Chapeau Wiggins

crumliniano

Critics answered.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2012/jul/13/bradley-wiggins-dope-drugs?CMP=twt_gu

Nice to see he yellow jersey addressing this as he should.

moby2101

Great piece, thanks for posting the link...
He's not the most likeable guy in the tour, but I have to say that article has definitely changed my opinion of him, hopefully when the tour gets into the Pyrenees it will heat up like last year.

Chapeau.

elduggo

Its a nonsense article really, and misses the point. The point is not whether or not Bradley is doping. Its a black and white thing, hes clean unless something is ever proved to the contrary, and no one can go making unfounded allegations.

The point is that, because of how tarnished the sport has been in its recent history, particularly in relation to this race, people have (arguably rightly so) gotten more cynical. Naturally the question will be asked, and who more in the firing line for such questions than the yellow jersey wearer.

As anticipated, Bradley was asked. His attitude when those questions were asked was pathetic. This article doesn't change a thing in that regard. It merely addresses allegations which people had no right to level directly against him.

crumliniano

elduggo wrote: »

Its a nonsense article really, and misses the point. The point is not whether or not Bradley is doping. Its a black and white thing, hes clean unless something is ever proved to the contrary, and no one can go making unfounded allegations.

The point is that, because of how tarnished the sport has been in its recent history, particularly in relation to this race, people have (arguably rightly so) gotten more cynical. Naturally the question will be asked, and who more in the firing line for such questions than the yellow jersey wearer.

As anticipated, Bradley was asked. His attitude when those questions were asked was pathetic. This article doesn't change a thing in that regard. It merely addresses allegations which people had no right to level directly against him.

I disagree. It does two things, (1) responds in a calmer manner to the questions he lost the head to in the press conference the other day and (2) at least shows that he still holds the same opinions he was so vocal about before. Of course nothing but tests proves anything conclusively, but a rider vocally expressing these views at least makes it easier to believe in him.

Chips Lovell

I read it yesterday. It's a good piece. But I find it disappointing that he was pressured into writing it. I much preferred his initial reaction.

TheBlaaMan

Yeah I read this yesterday and was please to see him address the issues that he so badly f*(#ed up in the press conference. I suspect he regretted his answers fairly quickly, but at least he got a bit animated - thats something we should be grateful for.

Morrisseeee

His explanation of the 'attitude' differences between the UK & France/Italy/Spain is interesting, it's akin to the Irish Catholic guilt complex:

I don't care what people say, the attitude to doping in the UK is different to in Italy or France maybe, where a rider like Richard Virenque can dope, be caught, be banned, come back and be a national hero.

If I doped I would potentially stand to lose everything. It's a long list. My reputation, my livelihood, my marriage, my family, my house. Everything I have achieved, my Olympic medals, my world titles, the CBE I was given. I would have to take my children to the school gates in a small Lancashire village with everyone looking at me, knowing I had cheated, knowing I had, perhaps, won the Tour de France, but then been caught. I remember in 2007 throwing that Cofidis kit in the bin at that small airport, where no one knew me, because I didn't want any chance of being associated with doping. Then I imagine how it would be in a tiny community where everyone knows everyone

I'm just wondering tho, if the scenario arose whereby a (current) teammate was found to have broken the rules, would he feel guilty and hand back his Yellow jersey ?!

Winning the Tour de France at any cost is not worth the possibility of losing all that.
If I felt I had to take drugs, I would rather stop tomorrow, go and ride club 10-mile time trials, ride to the cafe on Sundays, and work in Tesco stacking shelves.

Lumen

I want to see him throwing tables. Also, I can't help wondering whether his use of the c word is an ironic post-feminist statement.

Hermy

Morrisseeee wrote: »

His explanation of the 'attitude' differences between the UK & France/Italy/Spain is interesting...

I think it's a bit of a nonsense to be honest. It's not as if Britain doesn't have it's far share of dopers in sport. The whole piece reeks of a P.R. exercise.

blobbie

Hermy wrote: »

Morrisseeee wrote: »

His explanation of the 'attitude' differences between the UK & France/Italy/Spain is interesting...

