Should Wiggins go for the hour?

morstar

I think he should. I believe he thrives on a new challenge and he has consistently achieved what he has set out to do. I reckon he should defend his Tour title next year and assuming he has bagged world and Olympic TT's in between he should look at the hour record.
He's too old to win 5 tours and I don't believe that would motivate him anyway.
It would give him an impressive palmares. Not that they're too shoddy at the moment anyway.

Yellow Peril

A good suggestion. Sky have the infrastructure to support a credible attempt at this and with Boardman around enough experience to make it a success.

Not sure how much prep something like that takes. Would any of our Trackies/top end TT'ers know if it is a viable winter project? He is in the form of his life at the moment and it might stop him from "smashin' it" down the boozer.

inkyfingers

I imagine that Sky/British Cycling will have a fair idea of whether he is capable of doing it from his numbers.

Sadly I don't think the hour record has the prestige that it used to and he'd need to dedicate a serious chunk of time to it which would mean putting his road career on hold just when he is at his peak. At this stage in his career I don't think it would be the best use of his time or his sponsors money.

He'll probably just have to settle for being a plain old multiple Olympic and World champion, Paris-Nice, Dauphine and Tour de France winner.

iainf72

Kind of with Inky on this one. I think the Hour has been ruined by the UCI and a nobody taking it and then being done for doping.

When there was athletic ability + technology, it was much more interesting. Now it just seems to have limited value

No_Ta_Doctor

The UCI have destroyed the prestige of the hour. It's no longer worth the investment of training or the risk.
Just read Fotherigham's Merckx biography, and he makes the record attempt sound seriously nasty. Without the prestige it used to have it's all pain and no gain.

patchy

Yes. But then I think Cancellara and Contador should too.

Frank the tank

Sorry, I didn't see this thread and have posed the same question.

For my two penneth, when the time is right for him, I'd love to see him have a go at it.

luckao

inkyfingers wrote:

Sadly I don't think the hour record has the prestige that it used to and he'd need to dedicate a serious chunk of time to it which would mean putting his road career on hold just when he is at his peak. At this stage in his career I don't think it would be the best use of his time or his sponsors money.

That covers it. He'll have plenty of other challenges that await him. They'll be more worthwhile than the hour.

Dan Martin could try it...

frenchfighter

inkyfingers wrote:

I imagine that Sky/British Cycling will have a fair idea of whether he is capable of doing it from his numbers.

Sadly I don't think the hour record has the prestige that it used to and he'd need to dedicate a serious chunk of time to it which would mean putting his road career on hold just when he is at his peak. At this stage in his career I don't think it would be the best use of his time or his sponsors money.

He'll probably just have to settle for being a plain old multiple Olympic and World champion, Paris-Nice, Dauphine and Tour de France winner.

Why?

Surely he could turn up and ride and set a good time. If he can put a huge km/h time in, a 3 weeks in I don't think he will have a problem. Sure there is some work but you make it sound like it is huge - its going round in a circle as hard as you can for 60mins...something he has done similarly to death. He could do it sometimes after the Tour, so zero road career on hold. Or maybe I am missing something.

inkyfingers

frenchfighter wrote:

inkyfingers wrote:

I imagine that Sky/British Cycling will have a fair idea of whether he is capable of doing it from his numbers.

Sadly I don't think the hour record has the prestige that it used to and he'd need to dedicate a serious chunk of time to it which would mean putting his road career on hold just when he is at his peak. At this stage in his career I don't think it would be the best use of his time or his sponsors money.

He'll probably just have to settle for being a plain old multiple Olympic and World champion, Paris-Nice, Dauphine and Tour de France winner.

Why?

Surely he could turn up and ride and set a good time. If he can put a huge km/h time in, a 3 weeks in I don't think he will have a problem. Sure there is some work but you make it sound like it is huge - its going round in a circle as hard as you can for 60mins...something he has done similarly to death. He could do it sometimes after the Tour, so zero road career on hold. Or maybe I am missing something.

I think you are simplifying it somewhat.

Boardman and Obree devoted many months of specialist training to it, I think if Wiggins just turned up and had a go then there's a good chance he'd fail and probably look a bit daft.

It's a bit like saying that Contador should just turn up and have a crack at Paris-Roubaix.

fastercyclist

Vuelta and Giro make more sense.

He's still one of the best climbers around.

No_Ta_Doctor

Merckx said it was the hardest race he ever rode. You only try it if you really can crack it, or your rep goes down. You don't just rock up and have a go.

pb21

Eeven if he decided today that was his next project, it wouldnt take place for about a year from today I would've thought?

fastandfurry

Without drugs or a technological edge I don't think he'd have a chance against the current record...no chance of beating people who were juiced up even if it was only steroids. Unless I'm missing something?

No_Ta_Doctor

fastandfurry wrote:

Without drugs or a technological edge I don't think he'd have a chance against the current record...no chance of beating people who were juiced up even if it was only steroids. Unless I'm missing something?

Yes, you are missing something.

Of the two hour records, Chris Boardman holds one and the second is only 250m longer than Boardman's previous record (held by Sosenka, who may have been juiced).