Stage 8 saw the emergence of a new French talent, the passion of his DS and a display of Bradley Wiggins’ gift for profanity. I will speak about Wiggo in a moment, but first let me say that Pinot’s victory was a delight that was made even more delightful by the sight of his DS Marc Madiot hanging out the team car window and screaming like a pledging freshman full of vodka and Shasta. Madiot’s an outspoken guy and if his "terrier out for a Sunday ride" performance from yesterday is any indication, he’s a pretty passionate guy also.
Stage 8 also saw the pack winnowed down to a small group of contenders, once again Sky was well represented with Froome and Wiggo in the lead group. Nibali and Cadel Evans were able to sit in, and Cadel was even able to try and attack Wiggins on the run in to the finish. So far Sky hasn’t been able to drop the Aussie, and their work at the front has actually provided Cadel with opportunities to attack. Granted he’s been reeled in every time, but he’s taking his shots. He’ll need to keep doing this, because today’s TT could really see Wiggins bounce ahead.
Which brings me to Wiggins post-race press conference. An AP reporter basically asked Wiggo what he thought about what haters on Twitter were saying about the resemblance of Sky to US Postal (that’s not a good comparison in this day and age…), and he used very naughty British words to reply. From cycling news.
"They are just f***ing w*****s. I cannot be doing with people like that. It justifies their own bone-idleness because they can’t ever imagine applying themselves to anything in their lives. It’s easy for them to sit under a pseudonym on Twitter rather than get off their arses in their own life and apply themselves and work hard at something and achieve something, and that’s ultimately it. C***s!"
For those who cannot decipher asterisks, the missing letters are "uck" "anker" and "unt". It’s more common in the UK to drop the "see you next Tuesday" but over here in America, it freaks people out, that curse word is the atom bomb. I’m pretty sure Wiggo knows this, but I think he was caught up in the heat of the moment, and reacting to what he perceived as "haters hatin’ ".
The problem with Wiggo’s reaction is that the question, while irritating, is a valid one, let’s review the last ten Tour winners, shall we?
2002 – Lance Armstrong (um, nothing to see here, let’s move on)
2003 – Lance Armstrong (now I’m getting bitter)
2004 – Lance Armstrong (jealousy building)
2005 – Lance Armstrong (well, now I can’t take time to start a vendetta!)
2006 – Floyd Landis (crap)
2007 – Alberto Contador (he got to keep this title)
2008 – Carlos Sastre (ah, a simpler time)
2009 – Alberto Contador (little known fact, he kept this title also)
2010 – Alberto Contador (this is his "where’s the beef" year)
2011 – Cadel Evans
So, out of the last ten Tours, only two of them have no investigated or sanctioned riders as the winners. That’s a 20% rate of not being on something. To not ask the doping question of the Tour leader would be negligent. The question needs to be asked, if for no other reason then to get it out of the way. Wiggins took the question personally, which is his right, but he has to realize that the questioner is just playing the odds, as sad as they are.
Wiggo’s wig out brings up another issue—he’s losing his cool—and we have 12 stages left. If he didn’t like being asked irritating questions before, how is he going to handle 13 more days of them? It’s almost as if Wiggo and "don’t step on my dog" Cadel have changed bodies. Cadel used to have trouble with press attention, and while he’s no Cipo now, he’s handling the press better. If I were Jim Ochowitz, I would be starting up anonymous Twitter account to bug Wiggo by the dozens, (is @sittinonmyarse or @f***ingw*****s taken?) because it seems to work.
Has anyone actually seen or heard this? The portrayal is that he’s red in the face, ranting and raving(‘losing his cool’) when it may have been rather more flippant. (it’s noted above that us Brits are rather more casual about that sort of language)
I also read it as a pop at those who insist he can’t be clean, rather than the journalist asking the question.
Yes I agree. I can see that it is maybe the 10th time Wiggins was asked a doping question, but calling people haters and lazy not working wankers go’s a bit too far. And as you said, we have enough reasons to be critical.
I must admit it did remind me as well of the US\ Postal times. On the other hand, we all know having the yellow jersey gives strength to a team. Seen that with rabo, we saw it last year and probably every year.
To have people cheering Wiggins on for this tirade annoys me though. It is a lack of control and he needs all the control and calmness he can get.
I really hope team sky is clean and I will be cheering Wiggins on even though he called me a lazy wankerish cunt. 😉
Third strike though and he is out.
Here’s why: Explain Richie Porte riding former grand tour winners off his wheel? All his past results? Love to know how they are outsmarting the other teams’ programs.
You have a point. I remember the guys in US Postal were all so excellent when they were in that team, climbing the mountains with the best of the GC’s but when they changed teams they sucked. Weird huh? But no….. according to Wiggins we are not allowed to be a bit suspicious which we have enough reasons to be.
Basso? Valverde?
I wonder why they might not be as good as they used to be.
Wiggins finished 4th in the Tour 3 years ago without any decent preparation. The following year was a big disappointment. Last year he trained really well & won the Dauphine. He was doing well last year until his crash forced him out of the Tour.
