Wiggins Discussion thread.

[SeriousSam]

When Cancellara crashed and broke his back, the BBC's initial article introduced the unknown cyclist Cancellara as "a threat to Sir Bradley Wiggins Paris Roubaix ambitions"

Sadly, the current article deleted that line.

 

[TMP402]

Re:

When Cancellara crashed and broke his back, the BBC's initial article introduced the unknown cyclist Cancellara as "a threat to Sir Bradley Wiggins Paris Roubaix ambitions"

Sadly, the current article deleted that line.

The BBC have very poor cycling coverage, take hours to report even results of interest to the British, eg Thomas yesterday. I doubt they reported that Thomas won Algarve or did will in Paris Nice. There are frequent patronising explanations of why Chris Hoy won't win the Tour de France, and they freak out about any novelties like cobbles or time-trialling. Everything is related to whether or not Bradley Wiggins or Mark Cavendish can win it.

 

[MartinGT]

So Sir Wiggo, how is it shaping up for you so far?

 

[DBotero]

Ready for Roubaix or not?

 

[MartinGT]

Is that him cycling back to the Bus to have a teddy bear cuddle and some warm milk after the nasty Belgium weather?

 

[DBotero]

Re:

Is that him cycling back to the Bus to have a teddy bear cuddle and some warm milk after the nasty Belgium weather?

Come on,he's born in Belgium after all

 

[samhocking]

Bit disappointed he pulled out quite so early from Wevelgem, but I think he's just ensuring he keeps his powder dry for next two weeks rather than risk doing a Boonen, Cancellera or Hagen and not making it to Flanders & Roubaix? Only 39 riders finished Wevelgem given the conditions.

 

[elfed68]

Re:

Bit disappointed he pulled out quite so early from Wevelgem, but I think he's just ensuring he keeps his powder dry for next two weeks rather than risk doing a Boonen, Cancellera or Hagen and not making it to Flanders & Roubaix? Only 39 riders finished Wevelgem given the conditions.

I'm a bit disappointed he pulled out as well.
Although, unlike Geraint Thomas where everyone knows what his tactics will be, Wiggins is a bit of an unknown quantity as he hasn't done much.
I'm guessing his only tactic will be like G, drive hard and try and make a breakaway.
But if there's two Sky men at the end like last year's PR, who gets it?

I think he could have gone and won it last year, just didn't have the confidence to commit.
Geraint Thomas seems to have the confidence to attack, Wiggo seems to be a bit more hesitant and everything has be just perfect.
It would be great to see Wiggo utilise that power of his on a lone attack, that would be amazing and shut up the haters once again!

 

[MartinGT]

I think he needs racing in his legs tbh

 

[King Boonen]

Re:

I think he needs racing in his legs tbh

He'll get that at Flanders, he probably needs more, but I guess we'll see on the 12th...

 

[samhocking]

Tactically, I think not showing Wiggin's form before Roubaix is all part of Knaven's plan. Everyone knows Thomas, Stannard & Rowe are super strong and will race accordingly to reduce this strength. Riders and DS nearly always make negative racing decisions when up against a stronger rider like we saw with Thomas & Stannard and so many times with Cancellera. i.e. where the strong rider is expected to chase down everything, refuses and then they all end up racing for second and third as the escapee rides off for the win.

If I was Knaven I would use up Rowe & Stannard very early and let Wiggins go from about an hour away from the finish. This is what he's training for, to ride threshold for an hour and this is what he's so good at. It also removes much of the race craft of racing in a small group over cobbles. If it doesn't work out Thomas will have had a relatively easy ride simply following wheels and Sky have a plan B. This is how I would race. I would want Wiggins to take it on very, very early.

 

[elfed68]

Re:

Tactically, I think not showing Wiggin's form before Roubaix is all part of Knaven's plan. Everyone knows Thomas, Stannard & Rowe are super strong and will race accordingly to reduce this strength. Riders and DS nearly always make negative racing decisions when up against a stronger rider like we saw with Thomas & Stannard and so many times with Cancellera. i.e. where the strong rider is expected to chase down everything, refuses and then they all end up racing for second and third as the escapee rides off for the win.

If I was Knaven I would use up Rowe & Stannard very early and let Wiggins go from about an hour away from the finish. This is what he's training for, to ride threshold for an hour and this is what he's so good at. It also removes much of the race craft of racing in a small group over cobbles. If it doesn't work out Thomas will have had a relatively easy ride simply following wheels and Sky have a plan B. This is how I would race. I would want Wiggins to take it on very, very early.

I can't wait!

 

[vedrafjord]

That makes sense but possibly overestimates Sky's tactical nous a bit...

