Wiggins Discussion thread.

[Ryo Hazuki]

While mostly true, he did finish 25th in Paris Roubaix. That definitely shows he can go 200+ km

no it doesn't he finished 25th. that is your answer. guys like mondory have done top 20s in p-r, that's meaningless

 

[airstream]

Wiggins is man with vast track expericence. Track riders always were more explosive than 60-70% of initial road raced just by virtue of their speciality IMO. So we can't call him absolutely unexplosive.

And yet, no one expect him beating Gilbert or Valverde in sprint. It would be an attempt of a long raid surely.

 

[will10]

no it doesn't he finished 25th. that is your answer. guys like mondory have done top 20s in p-r, that's meaningless

+1

finishing in the 4th or 5th group at Roubaix doesn't mean jot.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Evil eye on Fromme

Guardian today http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013/jan/22/wiggins-froome-sky-tour-de-france

The 2012 Tour de France winner, Sir Bradley Wiggins, has changed tack again over whether he will set out to defend his title, claiming he is happy to work for his Sky team-mate Chris Froome in the race and make the Giro d'Italia his main focus.

"I would love to win a second Tour and if I get the chance to do it, not necessarily this season, that would be great," he told L'Equipe. "But it looks as if Chris will be the leader this year. That doesn't mean I'll be riding 200km a day on the front of the bunch for him. We will be there together as he was last year with me in the mountains.

"Something could happen to Chris … he could be sick, he could crash as happened to me in 2011 when we ended up without a team leader."

 

[Froome19]

Wiggins is man with vast track expericence. Track riders always were more explosive than 60-70% of initial road raced just by virtue of their speciality IMO. So we can't call him absolutely unexplosive.

And yet, no one expect him beating Gilbert or Valverde in sprint. It would be an attempt of a long raid surely.

I would not call him explosive. Rather he can maintain a ridiculously high speed for a short sustained period of time. If you look back at his Romandie win that is how I think he managed that.

In terms of his explosiveness uphill. He is probably better than Andy Schleck, his lack of any significant trouble anywhere in the Tour on such climbs demonstrated that he certainly has improved in that area. How much it is still hard to say without him being tested to the limit on such a route.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Guardian today http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013/jan/22/wiggins-froome-sky-tour-de-france

No matter what happens at the Giro, I think Sir Wiggo will attempt to defend the Tour title.

 

[webvan]

If he races like Froome did last year, i.e. not doing much work at all, maybe 15 km in total in the front and failing a couple of times, it certainly can't be ruled out.

 

[BlenJones2]

I dont think so. He'll be last man for froome unless he tires in the last week when someone else will take (uran or porte). His riding style makes him in theory an excellent domestique as froome can use him until the last 2k then attack or follow on the summit finishes

 

[El Pistolero]

I would not call him explosive. Rather he can maintain a ridiculously high speed for a short sustained period of time. If you look back at his Romandie win that is how I think he managed that.

In terms of his explosiveness uphill. He is probably better than Andy Schleck, his lack of any significant trouble anywhere in the Tour on such climbs demonstrated that he certainly has improved in that area. How much it is still hard to say without him being tested to the limit on such a route.

Andy in top shape:

Winner of LBL
Second in FW
Third in LBL
Winner of a couple of Tour stages. With at least one of them being won with an explosive attack near the end.

BW in top shape:

Nothing.

 

[Froome19]

Andy in top shape:

Winner of LBL
Second in FW
Third in LBL
Winner of a couple of Tour stages. With at least one of them being won with an explosive attack near the end.

BW in top shape:

Nothing.

This is pure explosiveness. Not after 250km or 200km explosiveness.
When looking at that you can look at how Schleck managed Contador's attack on the Col de Manse for example.

 

[Gloin22]

Andy in top shape:

Winner of LBL
Second in FW
Third in LBL
Winner of a couple of Tour stages. With at least one of them being won with an explosive attack near the end.

BW in top shape:

Nothing.

He didn't have any need of doing so, unlike Schleck in the Tour where he had to attack due to his TT. Purely speaking of Tour's.

However overall totally agreed. When Schleck is on peak, he's explosive enough. Much more explosive than Wiggins on climbs...

 

[El Pistolero]

This is pure explosiveness. Not after 250km or 200km explosiveness.
When looking at that you can look at how Schleck managed Contador's attack on the Col de Manse for example.

This isn't track, big/prestigious races are always longer than 200km.