Wiggins has always been very anti drugs & this is something that really irritates him. He & his Sky team mates have worked amazingly hard to get his climbing to a decent standard. There are plenty of articles in the British press about his training programme in Tenerife. The team rides to Wiggins’ strength i.e. a high temp for a prolonged duration. As a climber he could never be compared to someone like Contador but he can certainly maintain good steady speed on all but the steepest inclines.
Also I believe it would be an absolute disaster for Sky to be involved in doping. As a large broadcasting company the implications of this would have a massive negative effect on the company.
Here in the UK we are amused with Wiggins’ response & his popularity will no doubt have soared. This is great in a non cycling country with no pedigree outside the track.
Come on Wiggo!!!
…is a good rider. he did very well in the Giro as a neo-pro a couple of years back so his form isn’t totally coming out of nowhere.
I’ll admit that Saturday’s performance brought back memories of US Postal. It was very dominant. Although I would point out that due to injuries/illness/withdrawals/suspensions the field this year is significantly weaker than those of the last few years. We wouldn’t be comparing them to US Postal if Schleck and Contador were around because they would have torn the stage to pieces at the end. If your biggest threats on a mountain stage are Evans and Nibali then it’s a bit easier to look so good.
All that said I wouldn’t bet against anyone in pro cycling taking the drugs so it’s a fair question to ask.
http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/05/news/lequipe-publishes-list-of-ucis-doping-suspicions-from-2010-tour-de-france_172784
“Those in categories six and above (6-10) showed “overwhelming†evidence of some kind of doping, due to “recurring anomaliesâ€, “enormous variations†in parameters, and even the “identification of doping products or methodsâ€, according to L’Equipe.
and of course Freiburg clinic
for having above expected performances. So basically, a rider is suspicious unless they start their road career at a certain level of performance and never deviate? Even if they had previously been concentrating almost exclusively on the track? (Geraint Thomas for example)
Also look at some of the names who only make the lower levels. Some of our favourite usual suspects in there.
Finally, it’s a list made by the UCI, who are known for their consistent application of anti-doping procedures of course.
Lance looks a lot different here: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/armstrong_sues_to_block_doping_charges_51VfSZAzKZG6pFtb4FE6KN
when i hear the name wiggins, i keep thinking of twiggy from buck rogers.
“wiggy wiggy wiggy, heyyyyyy, buck.”
wiggo?
George Will: climate change denier
to Mengoni.
armstrong still gets angry when he gets a doping question.
Armstrong to Angry Birds.
Wraaaaawwck!
I know Wiggo is a decent time trialist….but crushing Cancellara by almost a minute? Pardon me for being a f**king w**ker, but something doesn’t seem right here.
http://www.esquire.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/wolverine.jpg
Wiggins is a bit better than a decent time trialist. He’s a WR holder in the team pursuit, as well as having a closet full of individual olympic and world championship medals.
If you look back at the best time trialists of the last british wave they were pursuit champions.
@ lucas cogset.
In regard to beating cancellara, take a look at the TT stage profile and then think back on how many stages FC rode at the front. He defended yellow for more stages than anybody that didnt win it. You can now put your torches and pitchfork away.
For Evans – I’m with TJ Vangrdrn on the subject. I think Cadel can crack him. Cadel and Nibali together, there’s no doubt Wiggs will be isolated. you can count on it. I dont think Wiggins has the gas to weather vicious time sucking attacks on steep long drags. If Cadel burns’em and then in subsequent stages digs more time on him, Wiggins TT advantage will be challenged. there are F I V E mountainous stages still to come. I dont think wiggs and his team will be able to control the affairs for F I V E mountain stages.
Did Cofidis have a whole basement full of cow blood and and bedrooms full of needles ? It must have been something really stinky before someone of des policiers et gendarmes de l’Office central contre les atteintes à l’environnement et à la santé publique lifts a FRENCH coureur from his bed . Anyway, I do not think he has that good stuff Wiggo has since he is only number thirty something
I suppose to be at the top of the sport and be clean is so all time consuming as well as being 100% committed mentally and physically. If having achieved this you’re constantly hearing whispers and direct questions about doping above all else the feeling will be that everyone thinks your cheating. All he can do is not test positive which is never enough for some people. We need to give winners the benefit of the doubt and cheer their wins until proved otherwise.
major-league asshole. today, he stared back at nibali after crossing the finish line, mocking the italian’s earlier attack. of course, with his fucked up british eyes, nibali could not tell which eye was doing the mocking:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/people/marty_feldman_person_page.shtml
Shmaltz, why did you only go back 10 years? go a little further and you can add Pantani, Riis, and Ullrich to your list of Tour winning dopers. instead of 8 out of 10 you get 14 out the last 16 as asterisked winners.
Math is easier when you only go back 10 years, and an astute reader reminded that Contador won one of his Tours due to Razzy getting popped. How the hell could I forget that?
“Also I believe it would be an absolute disaster for Sky to be involved in doping. As a large broadcasting company the implications of this would have a massive negative effect on the company.”
A Murdoch-controlled company engaged in unethical and illegal activities? Outrageous. Unprecedented.