luxroadie

A few days ago he is in the press stating Cavendish can't win the green jersey and the Olympics.

Then he says it is either him for yellow or Cav for green (not making that up ... even though Cav hasn't announced).

Now he's saying he can win both Tour and Olympic medals ... now he's referring to track disciplines and they don't come as soon after TdF as Road Race - it is the first medal I've heard and comes about four days after Paris.

But it almost sounds like Wiggins is trying to get into Cavs head!

OrionKhan

Well, he's an accomplished track cyclist. But as for the yellow talk, he's got a ways to go. At 31, he's probably not going to improve his climbing. Like A. Schleck has a deficiency in time trialing, Wiggins has a deficiency in climbing. And before anyone jumps in...Wiggins can climb well, but not with the best. Just like Andy can TT well, but not with the best. That's what is keeping both of them from winning the TdF.

If Cav is with Sky next season, there TdF roster and strategy is going to be interesting. Its hard to field a team to win the yellow and green. for example, if Wiggins ends up in yellow or close to it, do the still go hard on flat stages to win sprints?

chasm54

It's understandable that Wiggo is conflicted about next year. He's a multiple world champion and gold medallist on the track, and the GB team would certainly like him in the team pursuit. He believes he can win the TdF. I disagree, but he has a point. He's in year three of a long-term project to adapt his physique to GT racing, and may still have potential to improve. As for his climbing, the TdF doesn't generally include the ridculous gradients one sees on the Zoncolan and the Angliru and very few people can put much time into him on the more gradual alpine climbs. So while I might be sceptical, you can see why he would be ambitious; and it is very difficult to deny that he has a good shot at the podium.

As for the relationship with Cav, it broke down for a while after the last Olympics when Cav thought Wiggo let him down in the Madison. But on the evidence of the World's it seems to be back in good repair. I've rarely seen a top rider bury himself as effectively for a teammate as Wiggo did that day. So I don't think he's trying to get into Cav's head or manipulate the situation, I think he is genuinely torn, wants to do everything, and is trying to persuade himself that it's possible.

As for Sky's team selection for next year's TdF, it's going to be interesting. Wiggins, Cavendish, Boasson Hagen, Thomas, Froome, Porte, Eisel(?), and who else? Stannard? Flecha? I guess you could have Thomas, Eisel, Porte, Stannard and EBH looking after Cav on the sprint stages, EBH going for stage wins on the lumpier sections, Froome and Wiggins looking after one another in the mountains, and every man for himself in the ITT. Or you could try to accommodate Froome's new-found ambitions by splitting the team and targeting the Giro for him. They have a phenomenal squad, anyway, lots of decent riders in addition to those I have mentioned.

DXchulo

Wiggins should just focus on the Olympics. He has a much better shot to do damage there and it seems like it will get him more press in Great Britain than anything other than a TDF victory, which is highly unlikely for him.

The Giro and Tour route announcements are coming soon, so we should get an idea of how hard the Tour is going to be. I wonder if they'll make it a little easier hoping that guys will ride the whole thing. They've already moved it ahead 1 week on the calendar.

chasm54

Very unlikely that he'll do this. He has a hatful of Olympic medals already, and there's no individual pursuit title next year. I can't see him sacrificing the Tour for a Team Pursuit gold.

ultraman6970

No individual pursuit?? Thats one of the most classical track races, interesting. +1 with Chasm... the guy got his medals and probably he dont even have that in his head but the big races on earth, those ones will make him famous, nobody remember an olympic champion but sure u remember who won the tdf. I dont know if there is money in preparing himself for the olympics tho, maybe not.

chasm54

Not just interesting, but disgraceful, in my opinion. The UCI used the excuse of giving the female track events equal time with the men (perfectly fine in itself) to advise the IOC to cut out a number of the classic events. They've also restricted each country to only one competitor per event, which is a bit of a disaster for the Brits, Australians and French, who each have a number of world-class competitors in some disciplines. Chris Hoy might not get to defend his sprint title because he might not be the UK no.1 next year. Imagine the reaction if the USA and Jamaica were restricted to only one runner each in the sprints in track and field, it's absurd.

GrayJay

I think olympic cycling also had to trim a few of their stoggy old-fashion track events that actually required a VO2 max to make way for fast twitch, short attension span BMX racing, gotta keep those fickle gen-X'ers (or is it gen-y now?) interested.

ultraman6970

Darn man... at least the per points race will be over 50 Km ???? 50km of real carnage When I see compilation of the worlds usually they put those tiny match of 10K that are pretty boring because the distance is too short or any other short crap. Cant remember seen a 50Km per point race in while tho...

Probably the idea is to give more chances to more countries that I agree with but that will leave many people out right away. Well many countries don't even have people able to qualify for the events..

paperbackwriter

I can see him winning the Tour if Contador is banned. Sure he still won't be the biggest favo but his climbing was pretty good this season. If in good shape he can stay with the leaders on tempo climbs and even hurt some of them. On stuff that suits him less, he knows how to limit his losses. And GC guys in the Tour tend to not be very aggresive, Andy usually tries to win on a single mountain stage, Cudddles is Cuddles even if he learned to take responsibility- their way of doing things more or less suits Wiggo. IMO he should focus on it, he clearly wants it more (which makes sense) and it's far from hopeless. In his situation I think even Tour podium would make him more happy than another Olympic gold. Contador and Andy together can make mountains very hard though and this would favour someone who's a more natural climber...

From sporting point of view, it would have probably been better for everyone if Cav went to Omega Pharma Quick Step but obviously, there's always more to it. It will indeed be very intresting to see how Sky handle this. I think Geraint said he would rather skip the Tour in 2012, do the Giro and prepare for Olympics. And what about Uran/Henao? How many chances will they have and will Rigo get one of the GTs for himself? Probably only if they want a fit Froome to help Wiggins in the Tour. It would be unfortunate if for example Boasson Hagen had to sacrifice himself completely for both Wiggo and Cav, he's too good for that (same for Thomas if he ends up doing the Tour after all).

LemondFanForeve

He's probably just doing this to get some press, dont read into it too much. Probably saying this stuff, to get a rise out of folks. Cav can win the TDF, but so can a few other guys. Dont forget about Cadel.

Cat4Lifer

When did you get a hold of Wiggins' stash?

chasm54

That'll be why, after winning the world championship, he said "I can never win the GC at the Tour de France, so this is the pinnacle of the sport for me.."

Paperbackwriter I agree about EBH, he really needs to be somewhere he can lead the team. The trouble is that Sky can pay more than the other teams at present.

LemondFanForeve

I just think hes saying this to get a rise out of folks. Maybe he can/ maybe he cant win it. Hes definitely getting people talking.