Wiggins Discussion thread.

[Dazed and Confused]

Photoshopped, Froome is really on a 25% climb here.

 

[Carols]

Wiggo's early season schedule is up.

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/13569/Wiggins-2013-programme-mapped-out.aspx

T-A on it where Contador and Schleckette will be, should be interesting as they can scope each other out

 

[serfla]

I'm greeting Wiggo's decision to start TA instead of defending PN.
He has champion's attitude and desire to prove that last season's successes weren't result of circumstances.
I'm sure his decision is strongly related with expected Contador's participation.
Also, I guess Brailsford wants to know what they are up against... To weigh strengths early, so he could make some projections.
Contador - Wiggins is the duel we all want to see. We can agree on that, I think.

 

[Gloin22]

I'm greeting Wiggo's decision to start TA instead of defending PN.
He has champion's attitude and desire to prove that last season's successes weren't result of circumstances.
I'm sure his decision is strongly related with expected Contador's participation.
Also, I guess Brailsford wants to know what they are up against... To weigh strengths early, so he could make some projections.
Contador - Wiggins is the duel we all want to see. We can agree on that, I think.

Well I rather see Froome - Conta at Tour, but this should be interesting as well

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I'm greeting Wiggo's decision to start TA instead of defending PN.
He has champion's attitude and desire to prove that last season's successes weren't result of circumstances.
I'm sure his decision is strongly related with expected Contador's participation.
Also, I guess Brailsford wants to know what they are up against... To weigh strengths early, so he could make some projections.
Contador - Wiggins is the duel we all want to see. We can agree on that, I think.

lol? duel wiggins vs contador? wigigns isn't even close to anywhere near contador. it will be a battle between contador and a number of others, but definitely not wiggins.

 

[BlenJones2]

its an interesting duel because of the contrasting styles and contador wont be afraid of the sky train

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

its an interesting duel because of the contrasting styles and contador wont be afraid of the sky train

how is it interesting? we already saw in the vuelta what happens to the sky train when opposed by real climbers

 

[Carols]

how is it interesting? we already saw in the vuelta what happens to the sky train when opposed by real climbers

Well Wiggo has a level of confidence now that he didn't in the Vuelta. However my expectation would be that Bertie drops him hard Can Sky diesel back up dragging Brad along, will be the question. At least Sky will have an idea what they will be facing for le Tour.

I agree that a much more interesting match up will be Bertie/Froome.

 

[Leendert82]

lol? duel wiggins vs contador? wigigns isn't even close to anywhere near contador. it will be a battle between contador and a number of others, but definitely not wiggins.

Again your making a fool out of yourself. Not sure why you hate Wiggins so much, but have at least some respect for his qualities. In 2012 he won almost everywhere he rode.

 

[serfla]

lol? duel wiggins vs contador? wigigns isn't even close to anywhere near contador. it will be a battle between contador and a number of others, but definitely not wiggins.

I think you're wrong.
Remember that Sky has that new "cigarette" method of training.

 

[Leendert82]

Well Wiggo has a level of confidence now that he didn't in the Vuelta. However my expectation would be that Bertie drops him hard Can Sky diesel back up dragging Brad along, will be the question. At least Sky will have an idea what they will be facing for le Tour.

I agree that a much more interesting match up will be Bertie/Froome.

Contador's time trial was a bit dissapointing to me, and don't know whether that will be enough to keep the lead over Wiggins. Yes at the climbs he is better then Wiggins. In fact Contador is the best climber of this last 5 years.

 

[serfla]

I think there will be some sparks on the roads between two seas.
Why else would Wiggo decide to confront Contador?
If he's afraid or insecure, he'd defend PN.
Fans are overlooking that trifle... Why would he run to disgrace?

 

[Carols]

I think there will be some sparks on the roads between two seas.
Why else would Wiggo decide to confront Contador?
If he's afraid or insecure, he'd defend PN.
Fans are overlooking that trifle... Why would he run to disgrace?

Wiggo needs to test himself against the best, this is a great opportunity to do that without serious consequences! If he loses, oh well it was just a buildup for the Giro.

Bertie's changes of pace will test him hard......