I think it's a bit of a nonsense to be honest. It's not as if Britain doesn't have it's far share of dopers in sport. The whole piece reeks of a P.R. exercise.

+1.

Lumen

His point wasn't that Britain doesn't have dopers, it was that they lose hero status when they're caught. There is a real sense of shame associated with it.

Hermy

Lumen wrote: »

...it was that they lose hero status when they're caught...

Like Simpson and Millar - I don't think so!

SWL

Morrisseeee wrote: »

His explanation of the 'attitude' differences between the UK & France/Italy/Spain is interesting, it's akin to the Irish Catholic guilt complex:



I'm just wondering tho, if the scenario arose whereby a (current) teammate was found to have broken the rules, would he feel guilty and hand back his Yellow jersey ?!

The extract from the article you posted is nonsense, David Millar immediately comes to mind or maybe Dwain Chambers in athletics both drug cheats and both going to the Olympics for GB.

I agree with @Hermy it’s a PR exercise as many fans in the UK are sceptical and disappointed with his initial reaction.

Also the journalist didn't as Bradley was he doping, he stated that people believe that you can't win the TdF unless you are doping, Wiggins reacted as if the journalists had accused him directly of PED, had he reacted with the above sentiments it would have been more professional for the sport and shown Wiggins to be a class act on and off the bike.

BQQ

Hermy wrote: »

I think it's a bit of a nonsense to be honest. It's not as if Britain doesn't have it's far share of dopers in sport. The whole piece reeks of a P.R. exercise.

What's he supposed to do?

He blows up in the press conference and gets criticised.
He addresses the question in a calmer, more thoughtful fashion and gets criticised.
Seems he can't win either way.

Personally, I'm glad he did this.
I hated his reaction in the press conference. It was so reminicient of how Lance bullied anyone who questioned him. I never doubted Wiggins until then.
I'm prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt now

Hermy

BQQ wrote: »

What's he supposed to do?

Something credible.

BQQ

Hermy wrote: »

Something credible.

For example?

Bearing in mind he's in the middle of the biggest race of his life.

Hermy

He's a professional cyclist leading the biggest race on the planet and if he needs me to tell him how to conduct himself in a press conference during said event then me or him is in the wrong job.:P

titan18

Typical PR piece tbh. I found it interesting that his argument was I have too much to lose, rather than it's just wrong and it's cheating. In regards, the Britain thing, I remember Americans saying similar in regards to their guys that they don't dope, it's only those Spanish,Italians etc.

Morrisseeee

Maybe a case of : would the real Wiggins please stand up !

You say it's nonsense SWL/Hermy, but I disagree, I think it's a personal thing with him, I really think he feels that way, ie. the shame of it if he was caught on drugs/doping.

I agree that this was a PR excercise, but you see how the 'outburst' & 'this' co-exist, and while I don't condone the outburst (as he is a role-model), you can see what his emotions are & where he stands on the whole 'doping thing'.

It'd be fair funny or a major LOL if he was subsequently caught :eek::pac:

I guess this year (with all his results) is a bit like 'rabbit in the headlights'. He's familiar to the media scrum/circus but maybe this year it's all gone a bit mental ! especially as he is a quiet individual, not too dissimilar to Indurain, I'm willing to bet that Wiggo's demise (from winning everything) will be swift and we'll be wondering what all the fuss was about !
/note: this last comment is a personal outlook & you may or may not agree with it

Hermy

Morrisseeee wrote: »

You say it's nonsense SWL/Hermy, but I disagree, I think it's a personal thing with him, I really think he feels that way, ie. the shame of it if he was caught on drugs/doping.

