[Closed] David Millar. Is it just me? Or is he a complete......

+1 what a nobber.

Nope, it's not just you.

The guy needs to shut his cake-hole and get on with riding his bike. Slagging of Sky then in the same breath whining that he cant play because he's a proven cheat. Total loser.

Cheating tool. End of

He's actually got better, which shows you how bad he was to begin with. When interviewed he just tries to be cool and be somebody he isn't. Stroker is the word I'd use.

Certainly not a great image he projects here - or an another interview I saw at the weekend...

But he has done the right thing since he was busted - did say in the other interview that he thought cycling was now cleaner than many other sports - and was bigging cycling up in that one.

The bloke is hungover, and journalists are always spinning things and looking for an angle.

Anyway - Landis, Hamilton and now Hincapie implicating LA ?

Millar doesn't slag off Sky in that article though, just Wiggins for his lack of leadership abilities. And there was an article in The Times this week or last (can't remember exactly what day) where Wiggins himself admits he was sorely lacking in that department.

Finbar - I thought that article in the Times came across as a complete hatchet job. Appalling journalism. From a Murdoch paper too. Who'd have thunk it?

Millar doesn't slag off Sky in that article though

read again

Millar, despite his closeness to Brailsford, sums up last year's derision towards Sky.

"That was the opinion of them in the peloton. They came across as big-headed and disrespectful. They held the rest of us in disdain for our methods and they belittled us. We didn't like that. But they had a humbling Tour and made a huge realisation that they had to fit in. They also learnt you can't reinvent the wheel."

Millar's criticism is coloured by acute disappointment that he cannot ride for Sky. He could never be offered a contract from a team which makes much of its "zero tolerance" towards doping. "I would have loved [racing for Sky]. It hurts when I see that team staying in the same hotel as me, seeing people I've known for years. It's my world. Those are riders I should be alongside. But I'm banned."

I agree with him whole-heartedly. As much as I want to see Wiggins do the business in the Tour, it's not going to happen. And he [i]is[/i] a cock.

I agree completely with his comments about Wiggins as a team leader, and the attitude to Sky amongst the peleton. When a new super-rich team starts poaching riders with ludicrous sums of money, it's bound to leave a bitter aftertaste - and not in terms of jealousy. We're talking about riders reneging on contractual agreements to take Sky's cash. If I was in a team and someone left like that, I'd feel a bit cheated.

I don't really see him blaming anyone else for his drug-taking in that piece either. On the contrary. However, put yourself in the position of a young, ambitious cyclist, riding for a team run by his childhood heroes.

It would be akin to Kenny Dalglish convincing a young player to dope by telling him "It's OK, it's what we used to do. If you want to be as good as I was, that's what you need to do". It would be very difficult for an impressionable young man to say no under those circumstances.

I hope Miller has a good tour, and I'm looking forward to reading his book.

And Wiggins has talked about how he got it all wrong last year, how he thought he'd got 4th all by himself and got properly found out when he left Garmin and all the guys who'd pulled him over the hills.

Cycling has a lot of extreme characters but you cant say Wiggins (or Cav) havent learned a good amount of self knowledge. Millar is still deluding himself......and I'm a Scot, I ought to cheering for the guy but he's not easy to respect.

Millar's criticism is coloured by acute disappointment that he cannot ride for Sky. He could never be offered a contract from a team which makes much of its "zero tolerance" towards doping

I cannot wait for their first rider to get caught doping.

I've always liked Millar even back then... but now, now he's a far better rider and a savvy part manager too.. (Garmin/Slipstream)
I'm part way through his book and it's a really good book too. Ok so some admissions he partly blames on the culture in cycling back then, but he's the first to admit it was his decision to dope.
But now, now he's a far better rider IMO.. He's still a cracking TT and poncheur who still goes out there and tries to win.
As for Wiggo comments, jelousy, simple really, and the whole peleton just rode the bandwaggon and Sky became the team of hate.. Yet now, this year, Sky are doing really well.. apart from EBH whose rather fond of his own bed so it seems.
Don't diss Russel Downing, that mans a god.

shibboleth + 1.

