Wiggins Discussion thread.

[samhocking]

I'm not sure Sky will go into Roubaix with a single leader. They'll go in with 3 or 4 like Quick-Step usually do I would think. You've got to simply keep as many riders at the front and hope bad luck, crashes & mechanicals don't eat them all up too early in the race. Wiggins has said today he's not leader, it's Thomas though, so maybe Wiggins is just going to try and TT from far out, the others will have to chase and Thomas & Stannard just have to stay with the leaders.

 

[elfed68]

I'm not sure Sky will go into Roubaix with a single leader. They'll go in with 3 or 4 like Quick-Step usually do I would think. You've got to simply keep as many riders at the front and hope bad luck, crashes & mechanicals don't eat them all up too early in the race. Wiggins has said today he's not leader, it's Thomas though, so maybe Wiggins is just going to try and TT from far out, the others will have to chase and Thomas & Stannard just have to stay with the leaders.

That would be an amazing thing to see, Wiggins doing a Cancellara, which he could have easily done in PR2014

Unfortunately it goes against everything we've seen him do before, but it'll be his last hoorah and if he goes like he did in the National TT in Abergavenny it could happen.

Can't wait!!!!

 

[samhocking]

His problem with a TT plan is he's got to break the elastic first and i'm not sure he's got the acceleration to do it like Cancellera did. He might benefit from getting into a small group of riders and working off them though. It's going to be interesting to see how Sky play it on the day that's for sure.

 

[Wallace and Gromit]

That's got to hurt if you are Stannard or Thomas.

Thomas resigned for Sky last summer, so he's either very naïve or accepts the natural order of things and is happy to trouser the large salary that he gets and live off scraps.

 

[Wallace and Gromit]

That would be an amazing thing to see, Wiggins doing a Cancellara, which he could have easily done in PR2014.

I don't think anyone does anything easily at the end of PR (other than sit up) but it was definitely a missed opportunity if he had the legs. I doubt he'd have been allowed to get as far as Terpstra did but if Terpstra could hold them off then Wiggo would have been in with a good chance.

 

[ILovecycling]

I don't think anyone does anything easily at the end of PR (other than sit up) but it was definitely a missed opportunity if he had the legs. I doubt he'd have been allowed to get as far as Terpstra did but if Terpstra could hold them off then Wiggo would have been in with a good chance.

ohh cmon...terpstra was a beast that day,the strongest.

 

[will10]

ohh cmon...terpstra was a beast that day,the strongest.

It didn't matter if he was the strongest. He, Boonen or Stybar were going to win. Lefevre is the master at always making numbers count. There was no way Wiggins or anyone else left with any legs was going anywhere in that final without an OPQS rider for company.

 

[ILovecycling]

It didn't matter if he was the strongest. He, Boonen or Stybar were going to win. Lefevre is the master at always making numbers count. There was no way Wiggins or anyone else left with any legs was going anywhere in that final without an OPQS rider for company.

yeah,like the week before PR

 

[will10]

yeah,like the week before PR

I should probably have dropped the 'always'

 

[Electress]

Thomas resigned for Sky last summer, so he's either very naïve or accepts the natural order of things and is happy to trouser the large salary that he gets and live off scraps.

I don't mind Wiggins and wouldn't be unhappy to see him pull it off, but I do like Thomas and I keep hoping he'll be given more opportunities.

 

[King Boonen]

While Wiggins does seem to struggle with focus at times, when he puts his mind to something he does very well. I'm interested to see how he does this year, it would be very impressive if he did it.

 

[Dr. Juice]

While Wiggins does seem to struggle with focus at times, when he puts his mind to something he does very well. I'm interested to see how he does this year, it would be very impressive if he did it.

It's time for rain in P-R.

 

[King Boonen]

It's time for rain in P-R.

No hills. Wiggins will be fine with rain on the flat/cobbles.

 

[Pricey_sky]

No hills. Wiggins will be fine with rain on the flat/cobbles.

Wiggins winning a wet PR would pretty much be a perfect end to his road career.

