Professional Cycling For the Fans - Wiggins interview

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/aug/04/bradley-wiggins-interview-donald-mcrae

"It got to the point where I wouldn't have been surprised if they got off their bikes and ended up fighting each other. Everyone knew there was bad blood and it looks like, reading the war on Twitter between them, it's not yet over." - Wiggins on LA/AC

"It got to the point where I wouldn't have been surprised if they got off their bikes and ended up fighting each other. Everyone knew there was bad blood and it looks like, reading the war on Twitter between them, it's not yet over." - Wiggins on LA/AC

You read the entire interview - which was very good and decide to post this crap? This is why this forum is one of the worst on the site.

You read the entire interview - which was very good and decide to post this crap? This is why this forum is one of the worst on the site.

Because this is one of the rare instances that the whole feud/affair is described by a rider in the peloton.

You read the entire interview - which was very good and decide to post this crap? This is why this forum is one of the worst on the site.

Try the SS forum. This one is tame by all respects.

"It would be interesting to ride for someone like Lance but Andy Schleck is going there. And after this Tour I've reached the point where I need to be the leader"

Thats what caught my eye. Does he know something that we do not know. I know there is the rumor that Andy is going to lances team, but does he know more??

gad, man get current with the times. Andy has gone on public record saying he is not going anywhere, his team management has said the same.

[QUOTE=Varns269;9417493

Thats what caught my eye. Does he know something that we do not know. I know there is the rumor that Andy is going to lances team, but does he know more??[/QUOTE]


good lord. He's going nowhere. :crash:

I think it's too easy to forget just how amazing an accomplishment it is to finish the TdF at all, to say nothing of almost getting on the podium.

Wiggins seems like a pretty cool guy; I hope he eventually wins.

You read the entire interview - which was very good and decide to post this crap? This is why this forum is one of the worst on the site.

I liked this forum much better in the early days (May), when there were only like 25 crazies.

I think it's too easy to forget just how amazing an accomplishment it is to finish the TdF at all, to say nothing of almost getting on the podium.

Wiggins seems like a pretty cool guy; I hope he eventually wins.

He's becoming a national hero in his home country, well deserved. Given he's healthy, I'm betting he will be considered a favorite next year. Just imagine if he lost a few more pounds and strengthened his climbing...watch out!

As somebody posted on another thread, it is against UCI rules for a rider or team currently under contract to talk about transferring to another team before I believe September 1st. So Schleck and his team have to say that even if he has other plans. If he is still saying that in October, I will put more stock in it.

Cool interview with Wiggins...its is going to be alot of fun watching him, Contador, and Schleck fight it out in the coming years.

He's becoming a national hero in his home country, well deserved. Given he's healthy, I'm betting he will be considered a favorite next year. Just imagine if he lost a few more pounds and strengthened his climbing...watch out!

He was at 4% body fat this year. He doesn't have room to drop any more pounds without jeopardizing his ability to stay healthy for the whole three weeks.

He was at 4% body fat this year. He doesn't have room to drop any more pounds without jeopardizing his ability to stay healthy for the whole three weeks.

that's what i was thinking...your body starts to eat itself below like 5% doesn't it?

I think the guy is awesome and will be cheering for him next year:thumb:

Between this and that velonews report from another rider, the TdF sounds like pure Hell. These guys are machines. I would never want their jobs.

http://www.velonews.com/article/92423/columbia-highroad-s-michael-barry-gives-an-inside-view-of

This one is about the most horrible day of the Giro. Really scary.

Oh yeah, it was the Giro. Even if I weren't the crappy cyclist I am today, I would never wanna be a pro.

As a side note, I'm really hoping that Wiggins is clean.

As somebody posted on another thread, it is against UCI rules for a rider or team currently under contract to talk about transferring to another team before I believe September 1st. So Schleck and his team have to say that even if he has other plans. If he is still saying that in October, I will put more stock in it.

Cool interview with Wiggins...its is going to be alot of fun watching him, Contador, and Schleck fight it out in the coming years.

Hearing Frank talking about how important it is to honor commitments, like contracts, makes me think it more than blowing smoke. I think Wiggins is more likely to join Sky than Andy to TRS. Still, you could be right.

Why in the world would either Schleck want to go to TRS-80 and take a chance of being caught up in another power struggle that is sure to be poorly managed again by JB? There's no reason. TRS-80 WILL be Sir Lancelot's team and he WILL be the #1 GC guy. Why either brother would want to be involved in that is beyond me.

Yeah, I am not sure if I believe either Schleck will go for 2010, but I have to say Andy would be a fool to pass up the chance to take over the leadership of a LA/JB built team in 2011.

