Author Topic: Wiggo ain't going gracefully...  (Read 12654 times)

Re: Wiggo ain't going gracefully...
« Reply #75 on: 03 January, 2013, 11:55:15 am »
Sky's plan was genius and worked amazingly well but bodes ill for the sport. If all the teams adopt the Sky method racing will get very dull indeed. It will be like watching two arctics overtaking on a motorway with one team putting out 1/4 of a Watt more power than the other and opening out 20 yards over 30 miles.
I think you'll find it's a bit more complicated than that.

Re: Wiggo ain't going gracefully...
« Reply #76 on: 03 January, 2013, 12:02:06 pm »
Sky's plan was genius and worked amazingly well but bodes ill for the sport. If all the teams adopt the Sky method racing will get very dull indeed. It will be like watching two arctics overtaking on a motorway with one team putting out 1/4 of a Watt more power than the other and opening out 20 yards over 30 miles.

That's why Cav had to go to another team. Sprints provide the sort of eye-candy that TV demands. GC is more suited to radio and print.
Having said that, it's always inspiring to see an echelon get away in a crosswind.

Re: Wiggo ain't going gracefully...
« Reply #77 on: 03 January, 2013, 12:05:33 pm »

The actual work of cycling is reduced to a statistical exercise, which can be quite pleasing to techno-freaks.
Sky's plan was genius and worked amazingly well but bodes ill for the sport. If all the teams adopt the Sky method racing will get very dull indeed. It will be like watching two arctics overtaking on a motorway with one team putting out 1/4 of a Watt more power than the other and opening out 20 yards over 30 miles.
Some say F1 has been reduced to this, but then it's up to the organisers to make changes to generate interest.  We can't stop the progress and science of sport.  If we want it interesting we can put time bonuses at certain points etc so the overall is contested throughout the race.

Re: Wiggo ain't going gracefully...
« Reply #78 on: 03 January, 2013, 12:16:56 pm »
Brad is close to retirement, so his actions should be aimed at securing a permanent seat on Question of Sport. He's always continued to ride amateur events, so I see him as a Freddy Flintoff or Ian Botham sort of figure in retirement.

citoyen

  • Occasionally rides a bike
Wiggo ain't going gracefully...
« Reply #79 on: 03 January, 2013, 12:32:52 pm »
Brad is close to retirement

I don't know - I can see him going on and still winning stuff well into his late 30s, Poulidor style.

d.
"The future's all yours, you lousy bicycles."

Re: Wiggo ain't going gracefully...
« Reply #80 on: 03 January, 2013, 12:40:10 pm »
He says himself he has only a couple of years road racing left in him and doesn't know whether he has the dedication to take on the TdF again (there are a few other races he wants to bag).
I think you'll find it's a bit more complicated than that.

Re: Wiggo ain't going gracefully...
« Reply #81 on: 03 January, 2013, 12:42:44 pm »
Some say F1 has been reduced to this, but then it's up to the organisers to make changes to generate interest.  We can't stop the progress and science of sport.  If we want it interesting we can put time bonuses at certain points etc so the overall is contested throughout the race.

Well you could ban crank power monitoring and specify that the only computers allowed on the bike were very basic distance/time ones. That would make the riders have to go on feel.
I think you'll find it's a bit more complicated than that.

citoyen

  • Occasionally rides a bike
Wiggo ain't going gracefully...
« Reply #82 on: 03 January, 2013, 12:54:45 pm »
If all the teams adopt the Sky method racing will get very dull indeed. It will be like watching two arctics overtaking on a motorway with one team putting out 1/4 of a Watt more power than the other and opening out 20 yards over 30 miles.

Hmm, surely the dynamics of team cycling mean you wouldn't just get two trains riding alongside each other like that? (In the closing miles of a sprint stage, yes, but not so much on a mountain stage, surely?)

d.
"The future's all yours, you lousy bicycles."

citoyen

  • Occasionally rides a bike
Wiggo ain't going gracefully...
« Reply #83 on: 03 January, 2013, 12:58:53 pm »
He says himself he has only a couple of years road racing left in him and doesn't know whether he has the dedication to take on the TdF again (there are a few other races he wants to bag).

He has put out lots of contradictory messages at various times. The truth remains to be seen.

d.

"The future's all yours, you lousy bicycles."

RJ

  • Droll rat
Re: Wiggo ain't going gracefully...
« Reply #84 on: 22 January, 2013, 12:57:05 pm »
Grauniada - Bradley Wiggins says Chris Froome will lead Team Sky in Tour de France

Quote
• 'It looks as if Chris will be the leader this year,' says Wiggins
• Wiggins shaves off his sideburns in bid for more anonymity

plus:
Quote
The 2012 Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins has changed tack again over whether he will set out to repeat his victory of 2012 in this year's race, stating in an interview with l'Equipe that he would be working for his Sky team-mate Chris Froome in the race with the Giro d'Italia his main focus for the year.


Karla

  • car(e) free
    • Lost Byway - around the world by bike
Re: Wiggo ain't going gracefully...
« Reply #85 on: 22 January, 2013, 02:04:49 pm »
Grauniada - Bradley Wiggins says Chris Froome will lead Team Sky in Tour de France

Quote
• 'It looks as if Chris will be the leader this year,' says Wiggins
• Wiggins shaves off his sideburns in bid for more anonymity

It'll be good to see him in Liege Bastone Liege  :thumbsup:

Re: Wiggo ain't going gracefully...
« Reply #86 on: 22 January, 2013, 11:39:40 pm »
As is this.

It appears Wiggins was neither old nor quick when compared
with the other winners on what was considered the perfect course for him.

I followed this link and came to the mildly disquieting conclusion that nor was he young or slow.