Author Topic: Wiggo ain't going gracefully... (Read 12731 times)

Quote from: Doosh on 17 December, 2012, 09:46:11 pm
Either way, looks like he has a backup career sorted if it all doesn't plan out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NkBB-nu28E

Excellent!

That's a very revealing bit of footage. Brad is completely at ease in a situation where fans are filming themselves with him in the background. He's been getting that sort of attention while shopping at Tesco in Chorley, and has come to terms with it.
He's also being himself, which is has been a key component in standing up to the stress of competition. It hasn't driven him in on himself. It will be interesting to see how Froome conducts himself if he gets that level of attention, he seems more like one of nature's bass players.

citoyen · « **Reply #32 on:** 18 December, 2012, 12:35:55 pm »

Quote from: Exit Stage Left on 18 December, 2012, 12:02:14 pm

he seems more like one of nature's bass players.

Metaphor of the day!

Doosh · « **Reply #33 on:** 18 December, 2012, 12:42:38 pm »

Quote from: citoyen on 18 December, 2012, 09:16:12 am

More coals on the fire...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/dec/17/bradley-wiggins-chris-froome-sky-tour

I'm not a massive pro cycling aficionado so forgive any wrong assumptions, but I thought trying to win the Giro and TDF in the same year was rather a large ask?

Even if he's in good form and wins the Giro would it not be a massive ask for him to be recovered enough to mount a serious challenge on the Tour?

Exit Stage Left · « **Reply #34 on:** 18 December, 2012, 12:52:29 pm »

Quote from: citoyen on 18 December, 2012, 12:35:55 pm

Quote from: Exit Stage Left on 18 December, 2012, 12:02:14 pm
he seems more like one of nature's bass players.

Metaphor of the day!

Chris Froome.

Mark King.

citoyen · « **Reply #35 on:** 18 December, 2012, 12:59:50 pm »

Don't know. It's a shame Ryder Hesjedal crashed out of the Tour last year because he looked like he was still in good form after the Giro, so could have been a serious contender. Which just goes to show that even if it's physically possible, you need luck on your side as well.

This discussion is premature anyway - Brad hasn't won the Giro yet.

d.

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #36 on:** 18 December, 2012, 02:07:38 pm »

Another thing that hasn't happened yet is Contador doping next year!

rafletcher · « **Reply #37 on:** 18 December, 2012, 02:23:11 pm »

Well it's a possibility alright. Stephen Roche did it in 1987, and the World Championship too.

Doosh · « **Reply #38 on:** 18 December, 2012, 02:29:49 pm »

Quote from: citoyen on 18 December, 2012, 12:59:50 pm

This discussion is premature anyway - Brad hasn't won the Giro yet.

d.

Well of course, but I think it's a given that if he's in it then he will be trying to win it, same point still applies if he'll have recovered enough to seriously tackle the Tour, Giro win or not.

LittleWheelsandBig · « **Reply #39 on:** 18 December, 2012, 02:30:09 pm »

You are missing others who did the Giro/Tour more than once, Merckx and Indurain.

andyoxon · « **Reply #40 on:** 18 December, 2012, 02:33:06 pm »

Not seen this page before...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple_Crown_of_Cycling

Miguel Indurain did the Tour - Giro double in consecutive years 92/93...

Doosh · « **Reply #41 on:** 18 December, 2012, 02:34:18 pm »

Quote from: LittleWheelsandBig on 18 December, 2012, 02:30:09 pm

You are missing others who did the Giro/Tour more than once, Merckx and Indurain.

Pantani also?

Veloman · « **Reply #42 on:** 18 December, 2012, 02:35:28 pm »

Surely we should ignore history as the era being cited is known to be an era were performance enhancing additives were taken.

Also, there appears to be a lot more competition, technical advancements and science of sport, all of which have a major influence on how the race is raced.

LittleWheelsandBig · « **Reply #43 on:** 18 December, 2012, 02:48:31 pm »

The past 20 years have demonstrated widespread, highly effective doping. Do you think that all stopped in 2006?

andyoxon · « **Reply #44 on:** 18 December, 2012, 02:49:52 pm »

I predict Bradley to follow Miguel, and do the double...

citoyen · « **Reply #45 on:** 18 December, 2012, 02:50:23 pm »

Quote from: LittleWheelsandBig on 18 December, 2012, 02:30:09 pm

You are missing others who did the Giro/Tour more than once, Merckx and Indurain.

The Merckx example again shows the need for luck - he did it twice, of course, and both times was helped by some of his main rivals being ill, suffering mechanicals at key moments or crashing out.

d.

sg37409 · « **Reply #46 on:** 18 December, 2012, 02:52:39 pm »

I dont think anyone thinks it all stopped in 2006. I think most are sure (myself included) that Wiggins is clean.

Quote from: LittleWheelsandBig on 18 December, 2012, 02:48:31 pm

The past 20 years have demonstrated widespread, highly effective doping. Do you think that all stopped in 2006?

Revolution9 · « **Reply #47 on:** 18 December, 2012, 03:12:17 pm »

Quote from: sg37409 on 18 December, 2012, 02:52:39 pm

I dont think anyone thinks it all stopped in 2006. I think most are sure (myself included) that Wiggins is clean.

+1

Hot Flatus · « **Reply #48 on:** 18 December, 2012, 06:55:15 pm »

Quote from: sg37409 on 18 December, 2012, 02:52:39 pm

I dont think anyone thinks it all stopped in 2006. I think most are sure (myself included) that Wiggins is clean.

Quote from: LittleWheelsandBig on 18 December, 2012, 02:48:31 pm
The past 20 years have demonstrated widespread, highly effective doping. Do you think that all stopped in 2006?

I'm not sure. You can never be sure.

If you want to carry on enjoying the sport you have to accept things at face value until there is specific reason to doubt it. With Wiggins there isn't even a whisper, whereas Armstrong's USPS antics were stinky from the word go. Sky at 2012 TdF looked like a low speed version of USPS, but that resemblance isn't enough to start pointing fingers.

At least we know Contador has been busted for doping.

LittleWheelsandBig · « **Reply #49 on:** 18 December, 2012, 08:02:15 pm »

'Isn't even a whisper' is overstating the situation. You have a DS who was on a doping team, a team doctor from Rabobank, several teammates who had previously doped, a team that was easily strong enough to control the race from end to end (despite being comprehensively blown away in previous years) and a rider who was superstrong throughout the season at an age when riders would usually start thinking of retiring due to waning powers.

Doesn't any of that give you even the slightest concern? Obviously not, so enjoy watching the racing. I'll hold off for a few years, giving some time for rumours and any corroborating evidence to surface.