Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => Freewheeling => Racing => Topic started by: marcusjb on 31 May, 2013, 04:25:26 pm

Title: Wiggo no go TdF 2013
Post by: marcusjb on 31 May, 2013, 04:25:26 pm
Breaking news is he is out.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/22735801
Title: Re: Wiggo no go TdF 2013
Post by: pcolbeck on 31 May, 2013, 04:27:22 pm
Oh noes ! I suppose it's better to bow out now and get ready for next year rather than do it half halfheartedly. Oh well we can all cheer for Froome now.
Title: Re: Wiggo no go TdF 2013
Post by: jogler on 31 May, 2013, 04:34:24 pm
The sceptic in me says that injury & fitness may be less of an issue than other considerations.Team status is perhaps something that will remain within Sky more than in the public domain.
Title: Re: Wiggo no go TdF 2013
Post by: clarion on 31 May, 2013, 04:35:20 pm
Go Chris!

But it must be gutting for our Bradley.
Title: Re: Wiggo no go TdF 2013
Post by: Hot Flatus on 31 May, 2013, 04:42:08 pm
Go Chris!

But it must be gutting for our Bradley.

He's not ill or injured, as jogler suggests.

I suspect he either isn't trusted or hasn't the will to ride for somebody else.
Title: Re: Wiggo no go TdF 2013
Post by: David Martin on 31 May, 2013, 04:44:18 pm
Well he was complaining of tendonitis at the Giro. Methinks he will be back for the Vuelta.

..d
Title: Re: Wiggo no go TdF 2013
Post by: marcusjb on 31 May, 2013, 04:44:39 pm
The sceptic in me says that injury & fitness may be less of an issue than other considerations.Team status is perhaps something that will remain within Sky more than in the public domain.

I would tend to agree that this is a very distinct possibility.

Either way, I can not see Froome and wiggins both at sky next year.
Title: Re: Wiggo no go TdF 2013
Post by: LEE on 31 May, 2013, 05:25:00 pm
I can't help thinking that 2012 was it for Wiggo.

From an age and motivation point of view how do you ever recreate that high?

I think he knows that Froome (amongst others) have got the beating of him.  I could see him retiring to be honest, and I wouldn't blame him.

In my own small way I can sympathise.  I struggled with "it just can't get better than this" after PBP and took a year out.

He had 3 realistic chances of winning the tour.  Firstly he wasn't up to it (although Lance, Contador and Schleck may have all had assistance), then he broke his collar-bone and then he won it.  I think that he won it at the last moment he was capable of winning it. I expect Froome would love to show him who's the daddy now.

Is it all downhill for him now (or is that uphill?) or can he realistically win another tour of somewhere or other?
Title: Re: Wiggo no go TdF 2013
Post by: Oscar's dad on 31 May, 2013, 05:31:48 pm
I can't help thinking that 2012 was it for Wiggo.

One nail squarely hit. 

When Sir Wiggo won the Olympic TT did he not say he didn't think he could top his achievements in 2012?  Getting to the top is an immense challenge.  Staying there is harder still. 

Having said all that he's still a legend in my eyes and I hope he returns to winning ways.
Title: Re: Wiggo no go TdF 2013
Post by: contango on 31 May, 2013, 05:37:50 pm
I can't help thinking that 2012 was it for Wiggo.

One nail squarely hit. 

When Sir Wiggo won the Olympic TT did he not say he didn't think he could top his achievements in 2012?  Getting to the top is an immense challenge.  Staying there is harder still. 

Having said all that he's still a legend in my eyes and I hope he returns to winning ways.

It probably is impossible for him ever to top 2012 although that doesn't necessarily mean he has to fade away completely.

I'd like to see him ride the Tour, even if he were to be Froome's right hand man. I guess that's between him, Froome, and Team Sky to decide though.
Title: Re: Wiggo no go TdF 2013
Post by: jogler on 31 May, 2013, 05:47:59 pm
even if he were to be Froome's right hand man.

I reckon Wiggo sees himself as Numero Uno & not anyone's right hand man & is not prepared to allow the world to see anything other.
Title: Re: Wiggo no go TdF 2013
Post by: pcolbeck on 31 May, 2013, 06:16:29 pm
I guess he is pushing the age for a TdF winner. He is 33 now and the last person over 33 who won was Cadel Evans (34), before that you go back to Joop Zoetemelk (34) in 1980 (I ignored LA's 2005 win as it doesn't count anymore).  There again is there much difference physically between 33 and 35 these days and he did come to road racing late.
Title: Re: Wiggo no go TdF 2013
Post by: Andrew on 31 May, 2013, 06:35:34 pm
hasn't the will to ride for somebody else.

That's my sneaking suspicion. Not to say that he isn't carrying an injury but I doubt he really wants to ride in support of Froome.

