Wiggins Discussion thread.

[jilbiker]

And I thought El Pis(s) was bad... What has he said about AC that was not true and was so bad then?

yes, what did Wiggins mean by this??

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/wiggins-wants-to-be-a-credible-tour-de-france-winner

So he is dissing TDF winners in the last what 20years (except Cadel)?? One thing about Wiggins is that he seems to present himself as a righteous all good fellow. Which is ok but he also slams his fellow brit David Millar who has paid his dues. He doesn't know how to talk, opens his mouth and says the first thing that comes to mind.

Wiggins in NOT in the class of AC, Sastre and yes even LA. It was clear last year in the Vuelta that he cannot really hold it in the mountains. looks good for TDF this year becos of all the time trial. AS and co have to crush him in mountains. But if he has a good strong team he may make it. If froome was at the TDF I would say better chance but I doubt they will risk froome, he may upstage Wiggins...ha-ha. yes, he is not even in the class of Froome in top flight.

 

[spalco]

^^
Froome will ride the Tour de France with near certainty if he's anywhere near top form imo.

And Wiggins was right about previous TdF winners, maybe with the exception of Sastre who is probably one of the more "credible" winners; at least in the same category as Evans I suppose.

 

[Don't be late Pedro]

yes, what did Wiggins mean by this??

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/wiggins-wants-to-be-a-credible-tour-de-france-winner

So he is dissing TDF winners in the last what 20years (except Cadel)?? One thing about Wiggins is that he seems to present himself as a righteous all good fellow. Which is ok but he also slams his fellow brit David Millar who has paid his dues. He doesn't know how to talk, opens his mouth and says the first thing that comes to mind.

Wiggins in NOT in the class of AC, Sastre and yes even LA. It was clear last year in the Vuelta that he cannot really hold it in the mountains. looks good for TDF this year becos of all the time trial. AS and co have to crush him in mountains. But if he has a good strong team he may make it. If froome was at the TDF I would say better chance but I doubt they will risk froome, he may upstage Wiggins...ha-ha. yes, he is not even in the class of Froome in top flight.

Well, lets take the first part i.e TDF winners of the last 20 years:
Indurain
Riis
Ulrich
Pantani
Armstrong
Landis
Contador
Sastre
Evans

I don't know enough about Sastre but with the exception of Evans I would say that all the others have been implicated in doping one way or the other, right? So what is so wrong with saying that?

Miller doped and was caught so what is wrong with coming out and backing his ban. Cyclist speaks out against fellow doper. Isn't that a good thing?

Your second paragraph. What difference does it make if he is not in AC's class (Who is at the moment?). Does that mean he is not allowed to criticise him? He is indeed serving a doping ban is he not?

 

[movingtarget]

Uhm... not really. Alberto is just awesome and will continue to crush the opposition. How funny would it be to hear Wiggo whine about "credibility" if Alberto wins the Tour next year.

Yes of course the wonderful Alberto has the entire western world conspiring against him yet he continues to drag the sport through the mud. Wiggins comments have nothing to do with winning.

 

[hatcher]

Lordy cycling fans are a precious lot. The suggestion that the list of Tour winners is filled with dopers is hardly a controversial one.

 

[Catwhoorg]

I think the main point of recent discussion over an Olympic ban has British cyclists (and atheletes generally) all over the shop.

Some in favour of keeping it, soem against the double dip punishment.

I like Sir Chris Hoy's thoughts of a 4 year ban being the norm, which would put a doper out for an Olympics (also Football, Rugby World cups and other such things which occur on a 4 year cycle).

BOA's ban was so clearly contrary to the WADA code, I don't know why they even bothered tryign to fight to keep it.

 

[Swifty's Cakes]

I think the main point of recent discussion over an Olympic ban has British cyclists (and atheletes generally) all over the shop.

Some in favour of keeping it, soem against the double dip punishment.

I like Sir Chris Hoy's thoughts of a 4 year ban being the norm, which would put a doper out for an Olympics (also Football, Rugby World cups and other such things which occur on a 4 year cycle).

BOA's ban was so clearly contrary to the WADA code, I don't know why they even bothered tryign to fight to keep it.

It was a win-win situation for the BOA. If they had won they are the champions of Anti-doping and now they have lost they can play the victim. GB is tougher on doping than anyone else in the whole wide world but nasty WADA forced us to water down our sanctions. Thats the line being trotted out here by officials

 

[Angliru]

I see Wiggo is off for another 2 weeks altitude training, to go with the two weeks he did before Romandie. As well as sorting his attitude problems out he is also prepared to put the hours in away from the family (yes, I know its in Tenerife )

I wonder if A Schleck is doing a similar amount of work on his ITT? Because he needs to...

I get the impression from Bruyneel's most recent statements to the media regarding Andy and the ITT that he's given up hope on Andy's ITT improving and will depend on an aggressive strategy in the mountains.

 

[jens_attacks]

i didn't see this here(???)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxWPdnjk3I8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

even better than lance i'd say when dealing with the journalists questions...epic answers.chapeau!

 

[spalco]

Wow, he comes off like a huge ******bag in that video; and I say that as someone who kind of supports him.

 

[ipanema]

Wow, he comes off like a huge ******bag in that video; and I say that as someone who kind of supports him.

No he doenst.. take it easy bruv

the questions were useless, they were speaking at the same time and he was just being funny and showed he spent some time in french team(s) speaking some french slang there. You noticed they all gave him an applause when he left.

 

[Ferminal]

Wow, he comes off like a huge ******bag in that video; and I say that as someone who kind of supports him.

I thought it was quite entertaining. Better than you see from 99% of sportspeople interacting with media. Especially the bit about the last km being downhill.

