Froome v Wiggins

[smutchin]

So Robin has gone off and decided to start his own gang. He's sick of sitting in the shadows of the caped crusader.
Batman doesn't quite like the idea of joining Robin's gang as he is frickin Batman not Wingman!!

Brilliant. This is the best analysis of the situation I've read yet. Not just here - anywhere.

 

[smutchin]

And another thing... if Wiggo and Froome are the new Hinaut and Lemond, does that make Porte the new Andy Hampsten?

 

[Pedrosanchezo]

It's all very interesting stuff.

Either way team Sky will have to become one complete unflinching, unwavering team come tour time. IMO Wiggins nor Frome can handle an on form Contador without the kind of support Wiggins received in 2012.
Wether or not they will is anyone's guess at this point.

 

[Noodley]

They should both appear on the Jeremy Kyle Show - or Loose Women. Or get Piers Morgan to interview them.

 

[Crackle]

.
Very good analysis by Robert Millar on the situation here which I am inclined to agree with.

I like Millar and that's a great article. He knows a thing or two about the Giro too.

 

[Crackle]

More pertinent perhaps, is why isn't Froome supporting Wiggo in Italy, in order for Wiggo to do the right thing in France?

Just on that. If you recall, Froome was knackered at the Vuelta last year after the Tour and the Olympics. If Sky really think they can do the double they would have taken a different approach. They've planned on not doing a double with one rider, precisely because they think it can't be done. I imagine they still think that and I'd be surprised if Wiggo is designated Tour leader as opposed to backup but in the meantime they're not really losing anything with this kind of coverage.

 

[Boris Bajic]

Just as Luis Suarez's gnashers and our new-found fascination with managers' pay-offs and wine lists have distracted us from the football, so this little ditty distracts from the racing.

At worst it is dirty linen being washed in public, which is undignified and unedifying. I cringed last year when spouses and significant otters were tweeting about the rivalry. It was as cool and dignified as the self-publicising by the Speaker's wife in Westminster. A tweet looking for something to have a view on. Grubby.

At best it is a pro-cycling team trying to whip up a little dust cloud of media interest and to associate in the mind of Joe Punter the Giro (largely ignored outside cycling circles) and the Tour (on which everyone who has ever seen a bicycle is a self-appointed expert).

It might add a little frisson during the Tour (it probably will if both riders start and stay in the race) but at one level it's all a little Prost/Senna or Vettel/Webber or Villeneuve/Pironi.

I am one of the mugs who didn't think Wiggins would take to the road too well and didn't see him as a GT winner even after his strong showing in LA's last Tour, so I know nothing. Most people I know had him down as a TdF winner from the off. They hadn't heard of the Giro, so didn't have a view on that.

As a neutral, I'd like to see an unfancied rider come through and do a number on Sky, but that isn't really how the TdF works. Sky look strong right though the squad and have the management in place to win both, with whichever rider.

I'm looking forward to both races nonetheless. It's like summer again....

 

[400bhp]

At best it is a pro-cycling team trying to whip up a little dust cloud of media interest and to associate in the mind of Joe Punter the Giro (largely ignored outside cycling circles) and the Tour (on which everyone who has ever seen a bicycle is a self-appointed expert).

Hadn't thought of that

 

[Monsieur Remings]

The point is that Froome worked hard for Wiggins in last year's TdF. When he came to ride the Vuelta he ended up exhausted and unable to manage a spot on the podium.

If Froome rode the Giro for Wiggins, I could see him being exhausted for this year's TdF, and I can also see Wiggins being exhausted at the TdF himself having gone flat out in the Giro.

Not many people have managed to do well in 2 Grand Tours back-to-back, and I reckon that many of the few that did may well have been assisted by more than just team mates! (Pantani, for sure.)

Wiggins seems to think he can cope with 2 Grand Tours on the trot, but Froome certainly burned out when he tried it.

I agree, but perhaps this is all the more reason for them both to be there for both tours? Last year Froome was knackered for sure but the great unknown is how much better/worse they'd have done with Wiggins there too..?

Likewise this year, they obviously think Wiggins is capable of riding well at them both so why not Froome too? There are no Olympics this year and I'd imagine he's capable (Froome) if Wiggins is, that's all.

I still think they'll need each other to be decisive in either, just like last year

 

[ColinJ]

I really thought that there seemed to be a lot of friction between the two of them at the Tour last year and it only seems to have got worse. I think the WAGS/Twitter thing is pretty silly. Obviously, their partners are free to say whatever they like but I would have a quiet word and ask mine not to do it.

I can see the idea of 'insurance' but having 2 young men with massive drive and ambition in the same team is asking for trouble.

 

[dragon72]

"young ... with massive drive and ambition" - every professional sportsperson ever

 

[ColinJ]

"young ... with massive drive and ambition" - every professional sportsperson ever

Okay - I forgot the 'immensely talented'! No problem with drive and ambition in a team as long as there are not 2 Alpha males fighting to be top dog.

 

[Rob3rt]

Am I the only one who doesn't really care?

 

[Dave Davenport]

Am I the only one who doesn't really care?

Posting in this thread? Most likely.

 

[400bhp]

Okay - I forgot the 'immensely talented'! No problem with drive and ambition in a team as long as there are not 2 Alpha males fighting to be top dog.

No Colin, there's Wiggins and everyone else