Wiggins Preparation

[R.0.t.O]

Tour history has plenty of guys that looked like contenders in one race. Zenon Jaskuła anyone? Piotr Ugromov, Bobby Julich. You can add in guys like Rumsas and Kohl I suppose. All just from the very recent past. Wiggins has a big enough job if he's just going to show he's not a one-hit wonder, nevermind launch a proper GC bid.

 

[Winterfold]

Dim I just dont see Kloden or Vino or Lance dropping him. He has just as much chance of dropping them.

Contador and A Schleck can dance away from him, probably with Schleck Snr, and then Evans and Basso could gradually ride away - but a lot will depend on how they have recovered from the Giro - they both raced really hard there.

The Tourmalet is not as hard as Ventoux and nothing like the insanity of the Giro mountains, which have the very steep sections that stop the biggers dead, and he will have all that sufferring in May to draw strength from (of course so will Basso and Cuddles - but did they suffer too much?)

It will be interesting to see how well Basso has recovered. With Liquigas being so strong they could set a very high and consistent pace which will prevent the pure climbers from accelerating away, and will be helpful to more rouleur GC guys. If Basso is recovered enough for second that will make 3rd very very difficult for Brad.

 

[hrotha]

Ugrumov was a GT contender for some years actually. 2nd in the 1993 Giro, 2nd in the 1994 Tour, 3rd in the 1995 Giro and 7th in the 1996 Tour. Quite consistent and far from a one-hit wonder.

(Of course he only began shining in his 30s, when he rode for Mecair/Gewiss, and exactly at the time EPO made all the difference before everyone started using it)

Bobby Julich was very lucky to finish 3rd in that Tour because of how many contenders couldn't finish, but he was terribly unlucky afterwards. Still, he had already been 9th in the Vuelta and 17th in the Tour. Not impressive, sure, but my point is Wiggins still has to get to *that* level, get at least another couple of good performances before he can be taken too seriously.

So actually I'm agreeing with you I suppose.

 

[Lanark]

We can chase our tails on riders' weights forever. I lie about my weight to my bro-in-law just to try to encourage him to get too thin/keep drinking depending on which lie I tell - just so I can drop him on an old farts ride up the Cat and Fiddle or Madone.

So why a pro rider would tell the truth about their weight when there is so much at stake I do not know.

You just have to look at Wiggins to see he is a stack thinner on his upper body. PUrsuit and particularly team pursuit need a good bit of strength that you just dont need in a GT or even a GT prologue.

6kg on a 20km climb at 8% is about 4 minutes difference at 400W. Multiply that by 3 mountain top finishes and you have a heck of a difference.

Actually, it really isn't. 12 minutes is the difference between the 4th and the 12th place. The difference between the pre-2009 and the current Wiggins is a lot more than 10 minutes.

 

[Winterfold]

Actually, it really isn't. 12 minutes is the difference between the 4th and the 12th place. The difference between the pre-2009 and the current Wiggins is a lot more than 10 minutes.

Yes - the other bit is the difference between riding for the GC and being a domestique with a completely different job and level of expectation about your role in the race. Lots of guys pedal home in the bus going nowhere near the limit because... tomorrow they have a lot of work to do.

It seems pretty simple to me, the 'how can you go from 130th to 5th?' kind of line is substantially, but not totally, explained by someone going from being a domestique and/or lead out man to a protected rider.

Once you are a protected rider then 12 minutes is a heck of a lot.

 

[simoni]

Also, what strikes me as a little odd is the claims that based on power figures, previous teams had always known he had the potential. Why didn't they let Brad know so he could lose some weight? Losing weight's a piece of **** when you're motivated.

I'm surprised both Brad and his previous teams would let a Tour potential podium slip. They are hard to come by.

Wiggins was employed to get the odd prologue/TT result around his track ambitions not as a GT rider. He also rode for a variety of French teams, none of whom have ever been known for getting the best out of riders - Cofidis in particular in 2006-7 were a real shower without the expertise to help their riders properly. They weren't paying him to get on the podium so wouldn't be likely to invest much time in developing him.

I know from experience as a distance runner that weight is critical to performance but weight loss is also pretty difficult and unpleasant - why do it if you don't have to?

 

[ianfra]

Sad to hear people think that Wiggins doped. I have no evidence but I do not believe for one solitary nano-second that Wiggins dopes. My opinion guys, sorry. However, I also believe that even though he rode well in last year's Tour, he did luck out. The course suited him and perhaps he wasn't quite up against what he will be this year, if that makes sense. Wiggins is a good rider, yes! But podium? In my view unlikely (though I hope I'm wrong). Methinks top 12, perhaps top 10, is the best we can hope for. As for British riders, sad to see Chris Froome out of it as I think he could do well. I also think that if Weglius wasn't content to simply ride in the service of others then he would be a natural for a top 20. Mr Armstrong? Can't stand the guy. I just hope that he gets his come uppance whatever that will be.

 

[blackcat]

Wigans will make the podium.

Brodeal, want 20 quid on it?

 

[badboygolf16v]

I also think that if Weglius wasn't content to simply ride in the service of others then he would be a natural for a top 20.

With his natural 50+ haemo.

 

[ColumbusSL]

Sad to hear people think that Wiggins doped. I have no evidence but I do not believe for one solitary nano-second that Wiggins dopes. My opinion guys, sorry. However, I also believe that even though he rode well in last year's Tour, he did luck out. The course suited him and perhaps he wasn't quite up against what he will be this year, if that makes sense. Wiggins is a good rider, yes! But podium? In my view unlikely (though I hope I'm wrong). Methinks top 12, perhaps top 10, is the best we can hope for. As for British riders, sad to see Chris Froome out of it as I think he could do well. I also think that if Weglius wasn't content to simply ride in the service of others then he would be a natural for a top 20. Mr Armstrong? Can't stand the guy. I just hope that he gets his come uppance whatever that will be.

an ex-trackie who doesn't 'just till I get over these injuries'?! well that certainly is an interesting thought