does Bradley Wiggins stand a chance?

stagehopper

paulcuthbert wrote:

RichN95 wrote:

Contador gets mentioned a lot and ITV usually have an interview with him, but they get more time with Wiggins and don't need a translator

I can't be the only person to find Bradley Wiggins HUGELY boring, can i? He could at least be happy about his position. He's as dour as a cows ars*

What's happened to your twotter account? Deleted it after Cadel Evans called you out earlier?

paulcuthbert

Yes

SpaceJunk

paulcuthbert wrote:

He's doing well. But I hate the fact that the British media are (as always) only talking about British interest at the Tour. None of them mention the Kreuzigers, the Contadors, the Voigts...

For example, ITV4s highlights coverage today was made up of nearly all Wiggins coverage. A 5 minute interview at the start, 2 minutes action- then commercials. And it was the same at the end of the stage.

So a British rider can finally cut it with the top GC guys. Big deal! It's about bloody time... Nicholas Roche has finished in the Top 5 on 2 stages and he doesn't get a look in. Pathetic British media!

ps. Phil Liggett called Wiggins the "hero of the stage", right after Armstrong had spectacularly closed a 2km gap on the leaders. Wiggins had ridden tempo all day. Go figure!

Umm, the gap was 30 odd seconds not 2 kms.

Mettan

munroer wrote:

I don't believe Wiggins can stick with Contador when he's really pushing hard, but Brad showed today that A. schleck, Evans and pretty much everyone else is unable to drop him when he doesn't want to be dropped.

Andy didn't try "too hard" to drop Brad yesterday - the Schleck brothers did some modest accelerations to test the waters - most contenders were feeling ok enough (clearly) so they gave up, and took it steady to the top - today's much more brutal. It'd be a miracle if Brad summits the last col with Andy and Bert today. But then again, miracles have happened already.

paulcuthbert

SpaceJunk wrote:

paulcuthbert wrote:

He's doing well. But I hate the fact that the British media are (as always) only talking about British interest at the Tour. None of them mention the Kreuzigers, the Contadors, the Voigts...

For example, ITV4s highlights coverage today was made up of nearly all Wiggins coverage. A 5 minute interview at the start, 2 minutes action- then commercials. And it was the same at the end of the stage.

So a British rider can finally cut it with the top GC guys. Big deal! It's about bloody time... Nicholas Roche has finished in the Top 5 on 2 stages and he doesn't get a look in. Pathetic British media!

ps. Phil Liggett called Wiggins the "hero of the stage", right after Armstrong had spectacularly closed a 2km gap on the leaders. Wiggins had ridden tempo all day. Go figure!

Umm, the gap was 30 odd seconds not 2 kms.

Which was closed in 2km

Moomaloid

paulcuthbert wrote:

RichN95 wrote:

Contador gets mentioned a lot and ITV usually have an interview with him, but they get more time with Wiggins and don't need a translator

I can't be the only person to find Bradley Wiggins HUGELY boring, can i? He could at least be happy about his position. He's as dour as a cows ars*

You don't make sense. U moan about the lack of british media coverage in another post and then moan that too much attention is being paid to Wiggins. Damn right we are getting lots of Wiggins anf rightly so. He's british and he's performing so much better than anyone expected and actually challenging right up there for the win. Of course thay are gonna cover him.

Why should they cover Roman? he's done jack sh*t in this tour. Also if you watch tour coverage in any country, they concentrate extra features on their own riders. common sense.

Wiggo is def not boring, i think he's cool as a cucumber and is doing evrything he can to stay on top of his emotions. He looks like he wants to scream in delight half the time but is keeping it corked.

Kléber

Remember that Wiggins has actually attacked several times. He had a go yesterday, he tried to shake the others on the road to Verbier and took a flyer right at the end in Arcalis. This is strong stuff, we have not seen the likes of Armstrong, Kloeden or Nibali try this.

paulcuthbert

Moomaloid wrote:

paulcuthbert wrote:

RichN95 wrote:

Contador gets mentioned a lot and ITV usually have an interview with him, but they get more time with Wiggins and don't need a translator

I can't be the only person to find Bradley Wiggins HUGELY boring, can i? He could at least be happy about his position. He's as dour as a cows ars*

You don't make sense. U moan about the lack of british media coverage in another post and then moan that too much attention is being paid to Wiggins. Damn right we are getting lots of Wiggins anf rightly so. He's british and he's performing so much better than anyone expected and actually challenging right up there for the win. Of course thay are gonna cover him.

Why should they cover Roman? he's done jack sh*t in this tour. Also if you watch tour coverage in any country, they concentrate extra features on their own riders. common sense.

Wiggo is def not boring, i think he's cool as a cucumber and is doing evrything he can to stay on top of his emotions. He looks like he wants to scream in delight half the time but is keeping it corked.

When did I ever claim to be British? Yes, I watch the coverage on a British channel, but that doesn't mean I want to be bombarded with British this, and British that. And I know for a fact that I can't be the only one thinking this!