 

[Pricey_sky]

Re:

That makes sense but possibly overestimates Sky's tactical nous a bit...

I've had no problems with Sky in the tactics department this season. They even send guys up the road instead of riding the train!

Wiggins better be ready to work for G and Yogi over the next couple of weeks.

 

[Pippo_San]

The man's got beard.
You be warned.
You be afraid.

 

[samhocking]

I think if Wiggin's doesn't go all out for the solo win from far out he will never know what he might have been capable of. I can't believe anyone could be in a better position to try it than a World TT champion privately preparing for the Hour for the best part of 6 months and Paris Roubaix along the way. If it's wet, I would say that's his only option as he hasn't got the skills, but the weather Gods look to be smiling on Wiggins at the moment for a dry sunny day.

 

[TMP402]

I have a recurring thought that there will be final group of three entering the velodrome, safely ahead of any chasers: Thomas, Wiggins and someone like Van Marcke. In the confusion over tactics, the two track specialists will look at each other while Sep solos to victory

 

[samhocking]

I have a delirious dream how funny it would be if we ended up with a Wiggins, Thomas, Stannard 1-2-3 arm in arm 1996 Mapei-style finish. Think it would be the best way to say goodbye to the World Tour lol!

 

[fowlyetti]

Good interview with Wiggins about Paris Roubaix

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/mar/30/bradley-wiggins-history-paris-roubaix-classic

 

[ray j willings]

Wiggins and rain don't mix very well. He Has poor handling skills and could not cope.
If it rains at PR he won't finish.

 

[Jelantik]

with boonen and cancellara out, he got more chance to win it. Tepstra, Stybar, Vandenbergh, Vanmarcke or Greg, don't look so stellar compare to Thomas.

 

[DFA123]

Re:

Tactically, I think not showing Wiggin's form before Roubaix is all part of Knaven's plan. Everyone knows Thomas, Stannard & Rowe are super strong and will race accordingly to reduce this strength. Riders and DS nearly always make negative racing decisions when up against a stronger rider like we saw with Thomas & Stannard and so many times with Cancellera. i.e. where the strong rider is expected to chase down everything, refuses and then they all end up racing for second and third as the escapee rides off for the win.

If I was Knaven I would use up Rowe & Stannard very early and let Wiggins go from about an hour away from the finish. This is what he's training for, to ride threshold for an hour and this is what he's so good at. It also removes much of the race craft of racing in a small group over cobbles. If it doesn't work out Thomas will have had a relatively easy ride simply following wheels and Sky have a plan B. This is how I would race. I would want Wiggins to take it on very, very early.

That sounds like a good plan, and I wouldn't be surprised if that's what they tried to do. The problem is, that it's Paris-Roubaix, and the race very rarely goes according to plan. What if there's still a group of 20 riders with an hour to go? Is Wiggins going to try to time-trial away from all of them? Or what if a small group goes to the front early (say, Terpstra, Stybar, Sagan and Vanmarcke). Will Wiggins go with them and work with them to get an advantage, or will he stay back and hope someone reels them in? Either way it's going to affect his ability to try a long break at the end of the race.

My biggest doubt is that Sky and Wiggins will be able to think on their feet in the race. Thomas seems to have pretty good race intuition at the moment, so I hope he will be allowed to use it to make a break if he feels good, and not have to play second fiddle to Wiggins.

 

[DBotero]

Beard power

 

[bigcog]

Re: Re:

My biggest doubt is that Sky and Wiggins will be able to think on their feet in the race. Thomas seems to have pretty good race intuition at the moment, so I hope he will be allowed to use it to make a break if he feels good, and not have to play second fiddle to Wiggins.

Thomas will probably work for Wiggins, no way will Wiggins work for Thomas. This is his last chance to win something big in road racing, it just won't happen. We've already had a puff piece yesterday in the Guardian saying how much he loves the race, presumably from his PR company, just to add to the 'pressure' on others to get with the program...

 

[elfed68]

Re: Re:

My biggest doubt is that Sky and Wiggins will be able to think on their feet in the race. Thomas seems to have pretty good race intuition at the moment, so I hope he will be allowed to use it to make a break if he feels good, and not have to play second fiddle to Wiggins.

Thomas will probably work for Wiggins, no way will Wiggins work for Thomas. This is his last chance to win something big in road racing, it just won't happen. We've already had a puff piece yesterday in the Guardian saying how much he loves the race, presumably from his PR company, just to add to the 'pressure' on others to get with the program...

I would think that Wiggins working for Thomas in RvV would be part of the deal in exchange for similar in PR?