Wiggins to Sky

[auscyclefan94]

im debating wether to agree with you or not.. youve thrown me somewhat...

he IS special. See he results in Trentino and Asturias in early 07 when he was only 20 still.

http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road.php?id=road/2007/may07/asturias07/asturias075
http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road.php?id=road/2007/apr07/trentino07/trentino074

put him on a par with Gesink I do. A class above Dan Martin cos he can timetrial.

maybe but doyou reckon he could win the tour. what evidence do you have of his time trialling.

 

[Anonymous]

Can Sky support Wiggo?
- Seems that sky will have a large number of stage hunters, and then hope wiggo and lovkist can stay in the lead group. I don't think many teams will have teammates helping their leaders when AC and AS start flying up those hills. Wiggo and Lovy will just have to hang on for dear life.

Where does this leave Lovkist?
- I'm not convinced lovkist was actually ready for sole leadership. i think he would benefit from co-leadership with wiggins. however, if wiggo gets dropped from the lead group, and lovkist remains well placed, i doubt the DS would ask tommy to drop back and pace wiggins. neither of them is an attacking climber, both diesels, which work well together. The road will decide who is the strongest out of the two.

If Garmin is Wigan then what does that make Sky?
- good question, certainly not Man Utd. Garmin as a GT team are a lot better than Sky. But as an all-round team, Sky is better. I think Wiggins just loves (not so)Great Britain too much to miss becoming their leader.

Does the Wiggins transfer open the tour leadership spot to Vandevelde or Farrar?
- IMO, VDV is, and always was, the GC leader at Garmin. He had a horid run of injuries this year, which disrupted his tour prep and that showed in the mountains. Wiggo came out of nowhere, VDV sacrificed himself and still managed a great placing. He will be back, better than ever next year and IMHO, will finish higher than Wiggins on this climbers course. I think Farrar will be the minority again, with perhaps one designated leadout man, unless he can beat Cav at some Giro sprints (assuming he skips Cali). Either way, for GC, VDV is the man, for sprints, Farrar is their man.

 

[blackcat]

Nibali comes for 2011.

This year is Wiggo's shot at the podium, and to learn to ride GC, and get his mtn legs. 2011 is the win.

He will have Froome, Nibali, Lovqvist, Augustyn, Boasson, Thomas, Cummings, to support. That will be more than enough.

2010, he will get help up til the last 5kms. No one will be there to shut down attacks for him or help if he finds himself in the lead. It will only be to help if he has a jour sans and goes bakwards.

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry for being completely dumfounded about this, but in this thread, and many others there are references to September 5 as being some major announcement...

WTF happened on September 5? I'm totally lost about this date...

Perhaps I signed up to the forum in late september and seemed to have missed this obvious reference...

 

[ingsve]

Nibali comes for 2011.

This year is Wiggo's shot at the podium, and to learn to ride GC, and get his mtn legs. 2011 is the win.

He will have Froome, Nibali, Lovqvist, Augustyn, Boasson, Thomas, Cummings, to support. That will be more than enough.

2010, he will get help up til the last 5kms. No one will be there to shut down attacks for him or help if he finds himself in the lead. It will only be to help if he has a jour sans and goes bakwards.

I doubt Nibali will ever ride in support of Wiggins. That would be a waste of Nibalis talent. The only scenario where that might happen is if Nibali rides to win the Giro and then shows up with his left over strength to help out in the Tour.

 

[blackcat]

maybe but doyou reckon he could win the tour. what evidence do you have of his time trialling.

he won the Saffa jnr chrono or u23. He did an awesome chrono in 2006 Japan up Mt Fuji. albeit think they went off in 3 waves then, but he would have dropped everyone within a km. Martin weighs about 60, and cant tt.

 

[blackcat]

I doubt Nibali will ever ride in support of Wiggins. That would be a waste of Nibalis talent. The only scenario where that might happen is if Nibali rides to win the Giro and then shows up with his left over strength to help out in the Tour.

depends on what he is paid to do. I would be with you, Nibali has more natural class than wiggins, uphill and in the chrono.

 

[Anonymous]

I think Wiggins may just be Contador's biggest threat next year.

You could well be right. How long have you felt this way?

