Wiggins pouts
Comments to BBC on his non-move to Sky. The man seems thrilled at the thought of riding for Garmin this year.
Either this is a tactic to make Garmin want to get rid of him, in which case it is pathetic, or it is childish moaning about actually having to fulfill his obligations, in which case it is pathetic.
3 months ago
Jens
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These sort of antics don't really engender team loyalty do they?
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
by Seahorse on Dec 6, 2009 3:27 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Since when has Wiggins had team loyalty? Look at the number of squads he’s been through in his career.
pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway
by fmk on Dec 7, 2009 12:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
He must have had a few beers...
The man doesn’t always think his statements through.
by Vlaanderen90 on Dec 6, 2009 4:02 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
I dunno... I don't really see it that way
Focusing only on what is in between the quotation marks – and excluding what has been written before, after and in between the bits in quotation marks… well, without the text that accompanies the quotes, I’m not sure that I can read any ‘moaning’ or ‘tactical ploys’ into Wiggo’s words.
It’s a lot more subtle than some recent efforts from the Flemish media, LOL… but still, looking just at Wiggo’s words – he states that he is staying with Garmin and shifting teams was never an option. Well, JV told us that ages ago, yeah? (And certain elements in the press merrily ignored him…). Wiggo himself has stated previously that the Sky thing was ‘bollocks’.
Maybe my press-bullshit-filter is set too high at the moment…
by Lou... on Dec 6, 2009 4:16 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Bottom line is let it be over .... and if you're not sucking it up Brad, try again.
He seems like a good guy normally. He’s probably bored too…
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
by Seahorse on Dec 6, 2009 4:23 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I was only reading the quotes
“have no choice”, “built my hopes up”, I’ll just…..do the best we can"
The enthusiasm is apparent. Exactly what teammates and sponsors want to hear. Being a pro is more than about performing in races. Wiggo is not a professional.
by Jens on Dec 6, 2009 4:33 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The questions are missing here ;-)
The questions that these quotes are responses to. I want to see the questions that were asked before I draw conclusions from his answers, y’know?
by Lou... on Dec 6, 2009 4:49 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Fair call. With or without the questions, he's left his enthusiasm a little late though..
If I was VDV I think I’d be a bit miffed. Anyway, if I can live with Cuddles on the bad days, Brad should be manageable.
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
by Seahorse on Dec 6, 2009 4:52 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
yeah I agree,
these comments seem pretty tame to me, I don’t see much of a story here.
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Dec 6, 2009 7:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Has been his criticism in the past,
not being a full pro. But I think that was in regard to going on weekend-long benders.
by tedvdw on Dec 6, 2009 7:39 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I'd be pissed off with Garmin if I was him
JV seemed pretty damned interested in bringing Contador onboard which instantly demotes Wiggo’s position in the team
Team loyalty has to go both ways
by thebongolian on Dec 6, 2009 6:04 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
+1
"well...you live in england so: you love the rain. loves the queen. hates cycling. based on mr bean had a tremendous amount of humour. all ride in a mini cooper. all getting drunk before the age of 12. getting drunk at least 3 times a day."- frinking, 7/9/09
by benrazor on Dec 6, 2009 7:05 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Garmins ambitions of becoming a major team can come as a surprise to no one
If you are expecting them to put aside all other aspirations in favour of a guy who danced one summer I think you are naive.
by Jens on Dec 6, 2009 8:51 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
One Summer of Happiness
Part 2. But without Ulla Jacobsson.
Staring at the swim team gets you killed by a gang of dancing ninja men who know how to twirl.
by TheFigurehead on Dec 6, 2009 1:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
This guy auditioned for her role.
But he didn’t have what it takes
by Jens on Dec 6, 2009 2:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I know what you mean
from the first 10 hits in a google image search. Ha!
by tedvdw on Dec 6, 2009 2:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I think the issue is not quite as clear cut as that
JV put a lot of support behind Wiggins in verbal form, touting improvements he can make, as well as behind Vande Velde. To me, it sounded like he wanted to focus on making them even better GT riders rather than simply buying the next tour. In which case, I’d be a bit miffed if I were Wiggins (or Vande Velde, but he’s more mellow I would assume)
by dansel on Dec 6, 2009 2:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Not surprised by the ambition but the approach is different
It would mean going from nurturing guys who have potential to (effectively) buying success
For me that seems at odds with the whole way Garmin presents itself as operating. If I were one of the guys who hoped to benefit from that old system and was suddenly faced with doubt about how it would work in the future I’d think about my options
The fact Sky are British and would probably pay a higher price for Wiggins gives him a very attractive option of course
I’ll be interested to hear the full story In January 2011 when Wiggins is aboard the good ship Sky
by thebongolian on Dec 6, 2009 2:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe it's the money?
Perhaps Sky numbers were multiples of his Garmin salary. That sort of thing can get you spending in your head before you’ve got it in your pocket, esp. when you’re young. And if it doesn’t come through, well, big disappointment. Goodbye imagined Boonen life, hello, uh, last year’s Wiggo life.
by Sui Juris on Dec 6, 2009 1:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I hope he rides like this year or even improves for next year.