Yeah, I'd agree that Wiggo personally really couldn't live with the shame of doping. But his suggestion that it's a British thing is a bit much. There is a notion that the Brits are inclined to fall on their sword but I think that that has more to do with the media witch hunt that ensues when someone famous gets caught doing something they shouldn't, and in a lot of cases these people - politicians, celebs, footballers, whoever - are usually welcomed back into the fold once the dust settles. Hence my mention of Millar previously.

titan18

Morrisseeee wrote: »

Maybe a case of : would the real Wiggins please stand up !

You say it's nonsense SWL/Hermy, but I disagree, I think it's a personal thing with him, I really think he feels that way, ie. the shame of it if he was caught on drugs/doping.

I agree that this was a PR excercise, but you see how the 'outburst' & 'this' co-exist, and while I don't condone the outburst (as he is a role-model), you can see what his emotions are & where he stands on the whole 'doping thing'.

It'd be fair funny or a major LOL if he was subsequently caught :eek::pac:

I guess this year (with all his results) is a bit like 'rabbit in the headlights'. He's familiar to the media scrum/circus but maybe this year it's all gone a bit mental ! especially as he is a quiet individual, not too dissimilar to Indurain, I'm willing to bet that Wiggo's demise (from winning everything) will be swift and we'll be wondering what all the fuss was about !

Even if he was on something, the UCI probably would do everything they could to keep it hush. The amount of money Sky bring into the sport is probably way ahead of anything they've ever got from a team. I mean, as the article says, Wiggins has a lot to lose, but the UCI would lose more, and they've never seemed too bothered at cleaning up the sport sadly.

Not saying he is or anything, just that he can come out with pr crap like that all he wants, but he's got a very small chance of getting caught imo.

BQQ

Hermy wrote: »

He's a professional cyclist leading the biggest race on the planet and if he needs me to tell him how to conduct himself in a press conference during said event then me or him is in the wrong job.:P

Like I said, I hated what he did in the press conference.

The article is pretty much how he should have responded at the time.
You're criticising it as a PR exercise. What I'm asking is, what more do you expect from him now?
Not, How should he conduct himself in a Press conference?

Hermy

BQQ wrote: »

Like I said, I hated what he did in the press conference.

The article is pretty much how he should have responded at the time.
You're criticising it as a PR exercise. What I'm asking is, what more do you expect from him now?
Not, How should he conduct himself in a Press conference?

I suppose from my standpoint the damage has already been done. I don't know that there is anything he can do. The sport is still struggling to clean up it's image and hopes that Wiggins, Garmin et al would help in the clean up have been derailed slightly by Wiggo's outburst and the teams association with Geert Leinders. The saga continues.:(

ROK ON

I think that Wiggo had a very definite point with regard to national attitude toward doping.
It is not seen as something that is legacy destroying in the countries he mentioned. I know several Italians that simply accept doping - it is not perceived as an issue. I have been told by ex-colleagues from Italy that doping is rife in amateur athletics and cycling. It is ingrained and accepted.

As regards Spain, the Spanish Prime Minister interfered in the Contador case FFS. I get the sense with Spanish sporting authorities that in the face o doping allegations they don the jersey and assume that the world is against them.

Contrast that with the reputation of Michelle De Bruin/Cian OConnor here and Linford Chritie, Ben Johnson etc. Anglo Saxon cultures have a very different morality when it comes to doping and ones sporting legacy -(obviously there are many other forms of cheating that are perfectly acceptable in Anglo Saxon sporting society).

For Wiggins to dope is different than Valverde, Contador or say Pantani. Very verydifferent.

Chips Lovell

Agree with ROK_ON. Don't have experience of Italy, but having spent a lot of time in Spain, I can say the public attitude to doping is very different there. People genuinely don't think of it as that much of a big deal.

Lumen

Hermy wrote: »

Like Simpson and Millar - I don't think so!

Outside of cycling Lindford Christie is a good example. He was a massive sports celebrity before he got done for nandrolone, since then he's been very isolated.

