[Closed] No Wiggo for the TdF ?

Is disappoint. 🙁

Real shame if he doesn't ride, Team Sky is running a business so have to go with what they think is their best line-up but surely an in form and fired-up Wiggo is an asset. I for one will be cheering for a different GC rider to the fake plastic Brit Froome!

slackalice - Member
ChunkyMTB - Member
ChunkyMTB - Member
Wiggo won't be on the Tour... trust me...
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Go on then Chunky, I'll bite the bait
Why would we trust you?

8)

See, you all should have trusted me 😡

I do 😛

"I am gutted. I've worked extremely hard for this throughout the winter and up to the summer. I feel I am in the form I was two years ago."
He added: "But I also understand that cycling is a team sport and it is all about Team Sky winning and Chris is defending champion."

Unwritten comment seems to be that Sky won't give him an equal footing to Froome and don't think he's a team player.

Houns - Member
I do
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I know you know that I know 8)

They'd be mad not to take Wiggins.

The pave can ensd a riders race in a flash, and Froome will not be good on it. One second, and he's out the race, what do they do? no sprinter, no team leader (Porte is a good rider, but not a true GC rider IMO). They have to take him.

Last thing they need is an emotionally brittle prima Donna who alienates his team mates and throws his toys out his pram (or his bike in a ditch) and sends adolescent flouncy texts to his DS when he gets dropped by a team mate.

Leaves him free to sandbag in second rate races beating espoirs, well worth the millions he's earned since his Tour win...

@crashtest - Wiggins has earnt good money sonce the TdF as he was the first Brit to win it and double up with a gold at the games, He was a national hero before based on his Olympic record.

I too am disappointed but not surprised. I will not be supporting Froome or Sky. IMO Sky are now very exposed to a crash/mechanical problem. My daughter has been heavily involved in the organisation of the grand depart and I will go up for it to show support for her but my enthusiasm is much reduced without Wiggins.

The pave can ensd a riders race in a flash, and Froome will not be good on it.

Please explain this. How will Froome not be good on the pave?

instead they went mr timid who hid in the bunch while sending his team to burn themselves out on the front with bertie powered off down the road.

...but my enthusiasm is much reduced without Wiggins.

The pave can ensd a riders race in a flash, and Froome will not be good on it.

Please explain this. How will Froome not be good on the pave?

He's never raced the serious Pave events.
Therefore he's unlikely to be at the sharp end.
He'll do ok but could easily lose a minute or 2 to more experienced riders.
Contador did similar a few years ago. Lost time to Schleck who go towed by Cancellara but gained time on Armstrong.

I reckon DBs thinking is one wet day in the mountains and Wiggo is down 5 minutes.

...but my enthusiasm is much reduced without Wiggins.

+1

I reckon Sky have dropped a major bollock here. Rightly or wrongly, the watching public is overwhelmingly on the side of Wiggins over Froome, and that will translate to less enthusiasm and support for team Sky, which surely won't be good from a marketing point of view which is the whole reason Sky is doing it. It's all very well talking about winning being the only consideration, but at the end of the day every sport needs its superstars. Can you imagine the furore if Messi or Ronaldo were left out of the World Cup for no other reason than internal team politics?

Just listened to the interview this morning (2h50m in on here http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04573wt)

He seems to be well prepared in what to say. A bit more level-headed than I've heard him before. They tried to draw frustration out of him, but it didn't show too much.
The changing teams thing is a weird one.

Personally, I think SKY have missed a massive trick leaving him off the team. Publicity is everything, and I think all the talk would have been about the internal rivalry and tension.

On another note, I can't believe I'm still having to watch bloody Valverde in another race ffs.

Can you imagine the furore if Messi or Ronaldo were left out of the World Cup for no other reason than internal team politics?

Do you remember Brazil being forced to play (the other) Ronaldo in the World Cup in 98? He was a mess and the whole drama contributed to their loss to France in the final.

...but my enthusiasm is much reduced without Wiggins.

Admittedly I'm not exactly a massive pro road cycling fan but I will be there at the Grand Depart and watch the Tour come last my house - another +1 from me.

Ronaldo wasn't at all fit to play though was he. I think if Wiggo was completely out of form no-one would be complaining.

I suspect that SKY couldn't really care. If Froome wins another tour then the decision will be justified. The British public are small fry when compared with the fans in the rest of Europe.

My tuppence worth - my enthusiasm is exactly the same whether he is in the team or not.