Think you're all reading a bit too much into this.. last week he was commenting on the Lance / Contador doping situations, and now this. He's got a book out, and wants publicity - simple as that.

I do like watching him ride for the simple reason that he does try and attack, and he comes across as one of the more articulate members of the peleton in his interviews. Shame he doped though.

Soundbites never air well. I have utmost respect for the two of them doing things most of us can never dream of... come on you brits in Le Tour ❗

Finbar - I thought that article in the Times came across as a complete hatchet job. Appalling journalism. From a Murdoch paper too. Who'd have thunk it?

❓ My point being, if anyone was guaranteed not to put Wiggins in a bad light it would be The Times. So him admitting in there that his leadership was completely lacking suggests it's true.

I struggle with long sentences most of the above posts, but having read that article I have more respect for Millar. He doesn't hide behind vagueness or platitudes and says it how he see it. Re. Sky, Brailsford himself has said that as a team they were arrogant and dis-respectful to the Tour and the cycling world in general last season, so it's hardly Millar's own biased opinion.

Millar served his time, having owned up once caught - a very rare thing, which other cyclist has done that- and has not tested positive since.

I think he's generally alright, but he has a book to sell...

And over the years it has become obvious that when otherwise normal people have a book to sell, then they will behave like complete bell-ends for a few weeks.

Having a moan at Wiggo seems fair enough for him, given his superdomestiquing and part ownership of Slipstream.

But at least Wiggo when he behaves like a cock realises it, and then very publicy and usually amsuingly says 'Sorry I was behaving like a complete cock ' - this is inherently likeable in a way that DM's never quite accepting his culpability isn't.

He has also since upgraded his 'wont get in the Top 10' asessment of Wiggins to 'could get in the Top 5' 🙂

Not its just you.
He is widely respected in the sport, has he got history- yes. Did he fess up and take it like a man. Yes. Thats the big difference between him and many others out there.

Is he wrong about wiggo? He is not the 1st to have a pop at him and his leadership, Cav been there.
I don't see any slagging if Sky, he has express a widely held view.

If would be fanastic to see wiggo do well this year, probably the uk's best chance ever of a result.

Did he fess up and take it like a man. Yes.

He only 'fessed' up when he was pretty much cornered like a rat. Though I do give him respect for trying to promote a cleaner sport. Though it always slightly strikes me as a bit like a born-again Christian, getting a little too high-and-mighty.

Terrific article. I see a rare honesty, unusual in most sport. How many sportsmen can you trust not to give the PR approved line? He's a great rider to watch too.

Whingeing, spoilt trouble maker.

Drug taker.

Cheat.

Should have been banned for life - as any drug taker should.

Stever, you said what I was trying to say, but better!!

Hes only telling the truth tbh

I just can't seem to warm to Wiggins, he always comes across as a bit false - trying to create this cool, quirky persona with a blasé attitude to racing etc.

I suspect that is why he struggles to win the respect of his teammates and the rest of the peleton. Natural leaders tend to be genuine, straight-up-and-down kinda guys.

Though it always slightly strikes me as a bit like a born-again Christian, getting a little too high-and-mighty.

100% this, that's why I don't like him, he certainly needs to get off his high horse.

Millar is an extremely nice guy - candid, thoughtful and interesting (unlike most pro bike riders). He's come through some self-inflicted trials and tribulations and emerged stronger. I'm always far more interested in his doomed lone breakaways than in whatever Wiggo is doing.

I just can't seem to warm to Wiggins, he always comes across as a bit false - trying to create this cool, quirky persona with a blasé attitude to racing etc

In last years tour coverage they did a bit of a feature on sky. one morning they were in the bus getting their briefings. most riders were watching intently, studying notes etc. camera turned to Wiggins, slouched in his seat, not even facing the projector screen, ray ban sunglasses on, totally disinterested. what a prat I thought. I still think that today.

miller is ok, he has a book to push and the mainstream media want to print something prior to the TDF

I like him but i preferred his dad , robert

So anyway, thanks for the reminder. That's another copy of the book sold 🙂

His dislike of Wiggins is fair enough given what happened in 2009's Tour and how little credit the team got for Wiggins result. I'm intrigued about how he's going to deal with being a supporter of Armstrong as more and more stuff comes out.

