Wiggo at the 2010 Tour

[Kingsley A]

An interesting comment. It would seem that Australians tend to back the underdog, the bloke who is punching above his weight, you may find Wiggo in this category next year, and maybe, just maybe Aussie fans will support him, and claim him as their own.

It amuses me no end that both Brits and Aussie share this "big up the underdog" attitude and yet consistently describe each other as whingers when it comes to sport. Yet you put a group of both into a bar anywhere in the world and you can almost guarantee that the beer will flow and the banter will be great

i went to see Kevin "Bloody" Wilson a few weeks ago - now that's and Aussie you can be truly proud of

As for Brad vs Cadel at the TdF 2010, much as it pains me to say it if both are there I think Cadel will be the stronger rider. (just as you get The Ashes back next time we play at the MCG and the WACA).

Right, now I've admitted that pass me a tinnie and go through another snag on the barbie whilst I slash my wrists!

 

[msjett]

If you said pass me a stubbie....we could have been friends. lol

You are right about the underdog thing, that was why I made a point of it.

Also return ashes, I was in Adelaide 2006 when the return ashes were being played, and tons of Brits were staying at the same place, and gave me absolute hell, until we won the match in Adelaide, and then they wouldn't talk to me, I wasn't even there for the fricken cricket.

But hey I wish Wiggo and all the riders the best for next year, but to address the orginal question, I don't think he will win, but I think he will do alright, both him and Cadel have to get to the tour before we can have any sort of England vs Australia rivalry going.

 

[Kingsley A]

If you said pass me a stubbie....we could have been friends. lol

You are right about the underdog thing, that was why I made a point of it.

Also return ashes, I was in Adelaide 2006 when the return ashes were being played, and tons of Brits were staying at the same place, and gave me absolute hell, until we won the match in Adelaide, and then they wouldn't talk to me, I wasn't even there for the fricken cricket.

But hey I wish Wiggo and all the riders the best for next year, but to address the orginal question, I don't think he will win, but I think he will do alright, both him and Cadel have to get to the tour before we can have any sort of England vs Australia rivalry going.

Sorry on the stubbie point, probably been corrupted by too much Home and Away when I was a teen (it could have been worse - much of my knowledge of Aussie culture comes from watching Prisoner! )

What you say about 2006 really embarrasses me. It's just not cricket and I hope it was just an isolated incident that is non-typical and not a sign that our former soccer hooligans are just latching onto a new sport now that the riot police keep a tight watch on football grounds. I've never left Europe but my point about beers and banter still stands in my experience and also extends to the Kiwis, even at times when the All Blacks have been slaughtering both of us!

Back to the cycling, lets root for Chris Sutton and Sky to get a win or two at TDU - something for both nations to be happy about!

 

[gatete]

dumb coment

how often do you think cervelo will be required to work on the front? so the strength of his team will have minimal effect. sastre will not be expected to cover every one elses attacks, contador will be the one forced to shut all the gaps and because he wont have a strong team to keep the pace where he wants it, there will be alot more attacks.
have you ever watched sastre race? he will just sit on the back of the group and watch every one until he decides its time for him to attack.
and to awnser your question, yes i do think he will beat him individually, i expect contador to flop with out JB.

and then if he gains anything on AC at the mountains (very unlikely) comes the final TT where you say Carlos will beat AC, ooh one more thing The hog helped AC last year at the Tour?

 

[Ferminal]

Whilst Aussies do like to 'claim' non-australians who have adopted out lifestyle, I can almost guarantee you that we will not be claiming Wiggins. Maybe Mike Tomilaris from SBS will, but not the aussie fans, or serious cycling fans (like us on the forums).

One thing aussies don't do, is have any kind of fondness for British people. Ever heard of the Ashes? Greatest cricket rivalry in the history of the sport. Even tho the Twig has an Aussie father, the fact that wiggins is British, that's a no no. no claiming there. When it comes to sport, Britain/England and Australia do not mix. Especially if wiggins is knocking off our man Cadel from a tour podium (which he won't, but "if"), the aussies will be behind the guy from Katherine, Australia rather than the guy from Gent, Belgium - hey maybe the belgians will claim him?

But if we're talking about cricket, England are the worst offenders

blackcat- Crowe is an Aus. Citizen is he not? Kostya Tsyu/Vic Darchinyian are also Australian citizens as are all "our" pole vaulters. As soon as someone gets a passport then of course they will be claimed by the masses. As far as Wiggins goes, I think you will only see it mentioned as a ****take to stir up Brits...

