What Is Sir Bradley up to?

[Stonechat]

I have an idea for a New Look Tour. What we do is line up every contestant and each one gets to choose a rider who he thinks is better than him. We send home those not chosen and then get the other riders' to go through the process again until we arrive at the one everyone thinks is better than them. This way we eliminate all that sweat and crowds gathering on mountain tops oh! and of course competition. Maillot Jaune decided by committee not commitment.

McQuaid would probably the mna running it

 

[ColinJ]

I have an idea for a New Look Tour. What we do is line up every contestant and each one gets to choose a rider who he thinks is better than him. We send home those not chosen and then get the other riders' to go through the process again until we arrive at the one everyone thinks is better than them. This way we eliminate all that sweat and crowds gathering on mountain tops oh! and of course competition. Maillot Jaune decided by committee not commitment.

Either that, or we could just stick them all on Wattbikes to find out who is the fittest. There would be none of that unsportsmanlike drafting, selfish riding tactics, or crazy downhill risk-taking to worry about. Imagine the thrill of watching scores of sweaty stationary pro cyclists gathered in a large air-conditioned hall, spinning away to a pumping Trance soundtrack, with images of glorious Alpine scenery projected onto a huge screen in front of them!

 

[Crackle]

Well then, Brad states he is back on track for the next Olympics, that Chris Froome is likely a better GC rider than him and that he is unlikely to ride another Tour de France.

I know he's only won one TdF but mentally I have him down for three. 2009, when he came 4th 3rd, beaten by one confirmed and one dubious rider, 2011, when he broke his collarbone, I reckon he'd have won that year and of course 2012. That puts him amongst the greats of the TdF, plus his gold medals, an astonishing career by anyone's standards. Let's see what's left.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

I agree with Inner Ring on this one - Wiggins has clearly done some serious thinking and decided that he's going to put his family first. So it's shorter races, TTs and the track and not GTs. Apparently even before the Giro this year he decided to spend more time with his family rather than go back to Tenerife. Clearly that was one of the things that did for him. He's acknowledged that Froome is the better GT rider, is younger and also has no kids - Wiggins can't compete with that combination and in case, he'll always be the first British guy to win the Tour.

 

[Pedrosanchezo]

Think he has maybe just lost a bit of the hunger for it. He wanted nothing more than to one day win the TDF - he did that and it's well documented that this cost him precious time with his family. If he has simply asked himself if he is willing to sacrifice all of that again then the answer is prevalent in his future goals. He isn't as young and, having already achieved his greatest goal, he doesn't believe in going through everything that comes with becoming a GC contender.

Besides with Froome now in the form of his life Wiggins would have to train and be absent from his family at least as much as he wasin 2012, perhaps more.

Whatever he does i believe he will be successful.

 

[smutchin]

only won one TdF

Only. Heh.

but mentally I have him down for three. 2009, when he came 4th 3rd, beaten by one confirmed and one dubious rider, 2011, when he broke his collarbone, I reckon he'd have won that year

I thought he was a dead cert for 2011 but, well, that's bike racing... so I know what you mean but on principle, I can't really agree. I mean, I've always thought Lemond could have won six TdFs... but he didn't.

2009 is a moot point.

 

[Stonechat]

Agree it is sad in a way but things have moved on and he is right to take that on board. Yes I think working with Chris Sutton was the real catalyst for getting him to the position where he was a real tdf contender.

But he has had a magnificent career

Chapeau Wiggo

 

[ColinJ]

I've always thought Lemond could have won six TdFs... but he didn't.

Well, he could have if ...

• He hadn't been a loyal super-domestique to The Badger in 1985
• Had his guts blasted out by his brother-in-law in 1987 causing him to miss that Tour and also the 1988 edition
• Been riding clean when EPO abuse became widespread in the peloton after his 1990 win

 

[Crackle]

I thought he was a dead cert for 2011 but, well, that's bike racing... so I know what you mean but on principle, I can't really agree. I mean, I've always thought Lemond could have won six TdFs... but he didn't.

2009 is a moot point.

Yeah but could've, would've, should've is the heartbeat of a forum, so on those forum principles, I'm sticking to my guns, though I'll admit we could extend the three principles to quite a few more riders.

 

[oldroadman]

Agree it is sad in a way but things have moved on and he is right to take that on board. Yes I think working with Chris Sutton was the real catalyst for getting him to the position where he was a real tdf contender.

But he has had a magnificent career

Chapeau Wiggo

Er, Chris Sutton, you mean Shane I guess. Chris is about 20+ years younger...

 

[Pedrosanchezo]

Read in Cycling weekly today that Wiggins is retiring from the road in 2014 and seeing out his remaining year with Sky. He will then focus on track racing due to the completely different natures between road racing and track. Main point being that he will be overweight as a track rider and that puts an end to any GC ideas. His GC days are apparently over for good.

Maybe see him support Froome next TDF then that will be it from Wiggo RE the road.

 

[ColinJ]

I know what you mean, but it sounds wrong put that way. At his ideal weight for the track, he would be way overweight as a GC road rider!

 

[smutchin]

Interesting. An attempt at the Hour seems increasingly likely.

Wonder if he'll still be able to cut it on the track though. He'll be up against some young and very hungry whippersnappers.

 

[Pedrosanchezo]

I know what you mean, but it sounds wrong put that way. At his ideal weight for the track, he would be way overweight as a GC road rider!

Yeh i didn't mean he would be a fatty.

I mean he will have more muscle and won't be the usual anorexic GC rider anymore.

 

[MisterStan]

Interesting. An attempt at the Hour seems increasingly likely.

Wonder if he'll still be able to cut it on the track though. He'll be up against some young and very hungry whippersnappers.

Is he not on the road?