Anyway, the Wiggo/Sky-bashers will never be happy. When he lets rip he's being unprofessional, when he gives a considered written rebuttal it's dismissed as PR, despite being very personal.

crumliniano

The press conference was unfortunate and while the blog may be a PR exercise it is the right message, better late than never. I don't remember any other tour leader making such a direct and correct statement on doping. I don't think he could have done any more in the middle of the race. I admit the GB thing was unnecessary though and I immediately thought of Millar when reading it. I guess the difference between Millar and some of the others mentioned is at least he is repentant. Don't think he should be on the Olympic team though, and as a matter of fact I seem to remember Wiggins saying the same before the team was announced.

titan18

crumliniano wrote: »

The press conference was unfortunate and while the blog may be a PR exercise it is the right message, better late than never. I don't remember any other tour leader making such a direct and correct statement on doping. I don't think he could have done any more in the middle of the race. I admit the GB thing was unnecessary though and I immediately thought of Millar when reading it. I guess the difference between Millar and some of the others mentioned is at least he is repentant. Don't think he should be on the Olympic team though, and as a matter of fact I seem to remember Wiggins saying the same before the team was announced.

“If you consider my situation: A guy who comes back from arguably, you know, a death sentence, why would i then enter into a sport and dope myself up and risk my life again? That's crazy. I would never do that. No. No way.” lance armstrong

Probably more credible about why you wouldn't dope tbh, and that doesn't appear to be going too well with the USADA case atm. Just in regards someone big saying something on doping.

Also, I'd see a similar attitude in Americans to the British in doping. It's generally a case of who's after doing the doping, rather than one attitude, although I'd agree the Spanish and Italian attitudes aren't great in regards to it.

JRant

Until people see the honest riders standing up and outting the cheats then I'm afraid they have nobody to blame but themselves. Wiggin's words are just lip service if you ask me. There are still to many people involved with teams who have a less than credible reputation and to expect people to believe all is good now is a bit much.
The truth is however that the bike companies, who make a fortune of us fans don't really care, and until that changes nothing will.

Morrisseeee

JRant wrote: »

The truth is however that the bike companies, who make a fortune of us fans don't really care, and until that changes nothing will.

Could you expand on that point, I'm a little confused

titan18

Morrisseeee wrote: »

Could you expand on that point, I'm a little confused

I think he means, although not sure, that sponsors want the team to do well, and the team managers will push their riders too far in some cases in order to get that success so that the sponsorship is there e.g Landis saying there was team wide doping program at Phonak, the amount of doping confessions that came out from T-Mobile, and the stuff that came out about Rabo condoning doping http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/rabobank-tolerated-doping-on-cycling-team-de-rooy-claims

I'd imagine a lot of riders in the peleton knew who was taking something especially when there are riders on your own team taking stuff. If they don't come out and say it, or are punished for doing that e.g Simeoni in 2004, then the sport will never be clean, as a lot of people will take the chance to be successful and get new contracts etc

I know all that doesn't have much to with Wiggins, but if Wiggins and Sky were serious about being this clean and transparent team, they shouldn't have hired Leinders, and it's a bit much for Wiggins to block Kimmage joining the team, or even blocking Shane Stokes on twitter for interviewing Kimmage about Sky and Wiggins

elduggo

Morrisseeee wrote: »

I think it's a personal thing with him, I really think he feels that way, ie. the shame of it if he was caught on drugs/doping.

I sincerely hope he wasn't saying that.

elduggo

titan18 wrote: »

I think he means, although not sure, that sponsors want the team to do well, and the team managers will push their riders too far in some cases in order to get that success so that the sponsorship is there e.g Landis saying there was team wide doping program at Phonak, the amount of doping confessions that came out from T-Mobile, and the stuff that came out about Rabo condoning doping http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/rabobank-tolerated-doping-on-cycling-team-de-rooy-claims

I'd imagine a lot of riders in the peleton knew who was taking something especially when there are riders on your own team taking stuff. If they don't come out and say it, or are punished for doing that e.g Simeoni in 2004, then the sport will never be clean, as a lot of people will take the chance to be successful and get new contracts etc

I know all that doesn't have much to with Wiggins, but if Wiggins and Sky were serious about being this clean and transparent team, they shouldn't have hired Leinders, and it's a bit much for Wiggins to block Kimmage joining the team, or even blocking Shane Stokes on twitter for interviewing Kimmage about Sky and Wiggins

Also, regardless of all the scandals down the year, the sport continued, often with the same sponsors. It was the riders who were hung out to dry, and sure why not, other riders will take their place.

