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Froome does himself no favours, he's hardly a sponsors dream. Totally uncharismatic and comes across as a diva.
I'm sure Sky have no influence over who Team Sky will have as team leader for the Tour but Bradley made sure he thanked them on a BBC show and gets great coverage in the media.
but he does look more like a normal roadie
I feel sorry for Froome, whilst he was slogging his guts out around France on a bike, his partner was back here spewing nonsense on twitter and generally fanning the flames of hatred.
So most of the cycling community were riled by her comments and directed their anger towards Froome on account of her having a pop at Sir Wiggo and his wife. Froome to his credit, has largely kept quiet about the whole thing.
Froome's personality does not seem to scream "leader" does it. Can you imagine people working their bollox off to help him out? I suppose it could work if Wiggins was team leader and used Froome as his gimp unleashed at his command to hair off up the hills and bring back the spoils for the team. They could put a muzzle on him and a few studs, you know, try to jazz him up a little bit.
They should send Wiggins out as the road captain and give Froome the ability to fight for the first week with him and then the better placed of the two should become the focus. It's daft if they put 100% behind Wiggins in a race designed more for Contador, Schleck the younger and riders like Froome. Look at the Vuelta last year, supporting Wiggins cost them a chance for the GC win.
I'd imagine people will warm to his "personality" if he wins the TdF, just look at Andy Murray finishing 3rd in SPOTY. If anything, imagine how much people would be going on about cycling if Wiggins was to win the Giro and Froome the TdF.
On the other hand, if the team let Wiggins take a shot at the 2013 TdF
Listened to an interview with brailsford on 5live, sounded very much like Froome is still the preferred leader, and the decision will be down to performances in testing/training/early events.
mini edit: interview here
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/20753203
Froome's personality does not seem to scream "leader" does it.
Could have said the same for Wiggins before 2012. He's admitted as much himself.
comes across as a diva
Why do you say that? All the interviews at the TdF etc he has been a true pro and very gracious.
I hope he's in as good shape next year, but we need one more doping bust up to get rid of Contador or our boys won't get a look in.
The froome/wiggo relationship does seem to have been carried along by the media, probably to make up for most of the actual riding in this years tour being quite predictable, and dull for anyone not British
I dunno, I found the actual riding dull and predictable despite being British. I was happy a British rider won but it didn't make it any more exciting just because he is British
Someone at the top of this thread said that Wiggins was the "anti-celebrity"! How exactly?
He courts publicity, dresses to be noticed and attract attention and is now doing radio shows! He absolutely loves the celebrity status and will no-doubt be in the jungle/dancing the foxtrot on c-list telly in 10-15 years time.
I have been a big TdF fan for 30 years and have been to France to watch some of the best ever tours in the 80s and 90s. There is no doubt that this year's event was of a pretty poor standard in the grand scheme of things. What great riders did he beat? Froome was second and he is almost a novice (all be it one with great potential).
I am delighted that a Brit has won the tour, but I think this particular tour needs to be kept in perspective.
I doubt that Wiggins can become a great.
But Froome might.
No Beefy Bertie, no best-time-triallist-of-a-postage-stamp, no Norwegian sprinter, ergo rubbish tour.
yeah.
right.
Loved Wiggo's togs on SPOTY myself ...
Celebrity can be quite infectious and Wiggins does appear to be loving it at the moment. Surprised Brailsford isn't having a word. Though Wiggins increasing his marketability is in the teams interest I guess.
Be interesting to see what Sky do next year. Given Sky's scientific and disciplined approach I'd assume it'll all be based on analysis and numbers and the riders will be expected to toe the line. Also wonder if Wiggins will think he's bigger than the team and want out. Will be an interesting year. Unlikely to see a LeMond v Hinault repeat though, which is a shame.
tbh ill be surprised if wiggo is in contention at all next year ....
team sky train are in full swing and wiggos missed the first two camps....
given wiggos record for indulgance hes treading a very fine tightrope.
given wiggos record for indulgance hes treading a very fine tightrope.
