Giro d'Italia 2013, 4th-26th May - [Spoilers]

[tug benson]

Interesting that BBC story. So last weeks Froome says as far as he is aware he is the TdF leader, they ride for him. This week Wiggins is shooting for a Giro-TdF double. There may be mind games, but it aint Sky who's doing it.

Not just froome saying that he`ll be leader at the tour

Team Sky coach Tim Kerrison backed up Froome's position, adding that Wiggins's focus will fall on May's Giro d'Italia.
"We go into the race with the rider who we believe has the best chance of delivering as the designated leader," Kerrison said.
"For the moment, we are preparing Bradley to lead the Giro and we are preparing Chris Froome to be the leader at the Tour de France.
"As we get closer to the event, we will have a look again at the form of all our riders and make sure we have the strongest team to win the yellow jersey again."

 

[Peteaud]

Froome says one thing, Brad says another, sky have it all planned out and then some imho.

The other teams have to plan to have 2 or more plans.....

Or

Or its in team fighting and squalbling, which to be fair i doubt.

 

[Crackle]

I thought this was settled some time ago, as shown by the two different preparations they've both done. This seems unseemly to me, strikes me as Wiggo changing his mind and using his weight to get his way. I'd like to see how he does in the Giro first.

 

[thom]

To be fair to Brad (having suggested he might be better off saying nothing), his interview on C4 news was more diplomatic. He didn't sound like a egocentric diva, rather a professional bike racer who was doing the rounds of promoting his Giro attempt. He talked about how the Giro would be a tougher task than the Tour last year and that he needed to take on a different challenge to motivate himself after last year. Regarding the tour, he does say he'd like to be able to go for it but he's pretty clear that he'll accept whatever the decision on what is best for the team.

Edit - but I agree with @Crackle - this is unseemly and even if it is the press trying to create a story, SKY would be better off without this conjecture,

 

[Strathlubnaig]

L'Equipe is also reporting the same, so not just the BBC interpretation.

 

[tigger]

This does seem exaggerated by the press. If you listen to Brad's interviews he is more reasoned. That said, I can't help but think he is short of his target form for the Giro (too much booze and pop star fame post Olympics) and perhaps he feels he may ride into better shape by July. So he wants a second option if the numbers read well? He did look surprisingly out of shape at Oman and quite chubby in the start of season team photos.

 

[tigger]

L'Equipe is also reporting the same, so not just the BBC interpretation.

They probably read the BBC one!

 

[Strathlubnaig]

They probably read the BBC one!

somehow I do not think the premier French sports newspaper will rely on the BBC and it's very much part time interest in things cycling for it's stories.

 

[Chris Norton]

There was me thinking wiggo looked pretty good in the trentino until the mechanical. Until the racing starts we don't know.

 

[tigger]

There was me thinking wiggo looked pretty good in the trentino until the mechanical. Until the racing starts we don't know.

I think he looked good too. Indeed! It's all if buts and maybes!

 

[kedab]

I think he looked good too. Indeed! It's all if buts and maybes!

and all adds to the mystery and intrigue

 

[Slaav]

My take on this is that there are tensions in the team between Brad and Froome.

To me, it seems obvious. But that is (to be fair) based on the TdF and the Olympics stuff.... and their various interviews. It appears to me that they are both piling pressure on the SKY management to get the nod.

I also think that DB is OK with this

Imagine a brilliant team where if these two balls up, you have to sell out and go for one of the others - Porte for example

Bottom line is that competition simply raises standards. If I were to liken it to rugby and the Lions' No 10, then surely having two massive characters competing for the top birth is a good thing? If they both buy in to the team ethic then the TEAM will win - regardless of who starts; if someone loses form and has bought in to the team ethic, then they will 100% support the team for the win etc etc

Of course - the issue is TEAM is bigger than the individual??? and there was a doubt about that in the TdF 2012

 

[smutchin]

Look, Brad Wiggins is one of the very best bike racers in the world at the moment. Of course he thinks he can win everything and that he should be given that opportunity.

Chris Froome is also one of the best bike riders in the world at the moment, and knows he could have won the Tour last year, and the Vuelta in 2011, if a few things had been different.

You don't get to be that successful if you don't have the drive and ambition to win everything. Of course there are going to be tensions when you have two such talents on the same team.

But you also don't get to be that successful if you let your ego override your professionalism. And both Wiggins and Froome are intelligent enough to know that.

If Wiggo wants to go against team orders and try to win the Tour, he'll probably end up like Tommy Voeckler - loved by the housewives for his "panache" but ultimately not as successful as he could have been.

 

[Radchenister]

I would have thought the 'team orders' would still be fluid regarding the TdeF - any strategist worth their salt shouldn't write off the possibilities yet; all likely subject to how future events pan out here (Gd'I) and in the run up to it (TdeF) - might be we're forward projecting more than they are ?

Although my inkling is that Sir Wiggo might be bigging it up a bit before the Giro, psyching out the opposition prize fighter style.

 

[Keith Oates]

We will see next week once the Giro is underway and then actions will speak louder than words!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!