 

[Anonymous]

You could well be right. How long have you felt this way?

Wiggins is like most British riders, crappy. Lance will be duking it out with Bertie.

 

[Publicus]

Personally I think this is Wiggins striking while the iron is still hot. There is a tremendous risk that he underwhelms next year. No TTT. Lots of climbing in the final week. Not a very strong GT team at Sky. This is about money.

 

[palmerq]

If he´s going to be getting paid more then good move for wiggins, I doubt it will make a difference for him though, I dont see him or armstrong being competitive with contador or schlecky. I doubt it will improve his performance in the tour.... Well maybe it isnt just the moneyt maybe he is very patriotic too, so I guess it´s a good move for him on 2nd thoughts..

i am a bit dissapointed with the antics of wiggins and ben swift, swift especially, I think he should have more respect to katusha giving him a great chance in big time cycling he could at least fufill his contract instead of tryting to get out of it.... And wiggins insulting garmin was quite gay of him... I am from blighty btw but these 2 dissapointed me a bit.

 

[BroDeal]

Anyone else preparing a hearty laugh for when Wiggins struggles at next year's TdF?

He's gonna get b!tchslapped by Evans.

 

[palmerq]

Anyone else preparing a hearty laugh for when Wiggins struggles at next year's TdF?

He's gonna get b!tchslapped by Evans.

welll if evans is going to get in the tdf :S...... But i agree with you I dont think wiggins will be a serious contender but I think he will get in the top 10... I dont think he has it in teh mountains over 3 weeks he was done on mont ventoux if i remember right and that was with contador and a schleck taking it easy untill the very end. I dont think wiggins will be able to beat evans menchov valverde and so on if they´re all on equal form..

 

[Jancouver]

Anyone else preparing a hearty laugh for when Wiggins struggles at next year's TdF?

He's gonna get b!tchslapped by Evans.

b!tchslapped by Evans? What are you smoking? May I have some of that siht too?

You are right, he will be b!tchslapped but not by Evans. Have you ever heard of the Rainbow jersey being cursed? After all, Evans may not even be there. Who said BMC will get the invitation.

J.

 

[franciep10]

BMC is getting in, the UCI don't wan't a bunch of ****ed of aussies chasing after them because they won't let cadel ride

 

[Kazistuta]

Sorry for being completely dumfounded about this, but in this thread, and many others there are references to September 5 as being some major announcement...

WTF happened on September 5? I'm totally lost about this date...

Perhaps I signed up to the forum in late september and seemed to have missed this obvious reference...

Well, that's actually the main thing here: NOTHING happened on September the 5th

One of the more "colourful" contributors to this forum announced (in big style)this date as the definite date where a Contador -> Garmin & Wiggins -> Sky deal would be revealed. Let's just say his accountability after that incident isn't that great in here - but personally I still love his input and the trash talk he receives.

Internal forum jokes...is there any better?

 

[BroDeal]

You are right, he will be b!tchslapped but not by Evans. Have you ever heard of the Rainbow jersey being cursed? After all, Evans may not even be there. Who said BMC will get the invitation.

Evans has had such bad luck during his career that I don't see what the rainbow curse can do to him. I figure it will have to work in reverse, and Evans will have his best season next year.

Evans will place higher at the TdF than Wiggins. Guaranteed.

 

[Anonymous]

b!tchslapped by Evans? What are you smoking? May I have some of that siht too?

You are right, he will be b!tchslapped but not by Evans. Have you ever heard of the Rainbow jersey being cursed? After all, Evans may not even be there. Who said BMC will get the invitation.

J.

Ever heard of the Rainbow Jersey contending the GC at le Tour? Evans already had his cursed year. It was called 2009. Worst ever performance at the Tour, which is the one race he focuses on. Bad luck at a bad time at the Vuelta.

I don't think the curse will affect Evans, partly because the curse is a bit of a joke. It's a statistical myth.

When someone wins the Worlds, the majority of the time its at the end of a successful 1-2 years racing at the very top of the podium. Multiple wins, dominance in one-day races, multiple podiums. But inevitably, when you are at the top, the only way to go is down. This downfall is highlighted as a more meaningful statistic when it happens to the WC, than any other rider.