 

[Ripper]

Between 5th and 10th, unless he loses more weight and gets stronger in the TT

And who is the one person who thinks he is going to win?

 

[Anonymous]

Between 5th and 10th, unless he loses more weight and gets stronger in the TT

And who is the one person who thinks he is going to win?

wasnt me.. but im ever optomistic.. i think given a fair wind, and sun, and some suitable injuries/doping bans he could podium..

 

[perico]

If everyone starts the tour fit-

Riders who I have no doubt will finish ahead of Wiggins or should finish higher than Wiggins if they are not handicapped by working for others (somewhat in this order, numbers 3-9 are pretty interchangable):

1. Contador
2. Lil Schleck
3. The Shack Attack
4. Van de Velde
5. Evans
6. Bottle
7. Valverde
8. Nibali
9. Kloeden
10. Sastre

Riders who may break the top 10 and will likely finish ahead of Wiggo either way (in no particular order):

Not as Lil Schleck, Menchov, Gesink, Tony Martin, The new VDB, Kreuziger, Basso, Mick Rogers, Kim Kirchen

Riders who I give as much of a shot of winning the Tour in 2010 as Wiggy:

Vino, Oscar Pereiro, Sandy Cesar, Tommy Danielson, Raimondas Rumsas, Jan Ullrich, Marco Pantani, Frank Vandenbroucke, Benard Hinault, Damiano Cunego, Gilberto Simoni, Tom Boonen, Richard Virenque, Bob Rolle, Floyd Landis, Jimmy Hoffa, Santiago Botero, Stephen Roche, Nicholas Roche, The Aitorminater, Tyler Hamilton, Me, Dag Otto Lauritzen, Shaquille O'Neil, Terrell Owens, Thor Hushovd, Jimmy Casper

After that, i think wiggers will do A-OK.

 

[Anonymous]

Riders who I give as much of a shot of winning the Tour in 2010 as Wiggy:

Vino, Oscar Pereiro, Sandy Cesar, Tommy Danielson, Raimondas Rumsas, Jan Ullrich, Marco Pantani, Frank Vandenbroucke, Benard Hinault, Damiano Cunego, Gilberto Simoni, Tom Boonen, Richard Virenque, Bob Rolle, Floyd Landis, Santiago Botero, Stephen Roche, Nicholas Roche, The Aitorminater, Tyler Hamilton, Me, Dag Otto Lauritzen, Shaquille O'Neil, Terrell Owens, Thor Hushovd, Jimmy Casper

After that, i think wiggers will do A-OK.

see, the first half of your post was ok... and then you just got stupid...

and i find your inclusion of Frank Vandenbroucke frankly (if you will excuse the word) offensive and disrespectful considering he has barely been in the ground 2 months..

 

[perico]

It's a sad story, but no more sad than Pantani, and you would do well to remember that on some boards (long before this one existed) there were posters that didn't real let up on him at the time of his death either, much less two months afterwards. I didn't condemn him, just mentioned that I give wiggins about the same shot at winning the tour.

Personally, I find all the situations to be sad (Pantani, VDB, Jose Maria Jimenez) and maybe a bit tragic, but there's no point in sugarcoating the fact that they did it to themselves.

If Lance od-ed, you think there'd be an outcry of pity for him from a lot of folks on these boards? No. There'd be "serves him right" comments. I learned a long time ago from frequenting cycling message boards that pity is in short supply. It's cold, but it is what it is. I can be sad for him and his family, but I don't have a lot of pity for him. Read some of the things that have been said about Hamilton and his depression. That sensitivity thing died a long time ago with this sport.

 

[Anonymous]

pity and sensitivity may be in short supply.. but tact doesnt have to be..

 

[Murray]

Riders who I give as much of a shot of winning the Tour in 2010 as Wiggy:

Vino, Oscar Pereiro, Sandy Cesar, Tommy Danielson, Raimondas Rumsas, Jan Ullrich, Marco Pantani, Frank Vandenbroucke, Benard Hinault, Damiano Cunego, Gilberto Simoni, Tom Boonen, Richard Virenque, Bob Rolle, Floyd Landis, Jimmy Hoffa, Santiago Botero, Stephen Roche, Nicholas Roche, The Aitorminater, Tyler Hamilton, Me, Dag Otto Lauritzen, Shaquille O'Neil, Terrell Owens, Thor Hushovd, Jimmy Casper

After that, i think wiggers will do A-OK.

Best laugh I've had in a while.