He didn't have any need of doing so, unlike Schleck in the Tour where he had to attack due to his TT. Purely speaking of Tour's.

However overall totally agreed. When Schleck is on peak, he's explosive enough. Much more explosive than Wiggins on climbs...

Before last year, Wiggins didn't feature in a Tour. Ok, his fourth place in 2009 was impressive, but Andy was by far better than him every time the road went uphill.

 

[Froome19]

This isn't track, big/prestigious races are always longer than 200km.



Before last year, Wiggins didn't feature in a Tour. Ok, his fourth place in 2009 was impressive, but Andy was by far better than him every time the road went uphill.

Yep but this is talking about pure uphill explosiveness. Why do you assume it is talking about stage finishes?
Edit: Btw I am just quoting what Schleck said himself in an interview a while back where he said he excels as the race gets longer, but he in general does not have a great acceleration.

 

[El Pistolero]

Yep but this is talking about pure uphill explosiveness. Why do you assume it is talking about stage finishes?
Edit: Btw I am just quoting what Schleck said himself in an interview a while back where he said he excels as the race gets longer, but he in general does not have a great acceleration.

Andy is known to talk a lot of garbage.

The only reason Andy is saying he isn't explosive uphill is because he lost time on stage 4(I think) at the 2011 Tour. He should never have lost time there and he knows it.

The reality is, that in top form, Andy is one of the more explosive climbers out there.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I would not call him explosive. Rather he can maintain a ridiculously high speed for a short sustained period of time. If you look back at his Romandie win that is how I think he managed that.

In terms of his explosiveness uphill. He is probably better than Andy Schleck, his lack of any significant trouble anywhere in the Tour on such climbs demonstrated that he certainly has improved in that area. How much it is still hard to say without him being tested to the limit on such a route.

no way and the only reason he didn't have trouble in the tour, is because the tour barely features explosive climb finishes. there were no purito and contador either, or other explosive riders(scarponi)

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Yep but this is talking about pure uphill explosiveness. Why do you assume it is talking about stage finishes?
Edit: Btw I am just quoting what Schleck said himself in an interview a while back where he said he excels as the race gets longer, but he in general does not have a great acceleration.

nobody is saying that andy has. but wiggins is far worse though

edit: now pisti says he has. andy schleck isn't very explosive, he's average imo. wiggins is worse than average. far worse, not as bad as basso, but close

 

[El Pistolero]

nobody is saying that andy has. but wiggins is far worse though

edit: now pisti says he has. andy schleck isn't very explosive, he's average imo. wiggins is worse than average. far worse, not as bad as basso, but close

In his best shape of course, meaning 2009/2010. He's not a Rodriguez, Contador, Valverde or Gilbert(on the hills), but he can pack a punch.

Nobody but Contador could follow his acceleration on the Tourmalet. I think Jrod was third that day...

He also outkicked Samuel Sanchez during a 2010 Tour stage.

You don't come second in FW while being average.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

nobody is saying that andy has. but wiggins is far worse though

edit: now pisti says he has. andy schleck isn't very explosive, he's average imo. wiggins is worse than average. far worse, not as bad as basso, but close

yeah no way wiggo is more explosive then andy, what a joke.

probably more explosive then gesink tho

 

[will10]

In his best shape of course, meaning 2009/2010. He's not a Rodriguez, Contador, Valverde or Gilbert(on the hills), but he can pack a punch.

Nobody but Contador could follow his acceleration on the Tourmalet. I think Jrod was third that day...

He also outkicked Samuel Sanchez during a 2010 Tour stage.

You don't come second in FW while being average.

Albasini ?

 

[Ferminal]

Albasini has been a strong finisher for years.

 

[cineteq]

Enough said!

 

[gruppeto993]

Andy is definitely more explosive than wiggins. His acceleration is average. Good enough for when it counts.: 2010 tour, LBL, FW. It's hard to win an ardennes classic or podium it if you completely lack explosiveness.

 

[Carols]

What is Wiggos latest schedule? Just found out he wasn't doing T-A or P-N!

 

[Gloin22]

What is Wiggos latest schedule? Just found out he wasn't doing T-A or P-N!

Where trying to do Giro - Tour he can't do many races early on.

Mallorca
Oman
Volta a Catalunya
Trentino
LBL
Giro

----

Tour

Possibly one more race somewhere in that schedule I think.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

What is Wiggos latest schedule? Just found out he wasn't doing T-A or P-N!

surprising.