 

[DirtyWorks]

ohh cmon...terpstra was a beast that day,the strongest.

With teammate(s?) in the group to counter should anyone try to ride up to Nikki.

I don't recall Sir Brad having help or attacking. He chugged along great though.. 10th is good. I certainly did not think that was possible.

 

[Electress]

It's time for rain in P-R.

I know it's kind of terrible, but I so agree. I want to see faces looking like they've been down the mines for the afternoon….

 

[MatParker117]

With teammate(s?) in the group to counter should anyone try to ride up to Nikki.

I don't recall Sir Brad having help or attacking. He chugged along great though.. 10th is good. I certainly did not think that was possible.

With Degenkolb in that final group no one was gonna ride that hard anyway, bring Niki back and he would of crushed the sprint.

 

[King Boonen]

Wiggins winning a wet PR would pretty much be a perfect end to his road career.

Yep, and he's certainly shown he is capable of it. I hope that he gets to the end and he's still in contention and there are no mechanicals or anything along the way for anyone.


He's going to be watched after last year and he's going to have to do it the hard way if he wants to take it. We'll have to wait and see what happens.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Yep, and he's certainly shown he is capable of it. I hope that he gets to the end and he's still in contention and there are no mechanicals or anything along the way for anyone.


He's going to be watched after last year and he's going to have to do it the hard way if he wants to take it. We'll have to wait and see what happens.

The hard way for sure. There are very few PR contenders he can beat in a sprint. It's possible though, I mean I wouldn't want to be trying to bring him back if he goes into TT mode.

 

[King Boonen]

The hard way for sure. There are very few PR contenders he can beat in a sprint. It's possible though, I mean I wouldn't want to be trying to bring him back if he goes into TT mode.

The only way I can see him winning it is if he goes off on his own and holds it out there. If Sky could make the race hard and shell as many people as possible he'll have a better chance, if someone can go with him, like Boonen and Terpstra in 2012 then even better. Doesn't have to be as long but needs to be long enough as even if Cancellara, Stybar, Boonen etc. have to fight to bring him back I think they'll have the legs over him in a sprint. Agreed that if he gets to the velodrome with pretty much anyone else he's done (maybe beat someone like Vandenbergh?).

The best possible outcome for Sky, we see this happening:

With Wiggins hitching a ride on the G-Train.

 

[Pricey_sky]

The only way I can see him winning it is if he goes off on his own and holds it out there. If Sky could make the race hard and shell as many people as possible he'll have a better chance, if someone can go with him, like Boonen and Terpstra in 2012 then even better. Doesn't have to be as long but needs to be long enough as even if Cancellara, Stybar, Boonen etc. have to fight to bring him back I think they'll have the legs over him in a sprint. Agreed that if he gets to the velodrome with pretty much anyone else he's done (maybe beat someone like Vandenbergh?).

The best possible outcome for Sky, we see this happening:

With Wiggins hitching a ride on the G-Train.

That would be my plan too, Sky could have a decent team and riders like G, Eisel and Stannard should be still there to help Wiggins towards the business end.

 

[King Boonen]

That would be my plan too, Sky could have a decent team and riders like G, Eisel and Stannard should be still there to help Wiggins towards the business end.

Yeah, they just have to realise that Omega, Saxo, Lotto, Belkin, Giant, Trek and possibly Garmin Cannondale, Astana, Orica etc. are all going to be gunning for the win... It's not the tour where you just have to perform consistently each day. It's a one off race and it'll be difficult to control.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Yeah, they just have to realise that Omega, Saxo, Lotto, Belkin, Giant, Trek and possibly Garmin Cannondale, Astana, Orica etc. are all going to be gunning for the win... It's not the tour where you just have to perform consistently each day. It's a one off race and it'll be difficult to control.

Yes, and that's obviously the area they have struggled to adapt to. They have cards to play and could even send guys like G or Stan up the road and let Wiggins follow his rivals.

 

[Swifty's Cakes]

Confirmed for P-N so we will see him in the rainbow skinsuit

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Do we know if PN will include an ITT this year?