Bradley Wiggins

PeteinSQ

Would people say that Bradley has performed better than they had expected at the Tour this year? I would, certainly after his performance in the long time trial on the weekend. I think he has made the transition really well.

iainf72

Wouldn't be hard for me to think he did better than expected.

I didn't even think he'd top 10 in the prologue.

Salsiccia

I think he's had a great tour - top 5 in both prologue and time trial, and a stage-long breakaway earlier on. Definitely better than I expected.

jimmythecuckoo

After the stick he took last year and the number of people who have said he will never make it on the road, I think he has more than matched our expectations.

Here are my marks so far for the Brits.

Wegelius - 7/10 not been so visible but has been in contact on the mountain stages and deserves the chance to ride for himself at some stage.

Millar- 6/10 hasn't been the force we all expected against the watch but has put in some massive turns in the mountains which has been brililant to watch.

Thomas - 9/10 the most impressive Brit for me. He has gone about his business quietly and effectively in probably the most over achieving team in this race.

Wiggins -8/10 Good in the time trials and Jacky Durand in his break... deserves to win a stage.

Cavendish 6/10 Got on camera a lot, but mainly for falling off. Will have learned a lot in readiness for next season.

skut

I think you've underrated Millar. He's been in two breakaways, including one where he solo-ed across from the bunch, and which probably would have made it if it hadn't been for Astana/Moreau.

(Also, I think his TT-ing will improve on Saturday, if his diary is to be believed.)

afx237vi

I've been critical of Wiggins in the past, but fair play to the guy, he's had a very good Tour so far. Two good TT performances, a big solo breakaway, and better than usual performances in the mountains (for a non-climber).

Cofidis haven't had a good Tour, but along with Chavanel, at least he's given their jersey some exposure.

squired

I think Millar has been excellent. He was one of the riders who started and finished the time trial in the heavy rain. As he said in his diary, he took absolutely no risks. I believe he also mentioned how a French paper had the headline that he was the fastest in the wet. If things had been different I'd expect he would have come in ahead of Bradley. His performance in the mountains yesterday shows how well he is riding. Hopefully he will manage a stage win before the end of the race.

Bradley has also been strong. I never thought he'd put in a good performance in a long time trial, especially a couple of weeks into the Tour. I read going into the Tour that he said he'd not done a single training ride of over 3 hours in 2007, so I expected him to be completely knackered by now.

Moose11

I think Wiggens has done pretty well but baring the time trials he hasn't done much but then I dont think anything was expected of him. Millar has been the best Brit so far that I have seen. He's lead the peloton up climbs and been in various attacks.

Melpro

Yep, I agree I think Dave Millar has been the best Brit so far. He did some serious damage yesterday with his long turn at the front.

He is higher placed than any of the others in the GC so you would have to say he is the most successful so far.

Wiggins has been better than expected and hats off to all of them for being visible and getting the exposure.

blackhands

Melpro wrote:

Yep, I agree I think Dave Millar has been the best Brit so far. He did some serious damage yesterday with his long turn at the front.

He is higher placed than any of the others in the GC so you would have to say he is the most successful so far.

No he's not - Charlie Wegelius is 16 minutes in front of him.

jimmythecuckoo

I am not saying Millar has been rubbish, just that some of the other Brits have impressed me more.

Mr Bumble

I really take my hat off to David Millar....

I just hope that he can gun the engine to Victory...

I wonder whether we will see Wiggins and Millar in a break together? It would be like a two up time trial

Melpro

blackhands wrote:

Melpro wrote:

Yep, I agree I think Dave Millar has been the best Brit so far. He did some serious damage yesterday with his long turn at the front.

He is higher placed than any of the others in the GC so you would have to say he is the most successful so far.

No he's not - Charlie Wegelius is 16 minutes in front of him.

Oops schoolboy error on my part - just assumed he was because he has done such a good job so far! :oops:

skavanagh.bikeradar

Wiggins' TT is getting better by the day......

pedalpower

I can't understand those who have constantly criticised Wiggins in comprarison with Millar. Wiggins seems to have had the best of Millar over the last two tours. He's achieved a hell of a lot more than Millar, who's past glories are entirely discredited (his suggestion that he was clean when he won that Timetrial is, in my eyes, about as good as Basso's that he never actually used any of the blood that was stored). Wiggins also seems likeable whereas Millar comes across as arrogant and a bit of an idiot and has said some pretty unpleasant things about Wiggins before.
I'll support Millar because I believe he's clean now but Brad's my favourite and I think he should get a bit more credit.