Wiggins won't defend TDF

[Soxx]

Wiggins won't defend TDF

Published: 31 May 2013 18:17

Source: Reuters

 

Bradley Wiggins

Paris - Bradley Wiggins's Tour de France challenge ended before it even started on Friday when the defending champion was ruled out of Team Sky's selection for next month's race because of physical problems.

Briton Wiggins withdrew from the Giro d'Italia this month with a chest infection and he has also been struggling with a knee problem, meaning he cannot train properly to defend his title on the Tour, which starts on June 29 in Corsica.

 

"With illness, injury and treatment Brad has gone past the point where he can be ready for the Tour. It's a big loss but, given these circumstances, we won't consider him for selection," Team Sky principal Dave Brailsford said in a statement.

 

"He hasn't been able to train hard since the Giro and now he needs further rest."

 

Briton Chris Froome, runner-up last year, had already been named as the team leader in the three-week race, where he is expecting a tough challenge from Spanish twice champion Alberto Contador.

 

"It's a huge disappointment not to make the Tour de France," said Wiggins.

 

"I desperately wanted be there, for the team and for all the fans along the way - but it's not going to happen. I can't train the way I need to train and I'm not going to be ready.

 

"Once you accept that, it's almost a relief not having to worry about the injury and the race against time."

[LOOK695]

Go Froome

[pista]

I wanted to see Froome,Berto,Cuddles and Andy beat him

[LOOK695]

I wanted to see Froome,Berto,Cuddles and Andy beat him

Maybe he got scared

[Agteros]

Any hubbers willing to offer him cleat/saddle height adjustment advice for his sore knees?

[cadenceblur]

Wonder how this will impact Froome's support team? I guess Wiggins will still owe him one I guess. If Froome hangs around that is.

[Wil6]

He would have gotten his ass handed to him by real climbers of the sport, done himself a favour

[babse]

whaaat? thats a shame...

 

giving up rather than facing defeat?

 

Pu...y

[Sniffie]

Go Froome Dawg go!!! Best thing that could have happened to Sky's Tour de France aspirations. Team now united behind Chris.

[Vetseun]

Froome against El Pistolero. Should be Epic Edited June 1, 2013 by Turtle Man

['Dale]

I reckon he has two injuries - ego blow after DNF in Giro and fear of descending

[Sniffie]

I reckon he has two injuries - ego blow after DNF in Giro and fear of descending

Three, getting to dinner on time if some one spilled some water on the team hotel's staircase.

['Dale]

Three, getting to dinner on time if some one spilled some water on the team hotel's staircase.

 

*chuckle*

[Christie]

Froome against El Pistolero. Should be Epic

Froome vs steak eating Conto would have been one sided - Conto wiped the floor with everybody back then, including thrashing Cancellara in a TT. Hardly surprising, in retrospect.

 

Post steak Conto is much like Basso and other dopers on their last warnings, and other riders like Cunego and Gesink who I suspect are cleaner now than when they scored dominant wins in the past - all solid riders with good climbing skills. Conto is better than most on big climbs, but now ordinary in TTs.

 

2 challengers against Froome imo:

Nibali, if he rides. His TT performance made a big jump at Astana - one of the surest signs of dope for me, but he has not been bust so far.

Evans - old man looked good at the Giro. If he timed his training right, he will be a factor.

[Lucky Luke.]

I don't think Evans can win another one in the face of Sky's dominance.

 

I reckon we should look for Contador to make a miraculous recovery on the TT front and to up his climbing game as well.

 

There's also lots of talk of a spanish armada amassing across the various teams. Something has to be done to challenge the black motorcade. Hopefully some business savvy ds'es will crack a few deals.

 

Fat Pat's position of vulnerability at the UCI and the challenge from Sky-associate Cookson also might not bode well for the men in black if they are doing anything remotely untoward.

[Lucky Luke.]

As far as Wiggins is concerned I think all the bluster about being 'forced' out of Sky by Froome is a load of crap. The guy looks like he is ready to cash in his chips. He won one Grand Boucle - pretty miraculous for a rider like him - and on a personal level I'm sure he recognises that he needs to get out now while the going is good.