Please explain this. How will Froome not be good on the pave?

you need two things to ride pave well. the ability to mash a big gear and experience. Froome has neither (relatively speaking. I'm fully aware to could turn a bigger gear than all of us and is a better bike rider than all of us)

Get lost in the pack on the pave and it's only a matter of time before you're coming off.

PS, I predicted Wiggins would get a top 10 finish at Roubaix, so i have a 100% success rate in predicting the cobbles in 2014 🙂

I think if Wiggo was completely out of form no-one would be complaining.

Ronaldo wasn't at all fit to play though was he. I think if Wiggo was completely out of form no-one would be complaining.

True but I don't think the drama that came with him helped them in the slightest. An unfit Ronaldo wouldn't have been as bad as unfit on top of the distractions. Wiggins last year tried to undermine Froome's selection as the TdF team leader and certainly had a grudge after the 2012 race. I can't imagine that Froome is very keen on having someone "supporting him" who's done all that. If he's the chosen team leader, you have to commit rather than throwing a personality into the mix who is hardly working in harmony.

I have to admit that I find it odd that they didn't send Wiggins to the Giro when Porte was dropped from it. Although I guess with the big mountains and Quintana in the race they probably were conceding that Wiggins couldn't compete (not that I think Porte would have either)

Do you remember Brazil being forced to play (the other) Ronaldo in the World Cup in 98? He was a mess and the whole drama contributed to their loss to France in the final.

Aye but Ronaldo should have been omitted for health reasons as he had a seizure before the game in the dressing room. Wiggins appears to be somewhere near to the top of his form so leaving him out doesn't make any sense to the average punter, who will rightly conclude that the only reason Wiggins isn't riding is because Froome doesn't like him. I can imagine there'll be some interesting emails and phonecalls flying about between the marketing men and management at Sky right now.

I suspect that SKY couldn't really care. If Froome wins another tour then the decision will be justified. The British public are small fry when compared with the fans in the rest of Europe.

Despite all the fan fair of 'people going cycling post Olympics' we really aren't big fans of cycling here in the UK. Its football, cricket or chips.

Europes different etc- so I imagine SKY wouldn't lose sleep over Wiggins plus he got the Tour of California, you split your team/wins evenly.

+1 to hora comment above

my enthusiasm is much reduced without Wiggins.

Sorry but I really struggle to comprehend this attitude ..

My thoughts have changed from

Incredulity , when I first heard that Yorkshire was bidding
to
Doubt, When it was confirmed they were bidding .. doubt it would ever happen
to
Disbelief ( in the best possible way ) when it was announced that Le Grande Depart was coming to Yorkshire
to
UTTER AMAZEMENT when I hear the stage 1 finish would be less than 1 km from home

and as it gets closer my anticipation level just keeps growing, I really couldn't care if Wiggins, Froome or any one else is or is not riding, though it would be good to see Ben Swift riding on what are practically home roads and I do hope Cav gets to pull on the YELLOW JERSEY on the Stray, now that would be something special to top it all off

[quote=whatnobeer ]The British public are small fry when compared with the fans in the rest of Europe.

For Sky? How much of their business is outside the UK?

[quote=dazh ]who will rightly conclude that the only reason Wiggins isn't riding is because Froome doesn't like him.

This is what it boils down to, however much the Froome fanboys like atlaz might protest otherwise.

who will rightly conclude that the only reason Wiggins isn't riding is because Froome doesn't like him.

This is what it boils down to

Sky can't get the 2 to ride as a team. I doubt it's [u]all[/u] down to Froome

Wiggo appears to be willing to ride with and for Froome...

An interesting response to all this from Oleg Tinkov this morning too;

"Oleg Tinkov ?@olegtinkov 55m
How can Bradley Wiggins to end up being in yellow jersey? Sign with @tinkoff_saxo and wear all year long :-)"

Wiggo [b]APPEARS[/b] to be willing to ride with and for Froome...

My emphasis. Hard to know either way unless he's in it.

As an aside, for those who think that Wiggins should get a chance and if he's leading should be given a chance to win, what do they think about the 2011 Vuelta?

aracer:
Wiggo appears to be willing to ride with and for Froome...

By the same standards, have you got a ref for Froome saying he doesn't want wiggo just because he doesn't like him ?

I can imagine the conversation now:
"Chris, I've lined up one of the best all-round riders of recent years to act with Richie as your support and he's willing to ride with and for you. His support is unconditional; we can use him as we see fit to maximise your chances of victory as he is happy to sacrifice any of his own chances for the cause"
"Nah, I don't really like him"
"Oh, OK - I'm sure the Murdochs will be happy with that"

Maybe if you replace the word "like" with "trust" ?

