[Closed] Wiggins packing in the Dark Side...

That was unexpected. Good luck to him.

Nice to see some gracious words about Froome too.

Not really unexpected, both he and Cav have desires to reform, been on the cards for sometime now.

I'll miss him in the pack and his chats, always up for a quote or two is Bradders.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/ [b]tennis[/b]/23754381

Tennis?

he lost my respect after hearing what he did as a thankyou to his team in the 09 tour's final stage and his apparent lack of wish to support Froome. Seems a bit one sided to me, maybe why he is going back to the track, can look after himself there

He's probably fed up of listening to Froome's missus whinging.

^^ who isn't 😆

he lost my respect after hearing what he did as a thankyou to his team in the 09 tour's final stage

What did he do?

What did he do?

Was just about to ask the same thing myself

he lost my respect after hearing what he did as a thankyou to his team in the 09 tour's final stage

(Edit:Ha! That makes three of us...)

I note the BBC story says Froome claimed Wiggo hadn't congratulated him, but it was Froome's missus who said that wasn't it?

I knew Cav had talked about goiong back to track, not Wiggo. Expect he'll be giving up a fair wedge to do it.

What did he do?

urinated in their shoes.

I think, when they were coming in for the final sprint in Paris Garmin all said they were going to set up their sprinter. Not sure who this was actually, Farrar maybe?

So, last lap, Millar has done his turn, pulls over expecting Wiggins to come through, as arranged, and he's at the back of the peloton, having a chat to some other riders. Millar only forgave him in the run up to the 2012 Olympics, after Wiggins apologised

The 2012 Tour de France winner, who already has four Olympic titles, said: "I'm going to continue to the next Olympics and try for a fifth."

I hate to sound ageist but come 2016 he'll be 36 (Hoy retired a month after turning 37) and come 2020 He'll be knocking on 40...
Is he really expecting to stay competitive in track for another 7 years?

Of course before any of that He's got a pretty significant change in body / muscle mass to address before going back to the track.
Riding the 2014 tour and then going back to the track essentially only leaves what ~18 - 20 months for him to Qualify and prepare for Rio. why not cut his losses ditch the tour and give himself an extra year to focus on the track, if that's where he see's his future?

2016 a tenuous maybe

2020 there will be certainly stronger younger riders after his spot, very doubtful IMO...

Riding the 2014 tour and then going back to the track essentially only leaves what ~18 - 20 months for him to Qualify and prepare for Rio. why not cut his losses ditch the tour and give himself an extra year to focus on the track, if that's where he see's his future?

I think his plan is to concentrate on classics next year, so he'll be bulking up a bit this winter anyway.

Frankly the guy could retire now and still feel extremely good about what he's achieved.

No one is perfect, but he's done a huge amount for both the image of cycling and British cycling in particular.

Cookeaa I think he means try for a 5th title, at the next games.

you know what, that would make more sense... 🙄

I'll go back to sleep now...

Frankly the guy could retire now and still feel extremely good about what he's achieved.

No one is perfect, but he's done a huge amount for both the image of cycling and British cycling in particular.

This/\

how much do people want? Golds, TDF winner, National Icon and all with style. Deserves a sit down with a glass of Baileys IMO.

Successful sports people are often very committed and focused. It 's not such a huge surprise that Froome, Wiggins and others have big egos. It is probably for that reason they have given up drinking, whenching and lying on the sofa for other things.
So, at the end of the TdF Wiggo was distracted. So what - he had just won it. Miller didn't like it - some would say miller shouldn't have been riding ....
Wiggo had to put. Up with some serous whining from Froome's bint. If I was a finely honed athlete , I might take exception to a glorified groupie telling the world that her squeeze was better ...

If Froome wanted to express an opinion then he should have MTFU and done it himself.

Wiggins did a great job. As did Froome. And once again we Brits try and belittle them cos they achieved something

is the decision about further achievements, or a better work/life balance.

Deserves a sit down with a glass of Baileys IMO.

Maybe he enjoys it?

Deserves a sit down with a glass of Baileys IMO.

And a fag.

I'd go with a better work/life balance soobalias. It's already been strongly rumored that he won't be riding another gt in his career...TT world champion is realistically the only attainable target left for him. I know there's talk of him having a pop at Roubaix-not a chance in hell of him winning it imo.

If Froome wanted to express an opinion then he should have MTFU and done it himself.

I think he did that over the summer pretty emphatically. Leading from the front and attacking on the climbs.

So, at the end of the TdF Wiggo was distracted. So what - he had just won it. Miller didn't like it

I think you're confusing the events - the reference to Miller was from the 2009 tour when he finished (retrospectively) third.

It is probably for that reason they have given up drinking, whenching and lying on the sofa for other things.

