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oldroadman

Veteran
Location
Ubique
How fickle some people can be...someone who has produced fantastic results for years - right from a track Junior World Champion - to Olympic golds, winning the TdF, and now he's "blown it".
Boris is about right, and every season cannot be brilliant, otherwise all the clever people (not) will be alleging it's all done with illegal methods. As for Wannabee saying he's not a true GC rider, anyone who has been 4th and 1st on TdF, won all manner of other stage races, is not a GC rider? Politely, that is utter spheroids. This guy is the best GC rider this country has produced, with only Robert Millar as a near comparison. Some of us have long memories when a British rider in the pro peloton was unusual, let alone a winning one.
 
How fickle some people can be...someone who has produced fantastic results for years - right from a track Junior World Champion - to Olympic golds, winning the TdF, and now he's "blown it".
Boris is about right, and every season cannot be brilliant, otherwise all the clever people (not) will be alleging it's all done with illegal methods. As for Wannabee saying he's not a true GC rider, anyone who has been 4th and 1st on TdF, won all manner of other stage races, is not a GC rider? Politely, that is utter spheroids. This guy is the best GC rider this country has produced, with only Robert Millar as a near comparison. Some of us have long memories when a British rider in the pro peloton was unusual, let alone a winning one.

I cannot disagree with that (not only because you cite my views) but I do wonder what David Millar might have won without that spell in the wilderness.

After reading his ghosted book (In the dark with my Ego), I fell a little out of love with him, but I remember at the time thinking he was quite a guy and quite a racer.

And those were the fast days, if that's an acceptable euphemism.

This is all with hindsight now proving my original opinion completely wrong, but I did think Millar was the real deal when he was at Cofidis (was it them?).
 

thom

____
Location
The Borough
I agree with your sentiments @oldroadman. Personally I have little idea what I'm doing with my life and I believe most people don't either, so why Wiggo is supposed to have it all mapped out when he gets an injury rather escapes me. I prefer this sort of honesty from him than the line that came out earlier in the year, that he'd show up in Italy to pick up the Giro before collecting the Tour title on his way home.

This guy is the best GC rider this country has produced, with only Robert Millar as a near comparison.

But... going on results to date, it is hard to argue against the first bit however...
Froome I think is the real deal and surely is a good comparison already - 2nd in TdF & Vuelta + 4'th in Vuelta. Millar had 3 2nd places in GTs and a 4'th place. In statistical terms, if Froome wins the TdF then he beats both in my book of GB GC riders. Froome is unlikely to accrue anything approaching Wiggin's track and TT results, making Wiggins all round palmares rather unique in modern (no doping) cycling but Froome to me will shortly be the one with the best GC pedigree. And going on the guardian article here, I think Wiggins has publicly accepted this is most likely too.
 

oldroadman

Veteran
Location
Ubique
I agree with your sentiments @oldroadman. Personally I have little idea what I'm doing with my life and I believe most people don't either, so why Wiggo is supposed to have it all mapped out when he gets an injury rather escapes me. I prefer this sort of honesty from him than the line that came out earlier in the year, that he'd show up in Italy to pick up the Giro before collecting the Tour title on his way home.



But... going on results to date, it is hard to argue against the first bit however...
Froome I think is the real deal and surely is a good comparison already - 2nd in TdF & Vuelta + 4'th in Vuelta. Millar had 3 2nd places in GTs and a 4'th place. In statistical terms, if Froome wins the TdF then he beats both in my book of GB GC riders. Froome is unlikely to accrue anything approaching Wiggin's track and TT results, making Wiggins all round palmares rather unique in modern (no doping) cycling but Froome to me will shortly be the one with the best GC pedigree. And going on the guardian article here, I think Wiggins has publicly accepted this is most likely too.

It's great to have a good discussion, and statiscally Chris Froome may yet turn out to be better still than anyone at stage races. One thing I stand by - given TdF is seen by the public (along with Olympics) as the top race, Brad is the only Brit to have actually won. Millar was a great rider but didn't quite get the win, so places just below Brad. Like you, I think though that Chris Froome has the potential to be top of the heap overall, if his potential is fulfilled, and may well go on to win quite a few GTs in a clean era.
 
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