:lol:Wiggo to Tinkoff for 2015..

Yup, you read it here second.. 😆

It's all about the win, to be fair to Brad I think he has it to win, but I suspect Froome also has the chance, good gameplay here in the media scramble which gets column inches and pixels.

The Tours the Tour, Sky only play a part in it, there are a few other teams that could rumble Skys plan, I'm hoping the Mov boys move in and desimate the Peloton..

Big up ValvPiti 😆

As an aside, for those who think that Wiggins should get a chance and if he's leading should be given a chance to win, what do they think about the 2011 Vuelta?

In hindsight yes Froome should have been given his shot but its not really the same scenario.

At the 2011 Vuelta Wiggins was still rightly the crux of sky's 5 year masterplan and the team knew his best shot would be the following year they wouldn't want to disrupt that plan that by allowing Froome who only really emerged as a serious GC contender during that vuelta off the leash. From reading various accounts everyone including Froome himself was a little surprised at how well he went at that race.

Personally I would let them ride, allow Brad some freedom to try and make gains in the early stages whilst the bulk of the squad protect Froome, then make Wiggins Froomes last man in the mountains, if he's able to limit his losses they can sort it out in the ITT on the day before Paris.

Sorry but I really struggle to comprehend this attitude ..

This is what it boils down to, however much the Froome fanboys like atlaz might protest otherwise.

I couldn't care less if Wiggins rides or not, I just find the screaming hysteria about "Wiggo" a massive pile of crap. He's a good road cyclist, one of the best on his day but if he wasn't British nobody would be complaining about his lack of inclusion. Froome I'm kind of "meh" about but the vitriol heaped on him seems out of place for a bloke just riding his bike and pretty well at that. Nobody seems to be suggesting he's not a better rider than Wiggins, just that somehow his personality flaws (perceived or real) invalidate his ability.

Sky is a dispassionate organisation. I'm sure they've worked out the possible combinations of riders and the good/bad each one brings and have picked what they consider to be the team giving them the best chance of a third consecutive victory.

I'm not going to be willing Froome on unless it's him vs. Valverde or Contador at the end of the race and if Quintana had been in the Tour I'd have been more likely to support him as he's a genuinely exciting rider.

I don't dislike Froome but I think I'll stick a tenner on Nibali just to keep me interested 😉

Personally I would let them ride, allow Brad some freedom to try and make gains in the early stages whilst the bulk of the squad protect Froome, then make Wiggins Froomes last man in the mountains, if he's able to limit his losses they can sort it out in the ITT on the day before Paris.

+1 I don't see why they both can't be in the same team irrespective of their personal feelings towards each other. They're supposed to be pros for god's sake. Going back to football, didn't Andy Cole and Teddy Sheringham not speak to each other for 4 years yet still played very successfully together in the same Man Utd team?

Looking at it another way, could team Sky be accused of 'fixing' the result by excluding someone who can compete for the GC? Even though it's a 'team' sport in the end the victory is for the individual.

He's not riding - just heard on midday news.

He's not riding - just heard on midday news.

You don't say!

all this stuff about froome can't ride cobbles is suspect

He's an ex mountainbiker
he's a strong TTer
Stannard and Geraint will be there with him
He'll do prep cos DaveB isn't going to miss that trick
the course won't go through the arenberg trench, there will be pave but the last course wasn't as mental as everyone expected

everyone said this about Contador but he stuck it to Armstrong and only lost a minute right at the end because he had a slow puncture and chose to ride on it rather than swap a wheel (no team car just mavic neutral)

it would be good to see Wiggo at the vuelta but it may be a bit too late in the season to carry form...

He's an ex mountainbiker

You are Phil Liggett and I claim my £5 🙂

toby mc - Member
He's not riding - just heard on midday news.

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We'll I did tell you all a few days ago...

Then the fanboys kicked in. A lot goes on in Elite sport.....

all this stuff about froome can't ride cobbles is suspect

🙄

I did point out that of course he can ride, but, will he be comfortable on the pave? No, he won't. He can practice all he wants, there's no substitute for race experience, of which he has none, I think.

If you read the article he actually says

[b]Sir Bradley Wiggins says he will not be competing in this year's Tour de France "as things stand". [/b]

[b]Wiggins told the BBC: "The team is focused around Chris Froome.

"I am gutted. I feel I am in the form I was two years ago. Now if I want to go to the Tour again, the reality is that I might have to go elsewhere."

[/b]

So read into the last sentence what you will but his contract does expire at the end of the year so is it a " Come and get me plea ?

Sounds a bit that way to me