He may not lie on the sofa as much as the rest of us, but he doesn't seem shy of throwing alcohol down his neck, and who's to say he isn't a player with the ladies.

Yep Millar whinged when Wig go wouldn't do a turn on the front on the champs in 2009. 2012 Wig go did when of the best turns you'll ever see a couple of Kim's for the finish on the final stage.

Don't know where this 'concentrating on the classics' thing comes from (has he said it?) but its got to be a total non-starter IMO. He's got virtually no pedigree as a one day racer and you don't pick that up in a year. Or with a power meter for that matter.

I think he did that over the summer pretty emphatically. Leading from the front and attacking on the climbs.

That Wiggens and his sneaky leading from the back technique - not everyone can get away with it! 🙂

Yup, he did. Didn't say he didn't. He delivered.
I would just rather see it coming from the organ grinder not the monkey .... which happened this year

Don't know where this 'concentrating on the classics' thing comes from

He's hinted thats what he wants to do. He loves the history, he's said more than once he'd love to win Paris Roubaix.

I know there's talk of him having a pop at Roubaix-not a chance in hell of him winning it imo.

I think, if he focuses his training, he's got a chance of a good finish. Why Is Spartacus so successful in paris-roubaix? because he has that blast of power, followed by a strong solo run to the finish.

Wiggins - power from the track, strong solo from TTs.

Good luck to him I say , I dont think he has the desire or motivation for any GC titles anymore. It would still be great to see him go for Flanders or Roubaix next year , I think Spartacus double win was my highlight of the year.
It's fairly apparent that Sky have bigger plans for Froome , Porte and Uran than they do for Bradley but no one can take away what Wiggins has done for British Cycling and he deserves respect for that.

I agree stanfree, I'm not a fan of Wiggo particularly but I don't see the need to be as cynical and dismissive as some on this thread.

He might not succeed in the classics but I'd like to see him amd Sky have a go and I wouldn't put it past them.

Of course before any of that He's got a pretty significant change in body / muscle mass to address before going back to the track.

He claims to have put on 7-8kg as prep for this year's TTWC, so it seems it wouldn't be an insurmountable issue - though it's one he does acknowledge himself.

Sky have bigger plans for Froome , Porte and Uran

Uran has signed for Omega Pharma for next season 😉

Classics, I’m not 100% convinced, he was breathing out of his arse on ‘Le Redout’ on Saturday which is a fairly typical classic climb, albeit a tough one, and Sky have better classics riders in Boasson Haggen and Stannard who might not take too kindly to being asked to deputise for someone with no classics pedigree.

Edit: Just had a second thought that my post may seem negative. I agree with some of the others that Wiggo has been a massive figurehead for British cycling and his achievements are IMO unparalleled. For me personally one of the most iconic sporting moments of the last few years was seeing Wiggins in Yellow pulling Cav in the Rainbow jersey up the Champs elysees.

chakaping - Member
That was unexpected.

Eh?

Its in his book, at the end he says 2014 will be his last year on the road then back on the track for a final hurrah at the 2016 Olympics.

Good book too, not as good as Tyler Hamilton's but worth a read.

you should all kneel before him.
the guys a legend. he should be allowed to do what ever the hell he likes. he's the third best British Olympian of all time, won the Tour and came second in the UCI world rankings last year, plus many many other achievements.

I hope he wins whatever he puts his mind to. and whilst there is a lot of chat about cycling 'teams' and camaraderie, it's an individual sport and if he decides to try and win a classic then he probably will.

Good book too, not as good as Tyler Hamilton's

Yeah, but at least Wiggo's book was written clean.

The 2012 Tour de France winner, who already has four Olympic titles, said: "I'm going to continue to the next Olympics and try for a fifth."

Whereas the true quote, not chopped mid-sentence was "I'm going to continue to the next Olympics and try for a fifth gold on the track, that's the plan."

Shoddy BBC again.

[i]No one is perfect, but he's done a huge amount for both the image of cycling and British cycling in particular. [/i]

I grew a pair of sideburns and still have them.

I was going make myself look like a huge lobsided, preying mantice in Froomes honour but the guy just doesn't inspire me as much. I guess I like someone with a bit of a rebel in them.

one of the most iconic sporting moments of the last few years was seeing Wiggins in Yellow pulling Cav in the Rainbow jersey up the Champs elysees

I grew a pair of sideburns and still have them.

+1. Sadly. Though they're now a lot more subtle than his and I've decided I quite like them.

you should all kneel before him.
the guys a legend. he should be allowed to do what ever the hell he likes. he's the third best British Olympian of all time, won the Tour and came second in the UCI world rankings last year, plus many many other achievements.

I hope he wins whatever he puts his mind to. and whilst there is a lot of chat about cycling 'teams' and camaraderie, it's an individual sport and if he decides to try and win a classic then he probably will.

Belgian? Be fair, he's half Aussie