 

[goggalor]

i didn't see this here(???)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxWPdnjk3I8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

even better than lance i'd say when dealing with the journalists questions...epic answers.chapeau!

Very funny!

 

[will10]

Wow, he comes off like a huge ******bag in that video; and I say that as someone who kind of supports him.

I disagree entirely, it's all just patter with the journalists, they were giving him some back an all

 

[The Hitch]

Well, lets take the first part i.e TDF winners of the last 20 years:
Indurain
Riis
Ulrich
Pantani
Armstrong
Landis
Contador
Sastre
Evans

I don't know enough about Sastre but with the exception of Evans I would say that all the others have been implicated in doping one way or the other, right? So what is so wrong with saying that?

Miller doped and was caught so what is wrong with coming out and backing his ban. Cyclist speaks out against fellow doper. Isn't that a good thing?

Your second paragraph. What difference does it make if he is not in AC's class (Who is at the moment?). Does that mean he is not allowed to criticise him? He is indeed serving a doping ban is he not?

Sastre hasn't been implicated in jack. neither has indurain afaik besides rumours that he would wake up at night. but the difference is they are Spanish. the argument that Evans is clean isn't cos he hasn't yet failed a test. its that he is an ozzie and those guys are heroes and wouldn't dope. they have the same gene as footballers and tennis players, they are above doping.

 

[The Hitch]

I disagree entirely, it's all just patter with the journalists, they were giving him some back an all

I agree. I've seen wiggins be a bit rude a number of times. in that vid i see nothing wrong.

 

[hrotha]

Sastre hasn't been implicated in jack. neither has indurain afaik besides rumours that he would wake up at night. but the difference is they are Spanish. the argument that Evans is clean isn't cos he hasn't yet failed a test. its that he is an ozzie and those guys are heroes and wouldn't dope. they have the same gene as footballers and tennis players, they are above doping.

You're right about Sastre but not about Indurain. He tested positive for salbutamol but got a backdated TUE. Thomas Davy testified that there was systematic team doping at Banesto. His doctor was Sabino Padilla, known as Sabino Pastilla ("pill"). His W/kg figures were insane. There's no question here.

 

[ParfaitAmour]

i didn't see this here(???)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxWPdnjk3I8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

even better than lance i'd say when dealing with the journalists questions...epic answers.chapeau!

He has a very dry wit.

Now I can see how many are perceiving it as temper or such like.
He's clearly not the kind of person that smiles & makes things easy for the press.

 

[Moncoutie]

That interview is really funny!

 

[The Hitch]

You're right about Sastre but not about Indurain. He tested positive for salbutamol but got a backdated TUE. Thomas Davy testified that there was systematic team doping at Banesto. His doctor was Sabino Padilla, known as Sabino Pastilla ("pill"). His W/kg figures were insane. There's no question here.

I have no doubt indurain crushing everyone year after year during the epo golden era was not entirely natural. but i am talking about what you can stick to him. the tue yes but its very minor. the team. no. you can just say he was one of the ones that didn't. Same argument that would go into a- why Sastre and why Evans don't dope case.

 

[Swifty's Cakes]

You're right about Sastre but not about Indurain. He tested positive for salbutamol but got a backdated TUE. Thomas Davy testified that there was systematic team doping at Banesto. His doctor was Sabino Padilla, known as Sabino Pastilla ("pill"). His W/kg figures were insane. There's no question here.

Salbutamol was permitted by the UCI and IOC for asthma when he tested postive so its a contentious positive.

 

[DominicDecoco]

i didn't see this here(???)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxWPdnjk3I8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

even better than lance i'd say when dealing with the journalists questions...epic answers.chapeau!

Haha, that was brilliant. Loved the journalist 'on the left' that knew f*** all and just interrupted with random stuff, haha.

 

[spalco]

Sastre hasn't been implicated in jack. neither has indurain afaik besides rumours that he would wake up at night. but the difference is they are Spanish. the argument that Evans is clean isn't cos he hasn't yet failed a test. its that he is an ozzie and those guys are heroes and wouldn't dope. they have the same gene as footballers and tennis players, they are above doping.

The reason for me why I do have some faith in Evans despite being a 100% hater is that he doesn't really strike me as a tremendously "talented" cyclist but someone who forces his way to a win (of course he must be talented, I just mean relatively). Winning races never looks easy for Evans, it's grits and determination. Compared to prominent known dopers the way Evans wins races is strikingly different.

And re: the Wiggins video - well of course the journalists will clap and put up a brave front, what choice do they have? But Wiggins still comes off as arrogant and "aloof" to me. Ever athlete gets asked stupid questions now and again. The smart athlete answers every one of them as if it's interesting and original anyway though.

 

[The Hitch]

The reason for me why I do have some faith in Evans despite being a 100% hater is that he doesn't really strike me as a tremendously "talented" cyclist but someone who forces his way to a win (of course he must be talented, I just mean relatively). Winning races never looks easy for Evans, it's grits and determination. Compared to prominent known dopers the way Evans wins races is strikingly different.

And re: the Wiggins video - well of course the journalists will clap and put up a brave front, what choice do they have? But Wiggins still comes off as arrogant and "aloof" to me. Ever athlete gets asked stupid questions now and again. The smart athlete answers every one of them as if it's interesting and original anyway though.

Kohl didn't win reaces easy. Perreiro didn't. Ricco didn't. Rasmussen didn't. Evans has for most of his career been creaming on these guys.

Only a very small % of dopers are capable to go Lance or Contador on a TDF field.

 

[spalco]

Kohl suffered too, true; Ricco and Rasmussen in their prime seemed far more effortless in their attacks though, imo. Perreiro - I don't know, to be honest I remember almost nothing about that guy.

Anyway, it's a highly superficial analysis, I'm well aware of that, but it's my opinion.