I think Sky have called it right re the TdF, Froome is the stronger rider this year. I wouldn't say Bobo has had his day but I think it fair to say he's not got the motivation that he had last year (and understandably so). Froome could well have been the stronger rider last year too but that wasn't the plan. And Sky plan. As Bobo has found out. The king is dead etc.
Title: Re: Wiggo no go TdF 2013
Post by: Thor on 31 May, 2013, 06:43:10 pm
If it's due to illness or injury then fair enough.

If it's because Sky have decided that Froome should lead, is it not rather unusual for a TdF winner not to get the opportunity to defend his title?
Title: Re: Wiggo no go TdF 2013
Post by: Karla on 31 May, 2013, 07:28:42 pm
A knee injury, eh?  Was that knee injury inflicted by some of Chris Froome's heavies? 
Title: Re: Wiggo no go TdF 2013
Post by: mattc on 31 May, 2013, 07:29:28 pm
Bit of a rollercoaster week for Froome. I would think that Wiggo withdrawing from the Giro was the worst news he has ever had ... but then this comes along!
Title: Re: Wiggo no go TdF 2013
Post by: Karla on 31 May, 2013, 07:36:47 pm
As a friend pointed out, the last person to not defend his TdF through injury was Greg LeMond.  He got shot ...
Title: Re: Wiggo no go TdF 2013
Post by: TimC on 31 May, 2013, 07:38:21 pm
Go Chris!

But it must be gutting for our Bradley.

He's not ill or injured, as jogler suggests.

I suspect he either isn't trusted or hasn't the will to ride for somebody else.


He was ill - chest infection, which will take some time to clear up to the point where he could put full beans into training. And it appears he is carrying a knee injury, which will undoubtedly extend the time before he can train properly. So, while it might appear convenient, I doubt you can substantiate any claim that he's neither ill nor injured!

That said, I can't help breathing a sigh of relief for Sky being able to concentrate on Plan A for the Tour without the distraction of battles between Brad and Chris. And I sincerely hope that Bradley can get some results to rescue the year later on. Will he continue into 2014? I could see it not happening...
Title: Re: Wiggo no go TdF 2013
Post by: LEE on 31 May, 2013, 08:23:29 pm
As a friend pointed out, the last person to not defend his TdF through injury was Greg LeMond.  He got shot ...

Does anyone know where Chris Froome was at the time?

OK, he was only 2 years old...but he doesn't have the perfect alibi of not being born yet.
Title: Re: Wiggo no go TdF 2013
Post by: David Martin on 31 May, 2013, 08:42:12 pm
As a friend pointed out, the last person to not defend his TdF through injury was Greg LeMond.  He got shot ...
Apart from Stephen Roche of course..
Title: Re: Wiggo no go TdF 2013
Post by: Tewdric on 31 May, 2013, 09:43:25 pm
I think it's Brailsford being quite correctly ruthless and eliminating a problem from Sky's TDF campaign. 

Having said that I've no doubt Brad is injured and had a chest infection.  Had heart ruled head at Sky, they'd  have tried to get him ready but, fortunately, it doesn't.

Go Froomy and good luck to Brad in the Vuelta.
Title: Re: Wiggo no go TdF 2013
Post by: Biff on 31 May, 2013, 09:51:12 pm
Some of the comments on the internet are incredibly distasteful ("I wanted him to ride to watch him take a hammering"/"Its obvious he's not riding because Sky know he'll fail a dope test") etc. And these people claim to be cycling fans. Jeez   ???
Title: Re: Wiggo no go TdF 2013
Post by: Karla on 31 May, 2013, 10:37:14 pm
That said, I can't help breathing a sigh of relief for Sky being able to concentrate on Plan A for the Tour without the distraction of battles between Brad and Chris.

I was quite looking forward to another 'Slaying the Badger' type intra-team battle.
Title: Re: Wiggo no go TdF 2013
Post by: Jakob on 31 May, 2013, 11:40:33 pm
Some of the comments on the internet are incredibly distasteful ("I wanted him to ride to watch him take a hammering"/"Its obvious he's not riding because Sky know he'll fail a dope test") etc. And these people claim to be cycling fans. Jeez   ???

I think most cycling fans have a healthy dose of scepticism when it comes to 'clean' athletes'. I certainly operate under the 'guilty until proven innocent', especially after reading Hamiltons book. I still think they dope as much as they can get away with.