But, it happens to many many many riders. Many of these riders go either unnoticed or simply stated as 'lost their form of yesteryear' or something along those lines. But when the WC drops form, it's a 'curse'?.. statistical bias, IMO.

Back to the thread, I agree with BD that it may well be Evans b!tch-slapping Wiggins

 

[badboyberty]

b!tchslapped by Evans? What are you smoking? May I have some of that siht too?

You are right, he will be b!tchslapped but not by Evans. Have you ever heard of the Rainbow jersey being cursed? After all, Evans may not even be there. Who said BMC will get the invitation.

J.

Who said Sky will get an invitation?

 

[ethnik]

there are only 2 ways that Sky gets invited to the Tour this year

1 - they earn it by copying the Cervelo model and showing up and performing early and often in early season ASO races. Show ASO you mean business and respect them and they just might extend the love back

2 - Murdoch lubricates some behind the scenes machinations with his massive bank account and media influence to make it happen and leave out a far better deserving team.

One or a combination of both these things will happen. The current Sky roster is not built for GT success, certainly not enough quality GC support riders. I suppose they still have the dosh and time to pick up another couple of domestiques for the mountains, but all the good ones are already under contract (though that has not stopped them thus far).

Honestly, Sky are like the New York Yankees of cycling right now - we have the cash, get out of our way. I've lost a lot of respect for Wiggo and Swift with the poor way they have handled themselves in this situation. I understand that the opportunity to cash in only comes once, but a display of a minimum of personal ethics, dignity and professionalism would have been nice to see.

It would be nice to one day hear the entire background into both their signings and the conversations that occurred.

 

[Anonymous]

there are only 2 ways that Sky gets invited to the Tour this year

Don't you think the organizers will want someone who finished 4th last year to be apart of the Tour? Remember Wiggins was the shock of the whole Tour. I think Sky will get in easy for this reason.

I've lost a lot of respect for Wiggo and Swift with the poor way they have handled themselves in this situation. I understand that the opportunity to cash in only comes once, but a display of a minimum of personal ethics, dignity and professionalism would have been nice to see.

A bit over the top. Wiggins made one bad little remark - it was hardly the crime of the century. And Sky aren't just any old team for Wiggins - they're the first British backed team so I think we can forgive him for wanting to be apart of it. He's won loads of gold medals with the same people.

 

[Clemson Cycling]

Don't you think the organizers will want someone who finished 4th last year to be apart of the Tour? Remember Wiggins was the shock of the whole Tour. I think Sky will get in easy for this reason.

They didn't want two of the top three guys from the 2007 Tour in 2008

 

[badboyberty]

Don't you think the organizers will want someone who finished 4th last year to be apart of the Tour? Remember Wiggins was the shock of the whole Tour. I think Sky will get in easy for this reason.

BMC have the current WC, who happens to have finished in the top ten at le Tour four times. Plus a previous mountain top stage winner. Plus very close management links to the ASO.

Cervelo have the current green jersey, and the 2008 winner.

Vaconsoleil have a French contender for the KOM, plus his brother who has worn the maillot jaune, alongside one of the most exciting riders of the end of the 2009 season.

Cofidis and Bougues Telecom are part of the TdF furniture and hold a special place in the hearts of the ASO.

Sky have last year's fourth place finisher and a 2008 mountain top stage winner.

I wouldn't put too much money on them getting to the start line of the TdF if they can't put some results on the table in spring. Particularly as on paper both Vaconsoleil and BMC have strong classics squads.

 

[auscyclefan94]

BMC is getting in, the UCI don't wan't a bunch of ****ed of aussies chasing after them because they won't let cadel ride

I will be one of them

b!tchslapped by Evans? What are you smoking? May I have some of that siht too?

You are right, he will be b!tchslapped but not by Evans. Have you ever heard of the Rainbow jersey being cursed? After all, Evans may not even be there. Who said BMC will get the invitation.

J.

How can you really get more cursed than evans last year? That would just be plain mean. He'll win the giro.

 

[Anonymous]

They didn't want two of the top three guys from the 2007 Tour in 2008

Well Contador's team, Astana, were banned because of the drug thing. That's different to Sky's situation.