Don't know the parcours yet, but if it's a long, flat ITT Wiggins will take time there and Bertie will go work on his ITT before le Tour. Will it be enough time to hold against the mountain onslaughts?

It will also be interesting to see Sky vs Saxo as Saxo has some new strong riders.

Throw in Schleck, Nibali wanting to defend and Evans(?) could be a Really Good race

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Again your making a fool out of yourself. Not sure why you hate Wiggins so much, but have at least some respect for his qualities. In 2012 he won almost everywhere he rode.

he won almost everything he rode? yes against guys like andrew talansky, the compeition was horrible and the coursed suite dhim perfectly. tirreno doesn;t suit him at all. so no chance. maybe top ten if he's lucky

 

[McLovin]

Was the route of TA announced already?

 

[serfla]

Wiggo needs to test himself against the best, this is a great opportunity to do that without serious consequences! If he loses, oh well it was just a buildup for the Giro.

Bertie's changes of pace will test him hard......

Don't know the parcours yet, but if it's a long, flat ITT Wiggins will take time there and Bertie will go work on his ITT before le Tour. Will it be enough time to hold against the mountain onslaughts?

It will also be interesting to see Sky vs Saxo as Saxo has some new strong riders.

Throw in Schleck, Nibali wanting to defend and Evans(?) could be a Really Good race

Exactly.
It should be great race with expected field, although they all won't ride with same ambitions and goals.
It should be great duel whether it will be demystification of Wiggo or pushing Contador.

 

[Parrulo]

Was the route of TA announced already?

not yet but if the last few editions are anything to go by, then we will prolly get at least 1 mountain stage and like 3 hilly stages with 3 stages having over 240km's.

 

[Panda Claws]

I think Wiggins will surprise a few here. Of course Contador will be better in the mountains, but it remains to be seen how much time Wiggo will actually lose if he keeps his own pace as there is no denying that he pushes quite a few watts himself.

Meanwhile, in the ITT Contador should be no match for Wiggins.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I think Wiggins will surprise a few here. Of course Contador will be better in the mountains, but it remains to be seen how much time Wiggo will actually lose if he keeps his own pace as there is no denying that he pushes quite a few watts himself.

Meanwhile, in the ITT Contador should be no match for Wiggins.

in tirreno we have walls, even harder than de muur. wiggins will lose lots of time there. also he's so unexplosive, which kills any aspirations of winning the tirreno.

 

[postmanhat]

I'm a massive Wiggo fanboy, but think he'll have to improve massively to have a chance against Contatdor. It might happen. He surprised everyone with his development last year, including Shane Sutton who didn't seem to rate his chances too highly this time last year

 

[will10]

in tirreno we have walls, even harder than de muur. wiggins will lose lots of time there. also he's so unexplosive, which kills any aspirations of winning the tirreno.

+1

Wiggins needs a 30km ITT and a tame route to win Tirreno. Unlikely.

 

[theyoungest]

in tirreno we have walls, even harder than de muur. wiggins will lose lots of time there. also he's so unexplosive, which kills any aspirations of winning the tirreno.

F..king Cancellara won Tirreno. And that particular edition included Montelupone.

Of course Wiggo has a chance of winning that race.

 

[El Pistolero]

F..king Cancellara won Tirreno. And that particular edition included Montelupone.

Of course Wiggo has a chance of winning that race.

Yeah, I think he lost around a minute(or a little less) there, but could easily get that back in the time trial. Route wasn't that hard that year though.

Wiggins would definitely lose less on a climb like that. If he's in shape of course.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

F..king Cancellara won Tirreno. And that particular edition included Montelupone.

Of course Wiggo has a chance of winning that race.

cancellara is explosive and great steerer and good at walls. check also monte pasche, where he outclimbed iglinskiy and kreuziger on the steepest parts, something wiggins could never do as we will find out. still that year had a long itt in it. tirreno now has 9 km itt in it for past few years. wiggins needs a lot more

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

cancellara is explosive and great steerer and good at walls. check also monte pasche, where he outclimbed iglinskiy and kreuziger on the steepest parts, something wiggins could never do as we will find out. still that year had a long itt in it. tirreno now has 9 km itt in it for past few years. wiggins needs a lot more

A British winner is good for business, so I wouldn't rule that out just yet. I guess 15-20 km could do it.