His book is excellent by the way, well worth a read.

junkyard thats just stupid, his uncle "windy" was the legend.

BTW David is a bell end of the highest order although a superb cyclist.

A bit obsessed with demanding 'respect' for my liking(keeps banging on about it in the guardian interview). Get on with it, stop trying sell your book and cashing in on the doping, ride well and be quiet.

Just for those who were not sure....

[img] [/img]

ever the style icon, has moved on from french resistance to clarke kent/harry potter

[img] [/img]

from this interview

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cycling/13675045.stm

Miller has been outspoken (arguably too outspoken) since returning from his ban it is not only now that he has a book to sell.

Unfortunately around and during the Tour is about the only time cycling gets any news coverage in the UK so he is right to plug his book now.

His comments do not appear far off the mark re Wiggins or Sky as similar comes up in other cyclists/cycling journos articles.

I recently read Ned Boulting's book and he made reference to Wiggins move from Garmin to Sky. He also stated there were 2 riders he could always look for after a stage to get a good honest interview from, David Miller and Robbie McEwen.

Yes he used EPO, he takes responsibility for that, but at least he has not come and pointed the finger at other riders saying they did it as well in order to sell books.

shibboleth & speshpaul + 1.

I met him once, I think it was probably after the Tour of Lancashire when a time trial finished on Harris End Fell. Presentation was in Scorton, about 5 miles away and I rode down with him.

He'll have been in his early twenties, before he signed for Cofidis I think. Such a nice bloke, it seems so sad that his career took such a turn for the worse with the doping.

Does he mention me in his book? 😉

His Dad?

Wiggo has done a few interviews recently and he seems to have relaxed a lot. I think the whole circus of Sky at the start was mad, well be even worse now they have Cavendish on board..........allegedly 😕

dad is a reference to Robert Millar the only brit to win a classification in TdF - king of Mountain 1984?? who is not his dad but many think he is due to sam ename and being scottish

Cheat caught? Check
Cheat becomes holier than though? Check
Cheat thinks by him throwing mud people will trust his word? Check

Sorry mate, when you've been caught and convicted you kinda lose credibility.

Thats why I questioned it, I knew he wasnt his father! His father is a pilot IIRC?

I breifly spoke to DM at last years British Nationals, very nice bloke indeed.

i like the way he races, not too sure about anything else. that picture of him with beret on is excellent though.

hora - what are you going to do when Armstrong gets done by the Feds?

Millar's a bit of a dick, he admits that, and like most sportsmen he thinks the rules don't apply to him. Still is a bloody good cyclist though.

"I'm intrigued about how he's going to deal with being a supporter of Armstrong as more and more stuff comes out. "

I think those bridges got burned long ago.

When he signed with Vaughters would have done it.

Junkyard - Member
dad is a reference to Robert Millar the only brit to win a classification in TdF - king of Mountain 1984?? who is not his dad but many think he is due to sam ename and being scottish

Ha ha. Is there anyone on the planet that actually thinks that.Amazing.

Both come across as bell ends but both ridiculously talented and 2 of the best 'testers' out there. His ride at the worlds TT last year was ridic.

Wont be buying his book though.

For sport to be elevated beyond mere physical exertion, you need two components:

1. winners - people who's entire mindest is about being first, number one, the best

2. People who say interesting things, whether or not one agrees with them

For me, Millar does both of these pretty convincingly. I CGAS whether he got caught doping or not. Good grief, most sport is way more interesting because of the cheating than without it....

I don't listen to cheats and dopers. He should have been banned for life.

I like them both, both knobs in some regards but who isn't? Power to them both

Much bigger fan of Millar than Wiggins. At least Millar has some personality and edge!

Just out of curiosity what is the view now of Tommy Simpson?

Drug cheat who should be written out of cycling history or one of the Uk's great cyclists?