Still looks as skinny as ever and he was out on a training camp the week before SPOTY? Bear in mind the car crash, missing a few training camps to recover was probably a conscious decision, it's not like he's missed them to fourfill media commitments is it? Asside form the post SPOTY round of interviews he's barely been in the media. The newspapers reporting on him is different to him being pro-active in courting the media, which apart form the sky documentary which was probably contractual he's not really done.
From what I've read the sky camps seem to revolve around testing and getting together as a team for a week rather than specific training for the individuals, there's a comment from Brailsford I think somewhere about the riders not being stupid and knowing what they have to do and the coaching staff mainly being there to support and monitor that rather than dish out prescribed training plans.
Someone at the top of this thread said that Wiggins was the "anti-celebrity"! How exactly?
I didn't say he was. I said he played it well.
He courts publicity, dresses to be noticed and attract attention
I completely agree. His pretending to be not into all the celeb thing is nonsense - his ego is as big as anyone's and he clearly loves it being massaged.
On the local grapevine (he lives near me), the messages aren't always positive....
Few decent steaks and Wiggo will be right back on it......
I doubt that Wiggins can become a great.
Really? He's a great already. I don't see any other TdF winner with an Olympic record like Wiggins.
I doubt that Wiggins can become a great
Really??? TdF winner and a sack full of Olympic medals doesn't make him a great?
^ If Wiggo was a yank and we were all yanks this thread would be soo much more positive in tone.
he won the tour, he has a fantastic olympic and world champs record - he seems to be a normal person
top job!
>^ If Wiggo was a yank and we were all yanks this thread would be soo much more positive in tone.<
That's how they end up with Armstrong, Landis, Hamilton et al
I like Wiggins but to say he doesn't court celebrity status is a bit of a nonsense. He's been packaged well in merketing terms, the sideburns are a great example, and I wouldn't be surprised if he's got a stylist looking after his wardrobe for such events.
Someone mentioned his clothing brand, well as far as I'm aware he doesn't have one. Fred Perry have a 'wiggins' line but thats all I'm aware of - the cycling jersey inspired polo shirts are very nice but I'm amazed they haven't produced a yellow version.
TdF winner and a sack full of Olympic medals doesn't make him a great?
Paris-Nice, Tour of Romandie, Dauphine, TdF and Olympic TT gold, all in the same year. I'd say that puts him up there.
I have been a big TdF fan for 30 years and have been to France to watch some of the best ever tours in the 80s and 90s. There is no doubt that this year's event was of a pretty poor standard in the grand scheme of things.
Could the "pretty poor standard" have anything to do with the lack of illegal chemical enhancement perhaps?
My post was pretty clear that I was talking about a TdF great.
Fair play to him - he's a bloody good athlete and is clearly learning fast how to market himself well.
An effective pro sportsman needs to develop his "brand" to maintain sponsorship revenues after the racing ends or else he is going to be pretty poor...
🙂
>^ If Wiggo was a yank and we were all yanks this thread would be soo much more positive in tone.<That's how they end up with Armstrong, Landis, Hamilton et al
I sure you get the point - i.e brits being down on people..
as a repost to the list - Greg Lemond?
Someone mentioned his clothing brand
Yeah that was me and tbh I thought he just had an endorsement deal with Fred Perry (it's always in the banner ads), but I just wanted to have a cheap dig about that (IMO) awful suit really.
He seems a bit of a prickly character, but it's not unusual for very successful sports people to be a bit brusque and selfish is it?
Sure, I get the point (like the americanism? ;-))
The problem with Greg Lemomd is that he still holds the record for the fastest speed in an ITT ever - despite the best efforts of doped up Armstrong, Ulrich, Indurain et al. Suspicious? No?
Why do people believe Lemond, Wiggo etc are clean?
It's a case of what you want to believe I think?
Maybe I'm getting cynical in my old age 🙂