I’d like to see him earn that position at Sky and get the dough.
I also have no problem at all with his comments. Seems like an honest bloke.
No horn, watch for finger.
by sminer on Dec 6, 2009 2:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
+1
I also don’t have problem with his comments, but I don’t read them as being all that pouty. More like, “Sure, I’d have liked to move to Sky, but I never really thought it was a realistic option so I’m not that upset about it.”
It was just a long race--Edvald Boasson Hagen, on the Giro
by majope on Dec 6, 2009 2:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I just think it's part of your job
to bloody well shut up about these things. Sending the message that you are riding where you would rather not benefits no one.
Wiggo was apparently treated less than well at times by his french teams but he didn’t let this on until after he was away from there and that is how it should work.
Sky was in the works well before he signed a two year deal with Garmin. Lot’s of other brits have signed contracts with this in mind. The fact that Wiggo didn’t must have indicated to Vaughters that he could count on him in 2010 despite the appearance of Sky. Then Wiggo’s worth skyrocketed and he became antsy, well I’m sorry but he made his bed.
by Jens on Dec 6, 2009 3:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
indeed
He tends to say one thing to one person & another to someone else. Always has done. The Wigan-Man Utd interview was where I lost patience.
by civetta on Dec 6, 2009 3:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Know what you mean!
(Some interesting reading on the site tonight, with this and the Tour Place post etc) I read the link as BW saying essentially was never going to happen. Which, in retrospect, makes the Wigan thing almost reprehensible. At the time it was merely f ing stupid!
by andrewp on Dec 6, 2009 3:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
ah there I follow you.
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Dec 6, 2009 7:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
no doubt the sky offer was for more ££'s
than the last year of his current Garmin contract.
One of the things that has made (pretty much all) pro sports less interesting for me over the last decade (or two) is the way players / athletes switch teams so often.
As a kid, my fav team has the same core of players for ever …. rare these days.
Always happy to see a team not back down when someone wants a quick out.
Moo
by Willj on Dec 6, 2009 2:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I wish .....
Sittler, Salming, Ullman, Keon, Lanny, Turnbull
Moo
by Willj on Dec 7, 2009 2:34 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Dave Keon?
Daryl Sittler? Yeah, sorry, that must not have been too satisfying.
"Harder! Better! Faster! Stronger!" Philippe Gilbert
by Chris... on Dec 7, 2009 3:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
dude he only scored 10 points in a single game once
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Dec 7, 2009 3:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Plus this summer was probably the high point of his potential earning power.
At least until the Tour route was announced, that is. I mean, maybe I’ll be proved wrong & in a way I hope I am, but I suspect Sky won’t need to offer nearly as much money next year.
by civetta on Dec 6, 2009 3:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Does he need Sky more than Sky need need Wiggo?
Presumably Sky will want a big name Brit for the domestic audience
Don’t see them getting Cav for a few years, and while some of the other Brits in the peloton are talented (Swift, Bellis, Kennaugh) I’ll be surprised if they’re getting the same domestic UK coverage as Wiggins or Cav next year.
Which’d suggest Sky might still pay handsomely – but agree his value to anyone else will have peaked
by thebongolian on Dec 6, 2009 3:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
But why should they pay over the odds?
No matter how much they want him, if no one else much does they won’t need to pay him all that handsomely, I wouldn’t have thought.
by civetta on Dec 7, 2009 2:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
guess it'd be a case of who blinks first
by thebongolian on Dec 7, 2009 5:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
not necessarily if he's out of contract
We’ll see, I guess. Who knows, he might have an unexpectedly brilliant season. Again.
by civetta on Dec 7, 2009 5:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Where our hero (that's me, btw) is rude
I wonder if Bradley’s latest tweet refers to himself or someone else.
Staring at the swim team gets you killed by a gang of dancing ninja men who know how to twirl.
by TheFigurehead on Dec 6, 2009 4:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
maybe referring to
earlier tweet “’It’s been rumoured’, In other word’s ‘Some bloke down the pub told me’”
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Dec 6, 2009 7:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I always thought that Wiggins was a whiner.
"One man's breath is another man's death."
Eddy Merckx
by titan_90 on Dec 7, 2009 12:51 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Hm
I do think riders under contract should act a little more cheerful about it, or at least not openly longing to ride for someone else. This is tame stuff, but I see Jens’ point.
In general, these rider-team loyalty things are always a work in progress. Save for the Lance-JB relationship and a few other similarities.
"Harder! Better! Faster! Stronger!" Philippe Gilbert
by Chris... on Dec 7, 2009 3:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I blame twitter!
There I said it – someone had to
by andrewp on Dec 7, 2009 4:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
and the rest of that post (I have no idea what happened!)
place blame where blame lies!!! With hindsight we’re all guilty (yep I am aware of the vitriolic remark I made above) of reading anything into anything he posted on that medium since he tweeted he wasn’t moving teams (but no one believed him). Notwithstanding we all knew the last three months are the “drinking months”.
First thing to take off a drunk – his drink.
Second – internet access.
by andrewp on Dec 7, 2009 4:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
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