Yeah, I am not sure if I believe either Schleck will go for 2010, but I have to say Andy would be a fool to pass up the chance to take over the leadership of a LA/JB built team in 2011.


Why would any rider capable of a GC win want to be on the same team as LA? Shclecks are happy at Saxo and no reason they should go elsewhere after 2010.

Laggard, Lance is not going to be the lead GC contender for TRS beyond 2010. No way is Lance going to try to win the TdF at age 40. As I said in the previous post, TRS is almost certainly going to be in the top 2-3 strongest teams in any race they ride, and JB is one of the best tacticians in the sport. So why wouldn't somebody like Andy Schleck be interested in riding a team full of strong riders and veteran riders to learn from for a year while being 1 and 1A on the team and then takeover the reins of that team for the foreseeable future in 2011?

Laggard, Lance is not going to be the lead GC contender for TRS beyond 2010.?

I agree with you. You don't believe LA feels the same way, do you?

He was at 4% body fat this year. He doesn't have room to drop any more pounds without jeopardizing his ability to stay healthy for the whole three weeks.

Wow, you know a lot about these guys :geek:

He already retired once. If you read some of what Carmichael says about Lance's training, what he told Lance when they started talking about a comeback was that if Lance came back and raced for 2 years, he would be stronger in year 2 than year 1. I think the plan all along has been to come back for 2 years, get the new team established, then put the new face of the team out there in 2011. I honestly think LA wanted it to be Contador that took over until the whole feud went down after LA came to Astana. Since AC is not an option, the next best available is AS, and I think if he looks at it with clear eyes, AS would be a fool not to jump at the chance.

Wow, you know a lot about these guys :geek:

It was in the article that the OP linked to. Sorry if I remember things I read 5 minutes ago. :p

... Since AC is not an option, the next best available is AS, and I think if he looks at it with clear eyes, AS would be a fool not to jump at the chance.

I'm with you in the first part, but disagree strongly on the 2nd. Who is going to get better than Schleck in the next two years? If there's anyone, the list will be really short. Potentially riding back-up to the old guy would rub any legitimate GC contender the wrong way, even if it's "only" for a year or two. Schleck honors his commitment to Saxobank for another year, rides another Tour as "the man", and entertains a line of teams falling all over themselves trying to woo him away. I could see him considering a move after the 2010 season, but not next year.

d'oh - and what does have to do with Wiggins?

I'm with you in the first part, but disagree strongly on the 2nd. Who is going to get better than Schleck in the next two years? If there's anyone, the list will be really short. Potentially riding back-up to the old guy would rub any legitimate GC contender the wrong way, even if it's "only" for a year or two. Schleck honors his commitment to Saxobank for another year, rides another Tour as "the man", and entertains a line of teams falling all over themselves trying to woo him away. I could see him considering a move after the 2010 season, but not next year.

d'oh - and what does have to do with Wiggins?

What was reported earlier was they wanted Andy, but not Frank. Frank is a valuable rider in his own right.One has to ask why not Frank? It is pretty obvious they work well as a team. But lookin gat the recent antics of Astana the thought that they want Andy, but isolated has to come to mind.

As long as it stays Andy and no Frank I don't see this happening.

What was reported earlier was they wanted Andy, but not Frank. Frank is a valuable rider in his own right.One has to ask why not Frank? It is pretty obvious they work well as a team. But lookin gat the recent antics of Astana the thought that they want Andy, but isolated has to come to mind.

As long as it stays Andy and no Frank I don't see this happening.

after which andy said he had no knowledge of RS's interest and added that he was committed to riding for saxobank thru 2010 and possibly even longer. there never really was a story here.

ed rader

:bang: that whole interview and all we can ****in talk about is more team Radio Shack rumors...

But cycling rumors has nothing compared to soccer rumors ... no team with a billion to splash on 100 million players/riders!

He already retired once. If you read some of what Carmichael says about Lance's training, what he told Lance when they started talking about a comeback was that if Lance came back and raced for 2 years, he would be stronger in year 2 than year 1. I think the plan all along has been to come back for 2 years, get the new team established, then put the new face of the team out there in 2011. I honestly think LA wanted it to be Contador that took over until the whole feud went down after LA came to Astana. Since AC is not an option, the next best available is AS, and I think if he looks at it with clear eyes, AS would be a fool not to jump at the chance.


"Jump at the chance"?! For what, another story of the Young Contender vs. Old Control-Freak, Part 2? I don't think so. All the Andy Schleck to Radio Shack rumors were started by Armstrong people on the internet. FYI, Andy's manager has already stated that there is no way that Andy gets into the same situation as Contador got into this year with Armstrong. Andy has aspirations of winning the Tour. "There is no chance that Frank and Andy will move to Radio Shack," says Giovanni Lombardi, the former professional rider-turned-agent who represents both Schleck brothers.

