Froome v Wiggins

[Rob3rt]

Posting in this thread? Most likely.

So indifference is not a legitimate and voiceable position?

 

[thom]

So indifference is not a legitimate and voiceable position?

Who cares ?

Anyway, twisted spoke's take : Sir Bradley Wiggins : Tour Troublemaker.
There's a comparison to Armstrong trying to out psyche Contador a few years ago.
"Wiggins attitude toward Froome seems like conduct unbefitting of a knight of the empire."

 

[smutchin]

So indifference is not a legitimate and voiceable position?

Hey, it's only your own time you're wasting.

 

[Hont]

If the racing in this year's Tour is anything like as uninteresting as last year's (and that was with a British winner) then I welcome any spat between teammates.

I think Wiggins often makes ill-advised, slightly crass statements e.g. the Man Utd/Wigan comparison when he left Garmin for Sky (remind me which team won a Grand Tour first) and "sorting the wheat from the chaff" when Sky got rid of some dedicated and hard working riders who had done everything asked of them (e.g. Russell Downing). And let's not forget the infamous press conference at the beginning of last year's Tour. So his latest off-message escapade is hardly a surprise.

Right now it seems a stupid distraction for a team trying to win the Giro.

 

[Hont]

FWIW I think Wiggins would have won the Tour last year regardless. No-one is attacking at the bottom of a climb and taking minutes at the top of mountains any more and with no time bonuses where was Froome supposed to find 3'21?

He has a right to defend his title, but if he goes full out for the Giro, I cannot see him being in condition to compete.

 

[Pedrosanchezo]

He talks but not really about Wiggins and Froome.

http://www.teamsky.com/article/0,27290,28850_8685124,00.html

 

[Crankarm]

There appear to be a lot of what ifs.

 

[Strathlubnaig]

I think we have to consider when the grand tours take place, I think a rider can compete in the Giro and the Tour, as at this time of the year they should be at their peak fitness, plus both have changeable weather conditions, where as the Vuelta is near the end of a long season and always energy sapping hot,

some might find this interesting..(from wiki)

Winners of all three Grand Tours
No cyclist has ever won all three Grand Tour events in the same year. Only two cyclists have placed in the top ten at all three Grand Tours in the same year: Geminiani in 1955 and Nencini in 1957.
Only five cyclists have won all three of the Grand Tours during their career:[10]

• Jacques Anquetil (FRA): 5 Tours (1957, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964), 2 Giro (1960, 1964), 1 Vuelta (1963).
• Alberto Contador (ESP): 2 Tours (2007, 2009), 1 Giro (2008), 2 Vueltas (2008, 2012)
• Felice Gimondi (ITA): 1 Tour (1965), 3 Giro (1967, 1969, 1976), 1 Vuelta (1968)
• Bernard Hinault (FRA): 5 Tours (1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1985), 3 Giro (1980, 1982, 1985), 2 Vueltas (1978, 1983)
• Eddy Merckx (BEL): 5 Tours (1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974), 5 Giro (1968, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974), 1 Vuelta (1973)

Only three cyclists have won stages in all three of the Grand Tours in the same year:[11]

• Miguel Poblet (ESP): 1956
• Pierino Baffi (ITA): 1958
• Alessandro Petacchi (ITA): 2003

Winners of two Grand Tours in a year
Nine riders have achieved a double by winning two grand tours in the same year.
Seven cyclists have won the Tour and the Giro in the same year:[10]

• Fausto Coppi (ITA): 1949, 1952
• Jacques Anquetil (FRA): 1964
• Eddy Merckx (BEL): 1970, 1972, 1974
• Bernard Hinault (FRA): 1982, 1985
• Stephen Roche (IRL): 1987
• Miguel Indurain (ESP): 1992, 1993
• Marco Pantani (ITA): 1998

The Tour/Vuelta double has been achieved by two cyclists:[10]

• Jacques Anquetil (FRA): 1963
• Bernard Hinault (FRA): 1978

The Giro/Vuelta double has been achieved by three cyclists:[10]

• Eddy Merckx (BEL): 1973
• Giovanni Battaglin (ITA): 1981
• Alberto Contador (ESP): 2008

Of the above nine, Pantani, Roche and Battaglin's doubles were their only Grand Tour victories in their careers

A more likely double nowadays may be Giro - Vuelta given the Vuelta has moved on to later in the year now.

 

[Monsieur Remings]

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.

Sorry Crackle, didn't see this. Yes, as I responded to Colin, I agree he was knackered, although I wouldn't take anything away from the other riders who worked well together to get the better of him. Like you say, I'd be surprised if Wiggo was to lead in the TDF because of this but I still think - and I may be wrong - that they may need each other to do as well again.

 

[beastie]

Like you say, I'd be surprised if Wiggo was to lead in the TDF because of this but I still think - and I may be wrong - that they may need each other to do as well again.

If Wiggins holds top form for the tour then that is a massive tactical plus fir Sky. Bertie and the rest will need to distance him in the mountains, meaning more attacks, and Catweasel will have to cover them. Cue Clenbutador and JRod launching attacks pulled back by Froome, all the while Wiggins diesel chugging along behind in a steady(but fast) uphill TT. Froome jumps with a couple of K left and the other climbers have to respond. If they go into the red then watch out behind as Wiggins gradually pulls them back.

Froome will need 2 mins maybe( probably a fair bit less) to allow for TT losses. Bertie a bit more. Rodriguez needs to put time in on 3/4 occasions to hold off Froome, Wiggins and Bertie.

Ok pipe dream over. What'll actually happen I have nae idea.

 

[StuAff]

It ain't going to be all over until Lesley Garrett murders the National Anthem.......

 

[ColinJ]

It ain't going to be all over until Lesley Garrett murders the National Anthem.......

I'd forgotten that - blimey, that was a painful thing to witness!

 

[StuAff]

I'd forgotten that - blimey, that was a painful thing to witness!

Not as painful as it was to hear.

 

[redcard]

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

It's the CC equivalent of that orange one in TOWIE falling out with that other orange one in TOWIE, and and all the fans going mad about it.

 

[ColinJ]

Not as painful as it was to hear.

I meant it in the sense of seeing and hearing it. I found it a blood-curdling experience. In fact, I mean a truly blood-curdling experience - I went out for a ride on my bike in the sunshine 20 minutes later and came back after 2 hours suffering from near fatal blood clots!