FWIW I'll be supporting both Wiggins and Miller, no different to anybody else, have their good and bad points, but they're not my mates they're sportsmen and both bloody good at it

I like Millar and see nothing wrong with this article, says it as he sees it, I wish more were like that. The fact he's so vocally ant-drugs now is great as it helps the newer riders feel less pressure to take drugs which was a problem a few years ago. I like Wiggo too but didn't realise he hadn't given appropriate credit to his team for his 2009 performance.

As for Sky, can't seem to like them for reasons as given above. If Cav joins them, as seems probable, I guess that'll change as I love Cav!

"naffrider - Member

I like them both, both knobs in some regards but who isn't? Power to them both "

I completely agree - plus Cav x (rad to the power gnarr).

Being a bit of a bell-end once in a while is human and likeable, boring PR sanitized athletes I cannot get interested in eg tennis.

This is also why Nicole Cooke is cool - if she's feeling mardy then you know about it 🙂

mudshark "I like Wiggo too but didn't realise he hadn't given appropriate credit to his team for his 2009 performance."

To me, this point of Millar's is moot.

Wiggo ITT'd and wheelsucked his way to that position (and why not, God made him a time-trialler), I dont recall seeing monster efforts from the Garmin massive to keep him there.

On the other hand all road-racing is a team effort;)

I think he is more pissed that Wiggo left a team he has a stake in for mega-bucks - but at the same time cannot blame him.

(btw there is a book out now called Skys the Limit - it is all about how Sky was intended to be built around Cav, but it just didnt come off - so both Sky and Wiggins are opportunists)

I like him.

To the moralisers who won't counternance his appearance, a question:

Forget the fact he's famous and rides a bike for a living. Have you NEVER before in your life done something to compromise your integrity? Never lied, never cheated?

I like millar for his obvious frailty, and for the fact he doesn't try to hide it beneath a veneer of righteousness or ego. You can see the fractures in his character from a mile away. I like that. No fear and nothing to hide.

Actually I think that's probably more important than being a 'clean' cyclist.

hora - Member
Cheat caught? Check
Cheat becomes holier than though? Check
Cheat thinks by him throwing mud people will trust his word? Check

Sorry mate, when you've been caught and convicted you kinda lose credibil

Agreed

But if I am not mistaken before he was caught he denied ever taking drugs so the make's him a [u]Liar to[/u]

He is a well paid athlete who broke the rules of his sport. Not just a small technical offence either. He should be thankful he's riding at all and have some humility. What he did is far worse than any complaints about sky/wiggins.

But if I am not mistaken before he was caught he denied ever taking drugs so the make's him a Liar to

Read the article linked to in the OP and read his book, it's all explained in there. I like him, he's a decent bloke who made a mistake, has been to hell and back dealing with it and has come out the other side amazingly well all things considered.

I think you have to know something of the ins and outs of pro bike racing to get a feel for it really. To know what goes on for the 49 weeks of the year when the TdF isn't on. (a bit like all the sudden tennis experts out there now that Wimbledon is on...)

"I think you have to know something of the ins and outs of pro bike racing to get a feel for it really. To know what goes on for the 49 weeks of the year when the TdF isn't on."

I agree. But it's worse than that with pro road racing cos once fans (who dont ride) get beyond the TdF stage, many of them start wanting Giros with 12 competed MTFs on 20% climbs while insisting the sport remain clean.

Millar, was to some extent a victim of the system, but he still had a choice, even if it was extremely limited, eg Bassons

Millar is a greater cyclist than anyone posting on this thread (and on this forum ever), so he can behave how he likes imo.

I think he's great. He's one of the good guys. done wrong, admitted it, and has moved on. There are many others worthy of dislike but millar isn't one of them..
But he has got a book to sell and a bit of lively press isn't to be expected.

The anti wiggins element is arsh, from what I remember Garmin rode the 2009 tour as spoilers, attacking people for the hell of it with no real purpose. They stopped big george getting the yellow by 5 seconds.
Not convince Cav going to Sky is a good move though.
But unfortunately for all Millars anti-doping sentiment now the fact remains he did and as such should have a life ban

Steve-Austin - Member

"Millar is a greater cyclist than anyone posting on this thread (and on this forum ever), so he can behave how he likes imo."

no doubt the first bit of your post is true - So if he suggested to Pete Kennaugh or Swifty that they are good, but would be even better if they got on the sauce - you would be Ok with that?

