of cycling in your country as Wiggins has in mine?

Denmark is a place that I like very much from my visits. Like the Netherlands, it is a place where it is normal to cycle (and it helps that you have no real hills!). I can tell you that in the UK cycling has never been regarded as a mainstream activity, either for transport or sport, to the extent that it is now accepted here. Wiggins had a lot to do with that change.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

????? He does focus on other races. Does it mean he cant enter a Giro for wahtever reason he wants to?

Of course he can, but entering a GT just to do something on stage 14 is unambitious for such a rider. He can still win a tough classic or a GC in a week long race.

 

[elfed68]

Surely all the top riders enter races in view of winning?
Infact they only seem to enter races these days which they have a high percentage of achieving a podium.

Wiggins seems to be an all or nothing guy, and probably struggles to get motivated unless he's got clear goals.

He's like Ronnie O'Sullivan, Eric Cantona, George Best and all the other flawed geniuses scattered all over sporting history I guess.

 

[wrinklyvet]

Of course he can, but entering a GT just to do something on stage 14 is unambitious for such a rider. He can still win a tough classic or a GC in a week long race.

I don't think it's unambitious, considering his wider objectives. As Sutton says, two weeks in the Giro would be an ideal preparation. As you are well aware, there are quite a lot of good riders in these events whose objective is not to win the GC. The same rules apply to all. We can all think of riders who have ridden Grand Tours with other ambitions.

He did of course win the Tour of California last year but the over-critical seem to think that was a waste of effort. It is so very easy to run down prominent people and less easy to emulate them.

 

[Red Rick]

Here's hoping he fails again in the Giro.

 

[elfed68]

Here's hoping he fails again in the Giro.

Nice, that keyboard makes a mighty shield!

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Here's hoping he fails again in the Giro.

Without ambitions there will be zero failures.
Just two weeks of training. Sign in, autographs, post stage interviews etc.

(note wrinklyvet, I'm critical of the concept of many top riders doing these training rides all the time. Its not just a Wiggins issue)

 

[oldcrank]

I don't think it's unambitious, considering his wider objectives. As Sutton says, two weeks in the Giro would be an ideal preparation. As you are well aware, there are quite a lot of good riders in these events whose objective is not to win the GC. The same rules apply to all. We can all think of riders who have ridden Grand Tours with other ambitions.

He did of course win the Tour of California last year but the over-critical seem to think that was a waste of effort. It is so very easy to run down prominent people and less easy to emulate them.

I agree, my friend. Super star riders have always been
obliged to spend a few days a year helping sponsors
flog their products/services or to help motivate their
employees. If Fausto Pinarello wants Sir Brad to give
a transendent performance atop a Bolide in a Giro TT
stage that starts near company headquarters in Treviso,
I'm confident Wiggo will do his best to deliver.

After all, Pinarello will be supplying the bike that Brad
will going after the Hour Record on. And with a new
international standard indoor velodrome in the works
for Treviso there may be a long and mutually beneficial
partnership between Wiggins and Pinarello even after
he leaves Team SKY.

 

[Jspear]

Greetings to Denmark. I never realised that Danes had a sense of humour like that.

P.S. Are there any credible Danes who have raised the profile of cycling in your country as Wiggins has in mine?

Denmark is a place that I like very much from my visits. Like the Netherlands, it is a place where it is normal to cycle (and it helps that you have no real hills!). I can tell you that in the UK cycling has never been regarded as a mainstream activity, either for transport or sport, to the extent that it is now accepted here. Wiggins had a lot to do with that change.

Yes. Michael Rasmussen is just as credible as Wiggo.

 

[wrinklyvet]

Yes. Michael Rasmussen is just as credible as Wiggo.

I can't square this with your evident belief and proclamations of a spiritual nature. Sorry.

 

[Jspear]

I can't square this with your evident belief and proclamations of a spiritual nature. Sorry.

It was meant to be a joke. Basically I was saying I don't think Wiggo is credible. I'll leave it there...topic for another place.