 

[Ripper]

Vino, Oscar Pereiro, Sandy Cesar, Tommy Danielson, Raimondas Rumsas, Jan Ullrich, Marco Pantani, Frank Vandenbroucke, Benard Hinault, Damiano Cunego, Gilberto Simoni, Tom Boonen, Richard Virenque, Bob Rolle, Floyd Landis, Jimmy Hoffa, Santiago Botero, Stephen Roche, Nicholas Roche, The Aitorminater, Tyler Hamilton, Me, Dag Otto Lauritzen, Shaquille O'Neil, Terrell Owens, Thor Hushovd, Jimmy Casper

Dude, Bob Roll's gonna take the Giro (He's a CLIMBER man), but Dag Otto has a definite shot!

 

[blackcat]

If everyone starts the tour fit-

Riders who I have no doubt will finish ahead of Wiggins or should finish higher than Wiggins if they are not handicapped by working for others (somewhat in this order, numbers 3-9 are pretty interchangable):

1. Contador
2. Lil Schleck
3. The Shack Attack
4. Van de Velde
5. Evans
6. Bottle
7. Valverde
8. Nibali
9. Kloeden
10. Sastre

Riders who may break the top 10 and will likely finish ahead of Wiggo either way (in no particular order):

Not as Lil Schleck, Menchov, Gesink, Tony Martin, The new VDB, Kreuziger, Basso, Mick Rogers, Kim Kirchen

Riders who I give as much of a shot of winning the Tour in 2010 as Wiggy:

Vino, Oscar Pereiro, Sandy Cesar, Tommy Danielson, Raimondas Rumsas, Jan Ullrich, Marco Pantani, Frank Vandenbroucke, Benard Hinault, Damiano Cunego, Gilberto Simoni, Tom Boonen, Richard Virenque, Bob Rolle, Floyd Landis, Jimmy Hoffa, Santiago Botero, Stephen Roche, Nicholas Roche, The Aitorminater, Tyler Hamilton, Me, Dag Otto Lauritzen, Shaquille O'Neil, Terrell Owens, Thor Hushovd, Jimmy Casper

After that, i think wiggers will do A-OK.

u forgot Mario Lemiuex

 

[Stephen D Aalderink]

He isn't ready yet...He will fall victim to NLS (new leader syndrome) and crack under the pressure. He's cool and all, a promising talent but tour contender status for 2010? I just don't see it - he will finish in the top twenty.
Its too bad he didn't hang with Garmin for the remainder of his contract - I think he would have had more potential there. Then maybe 2011...we can talk turkey, I mean tour.

 

[Stephen D Aalderink]

It's a sad story, but no more sad than Pantani, and you would do well to remember that on some boards (long before this one existed) there were posters that didn't real let up on him at the time of his death either, much less two months afterwards. I didn't condemn him, just mentioned that I give wiggins about the same shot at winning the tour.

Personally, I find all the situations to be sad (Pantani, VDB, Jose Maria Jimenez) and maybe a bit tragic, but there's no point in sugarcoating the fact that they did it to themselves.

If Lance od-ed, you think there'd be an outcry of pity for him from a lot of folks on these boards? No. There'd be "serves him right" comments. I learned a long time ago from frequenting cycling message boards that pity is in short supply. It's cold, but it is what it is. I can be sad for him and his family, but I don't have a lot of pity for him. Read some of the things that have been said about Hamilton and his depression. That sensitivity thing died a long time ago with this sport.

I think there is a lot to be learned from these athletes -- to participate in a sport where you are only as good as your last result puts an incredible amount of pressure on an individual. Lance Armstrong is a cycling anomaly in his riding and in his PR savvy. He has made a lot more money then anyone else who rides a bike. He is a brand, a commodity - that's a lot to live up to for someone who's entire identity and feeling of value as an individual revolves around being a pro on a bicycle. A bicycle, the toy we all grew up with...
Pro riders are people too, and I think we forget that sometimes in all the excitement, until you see someone like Pantani who really ended up in sad circumstances, depression and suicide....I wouldn't wish anyone go through life feeling worthless because they can't ride a damn bicycle as fast as some other guy. Yeah, maybe he brought it upon himself, but we all make dumb choices and bring bad things upon ourselves, no one is perfect. I never once ever heard or read about Pantani's family, or friends...did the guy have anyone who cared about him? Care enough to say "whoa, man, what's up, how are you doing?" It's sad -- Pantani was a colorful figure in cycling, and I talk about him often -- he was polarizing, people loved him and they loved to hate him, it was all about the drama that played out in the mountains. All about the drama...He seemed bigger than life...but the Pirate was just a man.