I doubt you would, and I am pretty sure he wouldn't.

I dare say there is am implicit (within reason) in your post but reap as you sow 😉

saladdodger - Member
Agreed

But if I am not mistaken before he was caught he denied ever taking drugs so the make's him a Liar too

What a silly thing to say! Have any dopers ever been caught by someone asking them outright "Did you dope?"?

Of course not. Of course he's going to deny it until he absolutely can't refute the evidence against him. As would anyone whose career and livelihood was in the balance.

Doping was wrong, but you can't say he made it worse by lying about it! The whole enterprise - the procuring, taking and covering up are all part and parcel of it, and why he was quite rightly banned.

But he served his time, and I'm impressed with his current stance against doping.

some of you guys dont really get the whole concept of team mates in cycling i can see millars point,he was killing himself daily for brad and garmin made him as he said...i think that there is far more drugs in the sport then people know and to compete sometimes as a brit abroad i think efff me theses guys are fast (for cyclo cross) so i can see how he went off the rails and did drugs but he did his time and now he is a bloody good all rounded and has won more than brad this year anyway....

What a silly thing to say! Have any dopers ever been caught by someone asking them outright "Did you dope?"?

Well that sounds like exactly what some dopers in both cycling and baseball have done in the US. Grand jury is a lot more serious than a journo admittedly and the penalties for being caught lying can be severe which is probably an incentive.

what are you going to do when Armstrong gets done by the Feds?

When though?

Whats the view of Tommy Simpson??

Hmmm, interesting, seems like someones doing a film about him soon (no, not the BBC4 recut)

I'm of the opinion that TS rode in an era where anything was acepted, it was a mad era for cycling what with the distance and lack of support structure, even hotels and food had to be organised by the riders. He died whilst on drugs, shame, but thats what it was like back then.

Got another chapter in on DM's book last night.. it's still a cracking read BTW..

I'll happily read DM's book but I'll be getting it out of the library and not paying for it. I am in the "he's annoying" camp. He harped on about drugs and being clean, gets caught and is now holier than thou. He may be a great bike racer but he's a drugs cheat who should be banned for life. I feel the same about all of them, Contador, Sastre, Ricco (but he's just special in soooo many ways)...the list goes on but I feel the same about the lot... except so many of the others aren't holier than thou.

I know him personally. Pretty much anyone could be perceived by people who don't share their point of view or experiences as a cock, arrogant, bell-end etc. Even me. IMO he's a really nice guy. He's been through things that gives him a certain perspective on life which will be different to others. To all the cheat-haters, I assume you lead a blameless and law abiding life?

I'm not disputing these sports men aren't "nice people" I just find them annoying when they harp on about how holy they are now they've done drugs and been caught!

Why do you think Sastre is in the "gang"?? I'm questioning that..

It's about professionalism. Sure we all have probably done something in our lives. But if I made such a large offence in my profession I would probably never work again. These guys are my heros and when they dope or start whinging and selling their story they disappoint. He did do a great job as race leader during the giro tragedy, as I'm sure any gc leader would have done on the day. Peleton professionalism with a dose of humility will mark him as a deserved reformed rider.

These guys are my heroes

Why? They're just guys who ride bikes for a living? Why should they have any more well rounded personalities or be more likeable than any of the rest of us, or indeed you yourself.

For what it's worth, he seems to he held in high regard by most of the peloton

Sorry I meant Basso!

Well say what you like, I am in awe of sporting prowess. So yes they are my 'sporting' heros. They represent something to the fan. That's why the sponsors want to pay them. Nothing wrong with a bit of personality. But it's not like these interviews were done post race with all the fresh emotion.

This sounds cruel but I think of sports stars are singers. I like their songs but as soon as they start sprouting ideology I switch clean-off. Its nice when they want to support a charity etc or have a private opinion but when they start shouting off about fellow competitors or about how we should give money.

**** off. We don't care, you ride a bicycle or sing songs for a living. Yes you earn more money that I do but it doesn't mean I have to listen to whine.