 

[wrinklyvet]

It was meant to be a joke. Basically I was saying I don't think Wiggo is credible. I'll leave it there...topic for another place.

Thank you for the response. It would be easy to leave it there, but what I said was, " He was was the first Brit to do it and that brought with it great credibility and fame in the UK."

It's my belief, as strong as yours, that speaking of the UK I am right. What others think is up to them and need not concern us here.

As you indicate, cynicism belongs elsewhere.

I don't for a moment suggest that in the UK he is everyone's "cup of tea" but what he has done for the sport here cannot be under-estimated.

All the best to you, and let's see what else he can do.

 

[Jspear]

Thank you for the response. It would be easy to leave it there, but what I said was, " He was was the first Brit to do it and that brought with it great credibility and fame in the UK."

It's my belief, as strong as yours, that speaking of the UK I am right. What others think is up to them and need not concern us here.

As you indicate, cynicism belongs elsewhere.

I don't for a moment suggest that in the UK he is everyone's "cup of tea" but what he has done for the sport here cannot be under-estimated.

All the best to you, and let's see what else he can do.

Ah never mind. That's not what I meant. I meant any further discussion in the area I was referring to would have to go to the clinic.

 

[wrinklyvet]

With, "As you indicate, cynicism belongs elsewhere," so did I.

 

[Kwibus]

Wiggins has behaved like an ******* for years, swearing at journalists, attacking witnesses against Lance, actling like a 5 year old and refusing to give Froome a share of the prize money, insulting other cyclists left right and centre (JV, Rodriguez, Contador) whenever he feels like, throwing tantrums during the Tour, trying to steal Froome's TDF leadership away from him in May 2013 after a few months earlier acting all noble about how he was graciously giving Froome the leadership (what kind of person announces in October that Froome can have the leadership and then tries to take it away from them), making sexual inuendos towards the presenter at a charity event for sexual assault victims. That's not including his close friendship and with and defense of several of the most unsavoury characters in the sport and extreme hypocricy on how he judges others and judges himself, on clinic issues, which I wont go into here.

So stop acting like a star struck Bieber fangirl and demanding everyone "respects" your hero. I don't really idolize any celebrity, especially none who got to the top of the absolute cesspool that is modern professional cycling. But even there, few are as big *******s as Wiggins and no one is mandated to pay him the respect you demand.

Lol nice rant

 

[Kwibus]

Here's hoping he fails again in the Giro.

Hmmm Rick that's a bit of an unneccesary comment. Maybe you don't like him, but wishing someone crashes is a bit of a no go imo.

 

[Kwibus]

I have a bit of a love(started this year)/hate relationship with Wiggins. Allthough both terms are very strong, I don't hate any rider and loving is a big word too. Oh whatever I got a bit of an like/dislike relationship with Wiggins.

I somehow wish he wins P-R in a proper way. He's an ****** imo, but his talent is undeniable and having a TdF winner winning P-R 3 years later is imo only good for the sport and the race that P-R is.

Edit: apparantly do**che is not allowed here.

 

[ILovecycling]

Hmmm Rick that's a bit of an unneccesary comment. Maybe you don't like him, but wishing someone crashes is a bit of a no go imo.

He doesnt wish him a crash, only a 'fail', abandoning,OTL etc

 

[MatParker117]

Here's hoping he fails again in the Giro.

I'll say it again he'll go there to win the TT and play Tony Martin to Elia Viviani's Mark Cavendish. I doubt severly he'll fail at handing off to Andrew Fenn on sprint days.

 

[Red Rick]

Hmmm Rick that's a bit of an unneccesary comment. Maybe you don't like him, but wishing someone crashes is a bit of a no go imo.

I did not want to imply I was wishing for him to crash. I don't like that he's only gonna go to the Giro to pick up an easy tt win. I never liked his riding style, I never liked his persona, I think the Hitch is really spot on with his comment. I think he's a grade A cycling ******bag. That's why I don't want him to be succesful in winning the tt.