Italian press reports alleged that Andy Schleck wasn't even aware of the apparent interest from Armstrong's team, however. "I'll serve my contract with Saxo until after 2010. And I will still ride the Vuelta to prepare for the world championships," he said.

It was in the article that the OP linked to. Sorry if I remember things I read 5 minutes ago. :p

Still...since there isn't an emoticon for know-it-all, smarty-pants...:geek:

:bang: that whole interview and all we can ****in talk about is more team Radio Shack rumors...

+1, and now the usual suspects have arrived at the thread...

Maybe we can turn it back around? I for one was really interested to hear about how run down Wiggins' body was. It sounds like riding a Grand Tour leaves the GC guys a shell of their former self. Now I understand better why Menchov good not ride well after the Giro, and I am that much more impressed by those who have one two grand tours in a year.

Wiggins is an interesting cat. He is very matter of fact about his goals, but not in an overly arrogant way. SOmething about the way he comes off surprises me, but I like him.

+1, and now the usual suspects have arrived at the thread...

Maybe we can turn it back around? I for one was really interested to hear about how run down Wiggins' body was. It sounds like riding a Grand Tour leaves the GC guys a shell of their former self. Now I understand better why Menchov good not ride well after the Giro, and I am that much more impressed by those who have one two grand tours in a year.

Wiggins is an interesting cat. He is very matter of fact about his goals, but not in an overly arrogant way. SOmething about the way he comes off surprises me, but I like him.

Grinding away for 21 days ...

Wiggins had tremendous mental strength, judging by the way he pushed himself up Ventoux.
Seems he wants to be team leader now - Team Sky beckons.

I wonder if the Grand Tours are bad for an athlete's long-term health or if they're back to normal after a few weeks. Like, would they be shortening their lives doing something so strenuous for so many days?

They used to say that riding a GT took something like one year off a riders lifespan. Not sure if that's accurate or how they could measure it.

"And yet Voet adores cycling, accepting the heroic Faustian pact that the riders have made to endure the diabolical torment. Their life expectancy is roughly 15 years less than the average: the heart hypertrophies, the blood thickens (especially with erythropoietin), the lungs expand, and too much time in the saddle can lead to peripheral nerve damage and impotence. Some cyclists, with the fitness of racehorses, have died in their sleep. And some are unquestionably "clean" - such as Christophe Bassons, the innocent who was ostracised by other cyclists for refusing to comply with the doping regime and quit the Tour de France in 1999. "

Sorry. Can't refind the source.

Wiggins has a great book, "In Pursuit of Glory". I highly recommend it.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/In-Pursuit-of-Glory/Bradley-Wiggins/e/9780752898636/?itm=1

I agree. I would love to see great success for someone like Wiggins, but I don't see him winning the Tour. Sure, he's got a few years left, but he's about as light as he's going to safely get and any lighter would sacrifice some of his climbing ability. Great time trialer, no doubt. He has to be on a bit of a stronger team. It's possible, but I don't see him doing any better than 2nd or 3rd.

How about Merkx? He won all three tours one year and did much of it by being at the head of the train and driving the pace. What an engine!

It was a different world back then...teams are stronger and their tactics have evolved so much more.

It was a different world back then...teams are stronger and their tactics have evolved so much more.

Incorrect

So you are saying that a bunch of guys with no radios, less in the way of team cars and support and who didn't spend all year training together worked better together as a team and yet Merckx still spent all the time at the front just because he could? BS. You are the one who is "incorrect". Could Contador spend all day at the front? Probably? Why doesn't he? Because he doesn't have to...he has a team to do it for him. Times have changed, teams have changed...if any lead GC contender spent all day leading up front every day these days, the other teams would work together to make his life hell and blow him up.

So you are saying that a bunch of guys with no radios, less in the way of team cars and support and who didn't spend all year training together worked better together as a team and yet Merckx still spent all the time at the front just because he could? BS. You are the one who is "incorrect". Could Contador spend all day at the front? Probably? Why doesn't he? Because he doesn't have to...he has a team to do it for him. Times have changed, teams have changed...if any lead GC contender spent all day leading up front every day these days, the other teams would work together to make his life hell and blow him up.

Racing was pretty much 1 man for himself back then ...

Right...which is why a guy like Merckx being the strongest rider could sit up front all day...he didn't have to worry about other teams ganging up on him. A rider trying that today would be destroyed by other teams constantly attacking him.

nice article. Wiggins comes across as a nice level headed guy with plenty of respect for the history of British cycling. Of course winning 3 Olympic gold medals helps with that.