Wiggins Discussion thread.

[simoni]

Porte was dropped on every MTF apart from Ad'H. Froome lost no time to Wiggins in the mountains in 2012.

There's no doubt that Wiggins needed/took more help in 2012 than Froome in 2013.

 

[webvan]

Yeah but how many KMs did Porte pull for Froome last year? In 2012 I'd be surprised if Froome spent more than 10km doing actual work for Wiggo...granted the team was stronger with Porte, Rogers and even EBH.

 

[elfed68]

I seem to recall Froome being behind Porte a lot more that Wiggins behind Froome 2012.
Porte did a lot of work that tour as the team weren't as strong as 2012, with a couple dropped out as well.

 

[icefire]

So what's his plan for July?:confused
a) loyal helper to Froome
b) Gc ambitions
c) Stage hunting

If he wins Cali this week he'll do a TJVG 2013

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Hilarious seeing people furiously trying to prove that Froome will beat Wiggins in the TDF.

Chapeau to him for even allowing the terminally paranoid to think it worthy of proof.

 

[Michele]

Is Wiggins officially in the Sky team for TdF?

 

[Pricey_sky]

Is Wiggins officially in the Sky team for TdF?

Nobody is officially in the Tour team until Sky release it a couple of weeks before, I would say has an excellent chance though.

 

[goggalor]

Is Wiggins officially in the Sky team for TdF?

He put in his application for domestique duty yesterday.

 

[greenedge]

Porte was dropped on every MTF apart from Ad'H. Froome lost no time to Wiggins in the mountains in 2012.

There's no doubt that Wiggins needed/took more help in 2012 than Froome in 2013.

I'm pretty sure Porte's role was to sacrifice himself on those stages and he rode superbly on Ventoux (trimmed it down to Contador, Froome and him) and Domaines where he came 2nd.

 

[JRanton]

Even if Wiggins is in 2012 form the chances are that Froome will be able to outclimb him anyway and will have the freedom to do so.

Its not impossible that Wiggins will be ahead of Froome at some point but unlikely he'll take yellow before the mountains. Likely he'll be used as insurance and allowed to do his own thing on the cobbled stage while the likes of Thomas/Stannard look after Froome if he falters.

Chances are though that Wiggins will do a job for Froome in the mountains and ship a couple of minutes at least on each MTF and try and come up with something in the final TT.

That's certainly the most likely outcome. I don't see Wiggins remaining in contention for the win after the first mountain top finish on PDBF. Basically he needs Froome to crash/get sick etc in the first week, be climbing as well as he was in 2012 and have a very strong team (which in this scenario would obviously be minus Froome). Even with all those things falling in to place he'd still be beaten pretty comfortably by Contador.

 

[willbick]

does anyone seriously think wiggins was ever not gonna be selected for le tour when it starts in britain and he is the most famous british rider?

 

[personal]

Just watched ToC stage to Mt. Diablo.

Wiggo is back. And he is his own train now.

 

[karlboss]

If I was Wiggins, I'd be a ridiculously loyal domestique. I'd cement my form, be Froome's last man in the mountains, and I'd pull 100% to the top of every MTF. That way I get to the top as fast as possible, blunt all the attacks by more explosive climbers and minimise any losses. If Wiggins form is good enough doing this he may be within sight come the final TT. If he doesn't he has to match Valverde, Contador etc in the mountains and earns the ire of the team.

 

[CycloAndy]

does anyone seriously think wiggins was ever not gonna be selected for le tour when it starts in britain and he is the most famous british rider?

Based on his form last year, he wouldn't merit a spot, particularly given his hostilities with Froome. This year, with his motivation back, his form would merit a place as a domestique (not a leader) and the Yorkshire start outweighs the risk of Wiggins going AWOL when Froome needs him.

 

[elfed68]

The way he rode op that mountain was incredible, such composure and looked like he was on a Sunday run, just imagine how it would have been if he had a strong Sky rider to pace him a bit further up and really kill the others off.
Unfortunately Rohan Dennis kept up and gained seconds.

 

[personal]

His current form must be potential problem for Froome.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Are you kidding me?

Froome destroyed the opposition uphill in Romandie, and won the final time trial, beating Tony frikking Martin.

Wiggins beat a mediocre field in the ITT (albeit with an impressive gap to Rohan Dennis), and then struggles to 9th place on a semi-hard mountain.

That's not a problem for Froome, that only strengthens Froome's case to lead the TDF again

 

[Pricey_sky]

Are you kidding me?

Froome destroyed the opposition uphill in Romandie, and won the final time trial, beating Tony frikking Martin.

Wiggins beat a mediocre field in the ITT (albeit with an impressive gap to Rohan Dennis), and then struggles to 9th place on a semi-hard mountain.

That's not a problem for Froome, that only strengthens Froome's case to lead the TDF again

I agree he won't be a threat to Froome, although he hardly struggled yesterday did he? Nearly 10k at the front while others got a free ride. Closed down 2 attacks himself too, he will be a very useful weapon for Froome.

 

[Winterfold]

If I was Wiggins, I'd be a ridiculously loyal domestique. I'd cement my form, be Froome's last man in the mountains, and I'd pull 100% to the top of every MTF. That way I get to the top as fast as possible, blunt all the attacks by more explosive climbers and minimise any losses. If Wiggins form is good enough doing this he may be within sight come the final TT. If he doesn't he has to match Valverde, Contador etc in the mountains and earns the ire of the team.

quoted for truth

 

[Angliru]

His current form must be potential problem for Froome.

No it shouldn't be. As mentioned often earlier, this performance is against riders that would be cannonfodder for the elite climbers in the peloton. Impressive would've been Wiggins riding them all off of his wheel and soloing to the mtf victory. It didn't happen.

 

[elfed68]

No it shouldn't be. As mentioned often earlier, this performance is against riders that would be cannonfodder for the elite climbers in the peloton. Impressive would've been Wiggins riding them all off of his wheel and soloing to the mtf victory. It didn't happen.

We don't know what would have happened if he'd have had a stronger train ahead of him, he solo rode for a long way and longer than we've seen in a race by any GC contender for quite some time.

 

[sir fly]

Despite Wiggo's latest showing, I don't think anything will change in Sky's approach to the Tour.
They only can be encouraged after the problems they've had earlier in the season, and look forward to the Tour knowing they have enough tactical options to make the race harder to opponents.
Wiggins should definitely ride the Tour with the GC in his mind.

 

[arvc40]

Are you kidding me?

Froome destroyed the opposition uphill in Romandie, and won the final time trial, beating Tony frikking Martin.

Wiggins beat a mediocre field in the ITT (albeit with an impressive gap to Rohan Dennis), and then struggles to 9th place on a semi-hard mountain.

That's not a problem for Froome, that only strengthens Froome's case to lead the TDF again

This !!!!!!!!!!!

 

[arvc40]

Its Froome V Contador. Wiggins can help out before being dropped like a hot potato. End

 

[Angliru]

Was Wiggins underestimating his rivals by riding for 10 km's on the front in the leader's jersey? One has to wonder what would've been the result had he let some other team or rider take the front and simply ridden tempo while in the pack, only increasing to respond to attacks when he saw fit. It seems to me he would have had more left to possibly win the stage and pad his lead over his rivals. As a result of his epic 10 km dragging of the peloton he lost time to some and didn't win the stage. Maybe winning the ITT, the leader's jersey and still retaining it after Mt. Diablo was good enough. It seemed to me to be more of a training exercise to display his ability to act as lieutenant to Froome on the mountains in the Tour.