I was in Germany recently where I couldn't find live coverage on terrestrial TV of a tour stage, no doubt the legacy of Patrick Sinkewitz. When T-mobile pulled their sponsorship they still had to honour their contract and funded the Colombia (later HTC) team. There were big names on that team so of course a new sponsor would want to get involved.

It was the sport in its entirety that needed to be sanctioned. Maybe something like pulling their participation in the Olympics. I don't know the answer, but obviously sanctioning the whole sport just wasn't possible given the scale.

And to the present day, the sport is undoubtedly cleaner, but given the recent arrest of Remy diGregorio, the suggestion is that the problem has far from gone away.

But this is a digression. The original point is that Wiggins is an ass-hole. This article, while noble in its sentiments, does nothing to change my mind about that.

Spins

I'm not sure I like Wiggins as an individual, wouldn't particularly fancy going for a pint with him but I agree with the OP, Chapeau!

mcgratheoin

Decent response from Wiggins, definitely a PR exercise but at least it's a little more respectful and rational than his previous outburst. Just to make a comparison between other athletes, when the same question (that Wiggins threw his toys out of the pram over) was put to Usain Bolt at a press conference, this was his response;

"The sport has been humiliated. People believe that anyone who runs fast is taking drugs. When people say that to me, I understand … all I have to do is stay clean, and over time the talk will stop."

Maybe that would have been a better answer first time around...

crumliniano

titan18 wrote: »

“If you consider my situation: A guy who comes back from arguably, you know, a death sentence, why would i then enter into a sport and dope myself up and risk my life again? That's crazy. I would never do that. No. No way.” lance armstrong

Probably more credible about why you wouldn't dope tbh, and that doesn't appear to be going too well with the USADA case atm. Just in regards someone big saying something on doping.

Fair point. I think the fact that Wiggins was vocal about it prior to his current level of success on the road makes him more credible though. Without anything conclusive either way I guess it comes down to whether or not you trust the guy.

titan18

mcgratheoin wrote: »

Decent response from Wiggins, definitely a PR exercise but at least it's a little more respectful and rational than his previous outburst. Just to make a comparison between other athletes, when the same question (that Wiggins threw his toys out of the pram over) was put to Usain Bolt at a press conference, this was his response;

"The sport has been humiliated. People believe that anyone who runs fast is taking drugs. When people say that to me, I understand … all I have to do is stay clean, and over time the talk will stop."

Maybe that would have been a better answer first time around...

Now, that's a good answer.

mitosis

As always there will be two camps: The one who wants to believe and the one who distrusts. I am with the latter. Over long experience it has become clear to me that mostly nice (clean) guys come last.

Over the last couple of weeks people have used adjectives like "astonishing" "amazing" "incredible" when referring to participants in le Tour.

Incredible is about right. "Smoke" and "Fire" come to mind.

The piece in the OP is smoke and mirrors. As another said, a PR excercise.

I would love to be wrong - I love cycling and the Grand Tours, and I expect people to cheat, but would wish they'd not, or at least not give me tofu and tell me it's steak

mcgratheoin

http://www.srm.de/index.php/gb/srm-blog/tour-de-france/737

Nibali averaged 5.6W/kg on the final climb to finish with Wiggins - 6.5w/kg was regularly seen 10 years ago...

I'd like to see Sky release data like this...

Raam

I don't know if this was linked to already...
http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/07/news/bradley-wiggins-mulls-releasing-blood-data-to-bolster-clean-racing-argument_229792

On Saturday after stage 13, Wiggins said he was considering releasing his blood data for viewing, but also noted the move could generate additional skepticism at the same time.

