Yes, Wiggins finished 9th in the Paris Roubaix earlier in the year on a much longer stage with 3 times as many cobbles.
Tour de France 2014 in UK
- Thread starter Cosimo
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Yes, Wiggins finished 9th in the Paris Roubaix earlier in the year on a much longer stage with 3 times as many cobbles.
It was a longer harder course but it also wasn't raining. It's the rain that's caused the problems today.
Yep, there's no point in speculating what Wiggins could or could not have done.
I'm looking forward to seeing Porte riding for himself
He did quite well today to make up time on most of the other favourites.
Soldato
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Is it wrong that I'm glad Froome is out? Serves Brailsford right for not including Wiggins in the squad, and gives Porte a chance to show what he has.
Yes it is wrong it's not really Brailsford who is suffering it is Chris Froome and the rest of the team. Wiggins is asuch to blame as anyone for his omission.
Hope Porte is up for it or team sky will have a long few weeks with nothing to show a bit like ofqs.
I hope so.
Porte is the better rider.
Past results dont really mean anything because most of the time they were both sacrificing themselves for their team leaders.
Geraint's best result (31st) came in the 2011 tour when Wiggins was leader and crashed out in the first week so he had more opportunity to ride for himself. Geraint had the white jersey at the time so the team tried to help him keep it but he lost time in the mountains.
This Porte destroyed himself time and time again for Froome last year will be interesting to see what he can do with the team working for him, he seems to be in decent form and is still well in contention.
Not sure Thomas will ever quite make it as a GC rider on the tour he's not really strong enough in the mountains! Can see him moving to a team that will let him chase stage wins as he certainly has that in him.
Just seen this article on Team Sky website.
Looks like they had already decided that Porte would become the leader before the stage even started. After hurting his wrist yesterday, they didnt think Froome would be able to keep up over the cobbles anyway:
Looks like they had already decided that Porte would become the leader before the stage even started. After hurting his wrist yesterday, they didnt think Froome would be able to keep up over the cobbles anyway:
Richie Porte said:
It's a shame for the race that Froome is out, he's a great competitor even if his style is dull to watch compared to Contador and Nibali.
I don't think Porte can win, top 5 perhaps, I'd expect GT to top 10 if he was leader, he's slightly better than Porte on the flatter stages but would lose out in the mountains I think.
My worry would be the lack of racing Porte has had this year, a few abandons too, but Nibali hasn't won anything apart from the Italian champs (I think) in 2014 and he's going ok.....
Personally I would have taken Wiggins instead of one of the lesser domestique riders, but there you go.
I don't think Porte can win, top 5 perhaps, I'd expect GT to top 10 if he was leader, he's slightly better than Porte on the flatter stages but would lose out in the mountains I think.
My worry would be the lack of racing Porte has had this year, a few abandons too, but Nibali hasn't won anything apart from the Italian champs (I think) in 2014 and he's going ok.....
Personally I would have taken Wiggins instead of one of the lesser domestique riders, but there you go.
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Disastrous stage for quite a few guys yesterday, Nibali's tour to lose now with the advantage he eeked out yesterday, the way he took advantage on the cobbles was very impressive, seems to be coming on form at the perfect time. Porte making his way back to make up some time was also good to see.
Yes it was bad for Froome, but Sky have RP in reserve, who has shown he has what it takes to smash himself apart, will be interesting to see how he gets on getting full team support. Wiggins has won before, but looking at his recent form, you can see why he wasn't taken, he would have got absolutely battered in the mountains, and his TT results have not exactly been encouraging, and not exactly renowned for his bike handling skills either.
Yes it was bad for Froome, but Sky have RP in reserve, who has shown he has what it takes to smash himself apart, will be interesting to see how he gets on getting full team support. Wiggins has won before, but looking at his recent form, you can see why he wasn't taken, he would have got absolutely battered in the mountains, and his TT results have not exactly been encouraging, and not exactly renowned for his bike handling skills either.
Wiggins beat GT at the British TT champs, in the rain, so his bike handling isn't that bad. He also kept up with him at PR so goes well on the cobbles. The only reason for not picking him is that they must really hate him at Sky now!
His climbing, he climbed almost all of Mt Diablo at the TOC on his own with no team on the front of the peloton then only got gapped right at the top. Where was the battering in the mountains when he won the TDF?
He's been one of the best Sky riders this season, Froome and Porte haven't exactly had stellar seasons...
Soldato
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On merit, Wiggins deserved to be at the Tour and Sky deserve a lot of stick for mismanaging the situation to the extent that he couldn't be in the team for harmony reasons.
However, a short TT in the rain is very different to a road stage and recent form suggests Wiggins suffers in those conditions, thinking specifically of the Worlds and the Giro last year. When you look at the pedigree of the guys that finished in the top 10 of yesterday's stage, they're all either former MTB/cyclocross riders, cobble specialists or epic bike handlers. Wiggins is none of those.
However, a short TT in the rain is very different to a road stage and recent form suggests Wiggins suffers in those conditions, thinking specifically of the Worlds and the Giro last year. When you look at the pedigree of the guys that finished in the top 10 of yesterday's stage, they're all either former MTB/cyclocross riders, cobble specialists or epic bike handlers. Wiggins is none of those.
Cav and frome out now, my interest in the tour has dropped
Really? This is what it used to be like every year!
Personally I hope nibbles wins - really like him as a rider - not afraid to attack uphill or down, and his TT'ing has improved hugely too.
Its going to be fascinating in the mountains, as Contador is going to have to attack in the early mountains to try and grab a few seconds on each - the gap is too big to leave it until the last few days.
Best start to a tour in years this, although I am still gutted about Cav (I was watching in Harrogate on stage 1)
I am disappointed that we have lost the main British contingents. But I agree, it has been one of the best starts to a tour in a few years. There are already some large time gaps which should make things really interesting once we get to the mountains.