It's not "coverage" if it's only focussing on one rider- that's my problem.

Anonymous

Robert Millar finished 4th, not on the podium as in GC...

paulcuthbert

NapoleonD wrote:

Robert Millar finished 4th, not on the podium as in GC...

He was still on the podium as KoM

Slow Downcp

paulcuthbert wrote:

Which was closed in 2km

Not the same thing - closing a 2km gap would mean that he was 2km down, not 200 metres.

paulcuthbert

Slow Downcp wrote:

paulcuthbert wrote:

Which was closed in 2km

Not the same thing - closing a 2km gap would mean that he was 2km down, not 200 metres.

So tell cyclingnews.com that, not me

Moomaloid

paulcuthbert wrote:

Moomaloid wrote:

paulcuthbert wrote:

RichN95 wrote:

Contador gets mentioned a lot and ITV usually have an interview with him, but they get more time with Wiggins and don't need a translator

I can't be the only person to find Bradley Wiggins HUGELY boring, can i? He could at least be happy about his position. He's as dour as a cows ars*

You don't make sense. U moan about the lack of british media coverage in another post and then moan that too much attention is being paid to Wiggins. Damn right we are getting lots of Wiggins anf rightly so. He's british and he's performing so much better than anyone expected and actually challenging right up there for the win. Of course thay are gonna cover him.

Why should they cover Roman? he's done jack sh*t in this tour. Also if you watch tour coverage in any country, they concentrate extra features on their own riders. common sense.

Wiggo is def not boring, i think he's cool as a cucumber and is doing evrything he can to stay on top of his emotions. He looks like he wants to scream in delight half the time but is keeping it corked.

When did I ever claim to be British? Yes, I watch the coverage on a British channel, but that doesn't mean I want to be bombarded with British this, and British that. And I know for a fact that I can't be the only one thinking this!

It's not "coverage" if it's only focussing on one rider- that's my problem.

But its a British programme... Watch the Spanish coverage and u'll get lots of Bertie... not sure what you expect...

paulcuthbert

Does no one get it that universal coverage is what is needed? I don't want to hear from any of the riders- Just show the racing- not friggin useless interviews with boring riders that take up half the bloody programme!

Paul Sherwen's repetition of everything Phil Liggett has just said is even better than interviewing riders!!

Slow Downcp

paulcuthbert wrote:

Slow Downcp wrote:

paulcuthbert wrote:

Which was closed in 2km

Not the same thing - closing a 2km gap would mean that he was 2km down, not 200 metres.

So tell cyclingnews.com that, not me

I didn't read it there - I read it when you quoted it, and you gave the impression that it was your words, not theirs. You shouldn't quote others (without reference to them) unless you know it's correct.

knedlicky

paulcuthbert wrote:

I hate the fact that the British media are (as always) only talking about British interest at the Tour. None of them mention the Kreuzigers, the Contadors, the Voigts...
... Nicholas Roche has finished in the Top 5 on 2 stages and he doesn't get a look in. Pathetic British media!

I don't greatly disagree with your complaint but I also see reasons why the media concentrates on just a few names, even if I don't like or agree with them all - low public interest and great public ignorance, nationalistic narrow-mindedness, concern about viewing figures and advertising revenue, etc, etc..

But maybe you're anyway over-optimistic to think the British media could give much time to Nicolas Roche. He's not a Brit but has French-Irish (Republic of) dual nationality. In fact, a couple of years ago, before he was permitted to have both nationalities and he had to choose just one, he chose French.
And we know what some Brits think of 'Frenchies'.

paulcuthbert

knedlicky wrote:

paulcuthbert wrote:

I hate the fact that the British media are (as always) only talking about British interest at the Tour. None of them mention the Kreuzigers, the Contadors, the Voigts...
... Nicholas Roche has finished in the Top 5 on 2 stages and he doesn't get a look in. Pathetic British media!

I don't greatly disagree with your complaint but I also see reasons why the media concentrates on just a few names, even if I don't like or agree with them all - low public interest and great public ignorance, nationalistic narrow-mindedness, concern about viewing figures and advertising revenue, etc, etc..

But maybe you're anyway over-optimistic to think the British media could give much time to Nicolas Roche. He's not a Brit but has French-Irish (Republic of) dual nationality. In fact, a couple of years ago, before he was permitted to have both nationalities and he had to choose just one, he chose French.
And we know what some Brits think of 'Frenchies'.

Yes. Less than they do of the Irish. Which is a lot!
Narrow-mindedness is a great way of describing it. You hit the nail on the head there

paulcuthbert

Slow Downcp wrote:

paulcuthbert wrote:

Slow Downcp wrote:

paulcuthbert wrote:

Which was closed in 2km

Not the same thing - closing a 2km gap would mean that he was 2km down, not 200 metres.