“I always thought about it,” Wiggins said. “I did it in 2009, and people said I was doped, certain people. So I think whatever you do with the [biological] passport thing, I think it’s a no-win situation.”

Beasty

mitosis wrote: »

As always there will be two camps: The one who wants to believe and the one who distrusts. I am with the latter. Over long experience it has become clear to me that mostly nice (clean) guys come last.

Over the last couple of weeks people have used adjectives like "astonishing" "amazing" "incredible" when referring to participants in le Tour.

Incredible is about right. "Smoke" and "Fire" come to mind.

The piece in the OP is smoke and mirrors. As another said, a PR excercise.

I would love to be wrong - I love cycling and the Grand Tours, and I expect people to cheat, but would wish they'd not, or at least not give me tofu and tell me it's steak

No doping speculation

Any questions (from anyone), PM me, do not respond in-thread

on_the_nickel

Hermy wrote: »

Like Simpson and Millar - I don't think so!

Difference is Wiggins is a household name in Britain. My mates in the UK who know nothing of cycling are taking a real interest in the Tour because of Wiggins.

Simpson may have been well known by sports fans, but Millar was a nobody.

So when he talks about what he could lose - that part I buy.

It's still a pity he didn't write such a strong piece before the Tour, or even this time last week. It's a convincing piece though, although the problem is, for some, he was damned if he did, damned if he didn't come out with it.

Beasty

Like it or not, the guys who are the biggest household names in GB are those who have won gold medals - only Cav of those who have not won Olympic gold is in the "elite league" of current GB cyclists, and I suspect he's probably still on a par with Pendleton and behind Hoy and Wiggins in terms of popularity amongst the non cycling aficionados

JRant

Morrisseeee wrote: »

JRant wrote: »

The truth is however that the bike companies, who make a fortune of us fans don't really care, and until that changes nothing will.

Could you expand on that point, I'm a little confused

I suppose what I'm saying is that if sponsors like the bike manufacturers came together and stated that a rider found guilty of doping was to banned from from using their products in any pro tour in the future, with a zero tolerance approach, things would change pretty quickly. Teams would have to either find new sponsors, extremely difficult at the moment, or not employ these people.
However they want the iconic images of a contador ( insert any number of other dubious characters here) blitzing the peleton on a big mountain top finish etc, because that's what sells to the casual observer. As far as I can see couldn't care less if the rider/sport is clean or not as long as they're making off it.
To be honest, it's all about the benjamins unfortunately.

JRant

titan18 wrote: »

Morrisseeee wrote: »

Could you expand on that point, I'm a little confused

I think he means, although not sure, that sponsors want the team to do well, and the team managers will push their riders too far in some cases in order to get that success so that the sponsorship is there e.g Landis saying there was team wide doping program at Phonak, the amount of doping confessions that came out from T-Mobile, and the stuff that came out about Rabo condoning doping http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/rabobank-tolerated-doping-on-cycling-team-de-rooy-claims

I'd imagine a lot of riders in the peleton knew who was taking something especially when there are riders on your own team taking stuff. If they don't come out and say it, or are punished for doing that e.g Simeoni in 2004, then the sport will never be clean, as a lot of people will take the chance to be successful and get new contracts etc

I know all that doesn't have much to with Wiggins, but if Wiggins and Sky were serious about being this clean and transparent team, they shouldn't have hired Leinders, and it's a bit much for Wiggins to block Kimmage joining the team, or even blocking Shane Stokes on twitter for interviewing Kimmage about Sky and Wiggins

That's along the lines of what I was getting at.
The whole whistleblowing aspect is a key part of the problem though. There's very much a "see no evil, hear no evil" mentality going on. These guys spend so much time together they would have to know if anything untoward was going on. All i can say is that if I was one, busting a gut for years training only to be beaten by cheats I'd be a lot more vocal than 99% of the current bunch.

fishfoodie

BQQ wrote: »

For example?