Title: Re: Wiggo no go TdF 2013
Post by: Jakob on 31 May, 2013, 11:52:37 pm
And very timely:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2013/may/31/epo-cycling-generation-doping-cheats
Title: Re: Wiggo no go TdF 2013
Post by: TheLurker on 01 June, 2013, 08:41:54 am
Probably for the best.  Leaving aside the intra-team competition issues and Wiggo's attitude I think Brailsford's approach of taking only riders who are fully fit and insisting on resting riders who are ill, injured or otherwise not quite up to scratch is good for the sport.  It removes (or at least significantly reduces) the pressure to take ahem "medical shortcuts" to get a rider back on his or her bike.
Title: Re: Wiggo no go TdF 2013
Post by: matthew on 01 June, 2013, 08:44:17 am
As mentioned on the radio this morning here's to wiggo focusing on the rainbow jersey for the ITT this year.
Title: Re: Wiggo no go TdF 2013
Post by: Hot Flatus on 03 June, 2013, 07:36:17 pm
Robert Millar doesn't buy the hurty knee and sniffle story either....

http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/robert-millar/tales-from-the-underground-the-honeymoon-is-over-for-sky-and-wiggins
Title: Re: Wiggo no go TdF 2013
Post by: clarion on 03 June, 2013, 08:29:41 pm
Interesting take, with a fair bit of speculation, but Millar's not often wrong.
Title: Re: Wiggo no go TdF 2013
Post by: David Martin on 03 June, 2013, 09:13:52 pm
There is enough in that to make one suspect that he is neither fully correct nor fully wrong.
Title: Re: Wiggo no go TdF 2013
Post by: andrew_s on 03 June, 2013, 10:22:16 pm
Quote
Apparently when Chris Froome was considering putting his signature on a new contract to stay with the Brit team after last year's Tour he insisted on sole team leadership and no Wiggins at the 2013 TdF. It was that or hello BMC.
is wrong, as Froome was one year into a three year contract he'd signed after coming 2nd at the 2011 Vuelta
Title: Re: Wiggo no go TdF 2013
Post by: Ewan Houzami on 03 June, 2013, 10:36:46 pm
Interesting article, yet funny that Brian Smith is implying similar in his Tweets. I wonder who actually got the scoop?
Title: Re: Wiggo no go TdF 2013
Post by: Exit Stage Left on 04 June, 2013, 12:08:23 am
Is there anyone on the Sky coaching team now who has ridden a Grand Tour? Can success be achieved just on the numbers?
Title: Re: Wiggo no go TdF 2013
Post by: Rainmaker on 04 June, 2013, 08:23:38 am

Posted by: Exit Stage Left Today at 12:08:23 AM
Can success be achieved just on the numbers?

Didn't the Giro answer that one?
Title: Re: Wiggo no go TdF 2013
Post by: Oscar's dad on 04 June, 2013, 08:27:53 am
If Sir Wiggo is entering his twilight period I hope he doesn't retire and end up as as sad washed out drunk like Gazza.  I hope he finds a fulfilling life after pro-cycling.
Title: Re: Wiggo no go TdF 2013
Post by: Ewan Houzami on 05 June, 2013, 12:54:58 am
If Sir Wiggo is entering his twilight period I hope he doesn't retire and end up as as sad washed out drunk like Gazza.  I hope he finds a fulfilling life after pro-cycling.

I fully expect to see him to perform a Freddy Flintoff inspired sporting volte face and bulk up to play second row for Wigan Warriors.
Title: Re: Wiggo no go TdF 2013
Post by: Exit Stage Left on 05 June, 2013, 09:36:42 am
If Sir Wiggo is entering his twilight period I hope he doesn't retire and end up as as sad washed out drunk like Gazza.  I hope he finds a fulfilling life after pro-cycling.

Is this a reference to 'The Thieving Magpie' by Rossini?

http://www.classicfm.com/composers/rossini/music/thieving-magpie/
Title: Re: Wiggo no go TdF 2013
Post by: RJ on 09 June, 2013, 11:12:12 am
Meanwhile, in other news, Froome is doing quite well in the Dauphiné ...
Title: Re: Wiggo no go TdF 2013
Post by: Toady on 15 June, 2013, 11:56:54 pm
Report here suggesting BW's time at Sky may not be long
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/report-wiggins-marginalised-as-froome-goes-from-strength-to-strength

Title: Re: Wiggo no go TdF 2013
Post by: Hot Flatus on 24 June, 2013, 11:43:49 am
....and now, of course, His Bradness is saying that he has doubts he will ride TdF again.

His heart isn't in it (ATM) and that was evident at the Giro.
Title: Re: Wiggo no go TdF 2013
Post by: mzjo on 24 June, 2013, 08:26:04 pm
In all of this battle of the stars at Sky someone who should be considering what he wants from life is Geraint Thomas. Gold medals not withstanding, if he stays at Sky he will be a slave to Chris Froome's ambitions when he could be developing into a tidy leader in his own right. Time might be coming up to take a place in his old mate Cav's train and get a chance to shine in his own right.