So tell cyclingnews.com that, not me

I didn't read it there - I read it when you quoted it, and you gave the impression that it was your words, not theirs. You shouldn't quote others (without reference to them) unless you know it's correct.

Jesus, this is worse than university! Do you want it referenced in the Harvard style of referencing? Should I also add the date and time I referenced the material?

Ease up lads, it!s only a silly forum

sub4

Anyway......

Yellow Jersey wearers seem to raise their game when it comes to the last TT of the race (in recent years, don't cite Fignon at me..), so I would anticipate Contador losing a few seconds at worst (and wouldn't be surprised to see him win the stage, in spite of the flat profile).

More importantly, Brad has got to get through today. If Astana choose to have a go at him it could get difficult. I wouldn't fancy anyone's chances if they try to shell him out on the stage today. It looks like a relentless profile, and the run down to the finish is not that long for chasing.

Courage, Wiggins!

SpaceJunk

paulcuthbert wrote:

SpaceJunk wrote:

paulcuthbert wrote:

He's doing well. But I hate the fact that the British media are (as always) only talking about British interest at the Tour. None of them mention the Kreuzigers, the Contadors, the Voigts...

For example, ITV4s highlights coverage today was made up of nearly all Wiggins coverage. A 5 minute interview at the start, 2 minutes action- then commercials. And it was the same at the end of the stage.

So a British rider can finally cut it with the top GC guys. Big deal! It's about bloody time... Nicholas Roche has finished in the Top 5 on 2 stages and he doesn't get a look in. Pathetic British media!

ps. Phil Liggett called Wiggins the "hero of the stage", right after Armstrong had spectacularly closed a 2km gap on the leaders. Wiggins had ridden tempo all day. Go figure!

Umm, the gap was 30 odd seconds not 2 kms.

Which was closed in 2km

And that's impressive?

Or would you have found it more impressive if he closed the gap in 10 kms???

PeteinSQ

Narrow-mindedness is a great way of describing it. You hit the nail on the head there

Oh ffs. I'm so tired of reading on forums (this one in particular) about how awful the British are and how wonderful every other nationality is. It is soooo boring.

DaveyL

paulcuthbert wrote:

Jesus, this is worse than university! Do you want it referenced in the Harvard style of referencing? Should I also add the date and time I referenced the material?

Ease up lads, it!s only a silly forum

Are you the same Paul Cuthbert who told Cadel Evans he sucked?

http://twitter.com/CadelOfficial/status/2764644025

robthehungrymonkey

Isn't the TT pretty flat? Won't this play into wiggo's hands with his power?!

And boring? IMO one of the most interesting riders on the tour when interviewed.

Stuey01

British people want to see other British people doing well. The British media respond to this demand by giving coverage to British riders. One of them also happens to be riding the race of his life and is currently sitting third in the GC, above all expectations. This is worthy of mention in any Country, but especially in Britain.

All countries are the same regarding their home grown athletes.

Stuey01

British people want to see other British people doing well. The British media respond to this demand by giving coverage to British riders. One of them also happens to be riding the race of his life and is currently sitting third in the GC, above all expectations. This is worthy of mention in any Country, but especially in Britain.

All countries are the same regarding their home grown athletes.

Gotte

Re the media, i suspect it's just that the British media want to sell papers, or get viewers, and know the best way to do it is to appeal to the interest of the reading/viewing public. They assume the pubic have more interest in national sportsmen, and so write up this angle.

paulcuthbert

Stuey01 wrote:

British people want to see other British people doing well. The British media respond to this demand by giving coverage to British riders. One of them also happens to be riding the race of his life and is currently sitting third in the GC, above all expectations. This is worthy of mention in any Country, but especially in Britain.

All countries are the same regarding their home grown athletes.

You've just repeated what everyone else has already said, only in different words.

Stop it

knedlicky

Re the original theme : Does Wiggins stand a chance ...

My wife (looking more at how riders are dressed than how they ride) noticed that today, like LA, Wiggins had black socks on, and she wondered if this was some sort of voodoo help to do well on a stage, now that doping is apparently 'out'.

Didn't work today for Wiggo though, but who knows what their long-term affect might be.

GeorgeShaw

Wiggins was shafted yesterday as he had to set the pace in order to minimise time losses to the Schlecks, and Armstrong could just sit in and then jump him at the top.

On the basis of the prologue, Wiggo, Armstrong, Kloden and Schleck senior could have only seconds between them after today. What Wiggins needs is to have a few seconds advantage, so he can reverse the roles on Ventoux. If he trails, then he's just going to get shafted again.

Tom Butcher

paulcuthbert wrote:

Yes. Less than they do of the Irish. Which is a lot!
Narrow-mindedness is a great way of describing it. You hit the nail on the head there

Try watching Eurosport - the British presenters on that concentrate on Roche quite a lot - they showed an interview with him before yesterdays stage for a start.

If you want coverage of Kreuziger I suggest you write to him and ask him to do something of interest in the race.