Bearing in mind he's in the middle of the biggest race of his life.

He could have just said, that if anyone riding for Sky this year tested positive, at any stage, on even an A-Sample, this year, he'd hand back everything he won & would leave the team immediately.

That would buy a lot of credibility with me..

The TdF is a real team effort, even if he were not doping & won, other members might be, & because of the way the Tour works, his victory would be built on the doping of others. I think any team which returns a positive test should be excluded immediately, & banned for the rest of the season.

I don't buy this whole; 'I've too much to lose to dope' crap either; every convicted doper in pretty much every sport could have trotted out this line, Landis, Johnson, Chambers, Armstrong, etc, etc. It's similar to the idiotic idea that, no-one will dope in an Olympic year :rolleyes:, when every Olympics we get doping fails, in multiple sports.

Chips Lovell

I have started wondering whether a lot of the sentiment towards Wiggins is plain old anti-British begrudgery. As a nation, we do have a certain fondness for supporting anyone but the Brits, as it evident in football. Contrast the way Wiggins is regarded with Evans last year. They're both quite similar riders with similar backgrounds in the sport. Yet Wiggins is looked at far more coldly.

mikerd4

This is crazy, its a real damned if you do and damned if you dont approach.

Id be a touch upset if someone questioned me being able to win it without using drugs and cant blame his reaction.

We've had people giving out about Wiggins not being a great cyclist and Froome being better because Wiggins hasn't taken off on his own and used his team to great effect, now people are wary about him!

As for Millar and Simpson, Id say if you asked 1000 people on the streets of Britain who Tom Simpson is you might get a handful of yes's, the same for David Millar. No disrespect they are hardly held up as legends in the pantheon of British sports by the average joe. Unlike the likes of Hoy or now Wiggins and Cavendish (him winning SPOTY for example).
Remember the British Olympic Association had a zero tolerance approach to anyone found to be doping. It was WADA that took legal action against them and made them change the rules (why Chambers and Millar are selected).

MrCreosote

The whole argument is way OTT. Wiggins is a classy competitor- just because he's not all flash-bang fidgety-hopping up and down in the saddle on climbs doesn't take from that. Be great to see him win.

He doesn't need to respond to the sceptics, he already has gone on record in the past about it. Nice that he has mind you, even if it does seem a little forced. I preferred his first answer. People should have waited for some objective evidence, like the power outputs now available- about 10% lower than the early 2000s.

There's going to be dopers in pro cycling always. All we can as for is a race where nondopers can be as competitive as possible, and as interesting as possible. Compare the last 4 years with the snooze-fests from 99-05. I dont buy that this year is any less interesting than last either btw- still far too early to tell.

Colonialboy

here in France on Eurosport , they have a post-stage roundup, runs for about 30 mins, dont think its on the UK+Irl version.
Includes extensive interviews with stage winner and yellow jersey.
Wiggins arrives for the interview after Stage13 in his retro addidas 'London' runners. Talking about how he's into retro fashion etc.

Just amazed me when he finished and the camera panned round there was 3 people and a dog watching on. Poor old Wiggo had to go looking for people to give his autograph to. Id expect there to be a circus of people around watching the yellow jerseys every move especially 15 mins after a stage finish.

The article is pure PR crafted bollix, it in fact shows even more of what a twat he is, that he would allow some PR person to craft this and then put his name to it.

Wiggins wants it all... the yellow jersey without having to race Froome, the publics sympathy without having to be sympathetic to the public, cycling publics idolation without adding real drama to a stage.
Wiggins and Sky have simply replaced 'the hot sauce' with the biggest budget and the best team to push,pull and carry him over the line.

Still its all part of the tour and its great history and cycle racings folklore and how its as much about personality , style and whats going on off hte bike , so I welcome it and I love it

Flandria

Colonialboy wrote: »

The article is pure PR crafted bollix, it in fact shows even more of what a twat he is, that he would allow some PR person to craft this and then put his name to it.

Well he does work for a Murdoch company...;)