Does Bradley Wiggins’ Dauphiné omission mean no Tour de France place?

Whatever the case and whoever rides Wiggins has been an inspiration to many others - whatever you say about his attitude or his behaviour etc he has won the medals got the palmares and nothing can change that. For Chris Froome shall wish him luck of course as the Tdf is not for the faint hearted but at the same time cannot help but feel whoever advises him has made a monumental blunder in terms of PR. He can keep winning but whether he will win the hearts and minds is something that only time can tell.

Interestingly, Brad was training on the Manchester track yesterday - in GB kit - under the watchful eye of Shane Sutton

'Froome helped Wiggins win both Romandie and the Dauphine in 2012 (and then the Tour de France).'

that third one is arguable.

Wiggins wouldn't need to do a recce of the routes. he lives very close to the area & I'm sure he's tackled holme moss, cragg vale, etc before.
It's hard not to speculate & we'd all be stupid if we weren't.
I saw Sir Dave & Shane Sutton at the velodrome on Monday evening deep in discussion on the sofa's in the foyer area, I wanted to ask but thought better to leave them alone. They're probably asked every day.

The more I think about it, the more absurd leaving Wiggins on the bench sounds... Therefore I share thoughts that this is;

- an opportunity to generate headlines and coverage for Sky in the build up to the race
- that maybe Wiggins is being cultivated as a plan B, and that is something that the team don't want to be rubbing in Froome's face so they are being kept apart.

That said, Wiggins build up this year has certainly not been about the Tour de France, which either means he's not going, or he is genuinely going in there in a supportive role.

Although any talk that the tour team will be selected from both the Dauphine and Swiss is bollards... most of the Swiss team have just finished the Giro... this is their last race before a mid-season break.

The two have huge egos but Froome is a petulant child too. I'm certain that he will have made it clear that he has no intention of having Wiggins in his team. Don't be surprised if Bradley picks up an injury just before the TdF line-up is revealed.

I think Bradley Wiggins would be a valuable team member in the role of road captain given his experience.

I'll be surprised and disappointed if they aren't both there. Not just for the 'narrative' (though as a sideshow the clash of personalities is fun) but also because I like Wiggins and it'd be a shame not to see him here in his home race. That, and he's a hell of a super domestique to have working for you.

Even if Wiggins gains time on the cobbles - or is permitted to ride for the win that day? - the only way that Sky will not be riding for Froome is if he gets sick/injured and has to drop out. Wiggins could not compete with Contador, Nibali or even Valverde on the proper hills.

brackley88 wrote:

Can't tell you how I know this but here's why:

1) they can potentially win both Suisse and dauphine bringing important wins and coverage for sponsors in what has not been a strong year to date. Not a bad year, but could be better.

2) they avoid pre tour micro analysis in the media of how froome and wiggo work together. They get a different type of analysis but kit as bad.

3) they avoid the risk of something unexpected happening that causes tension in the team. They can manage it at the tour but don't need something brewing from now.

There you go...

Exactly. This headline, and the similar one VeloNews ran yesterday, is just silly season stuff. I don't think Bradley and Froome have ever ridden as team mates at the dauphine or the tour de suisse, certainly not in 2012 or 2013.

It would have been extremely embarrassing for Sky to make Wiggins drop back to allow Froome to win in the Critérium du Dauphiné.

If Froome does a Schleck and breaks his collarbone on the cobbled stage, which is entirely possible for a rider who weighs less than certain species of stick insect, they will need a decent plan B. Wiggins is undoubtedly the closest they have given recent form and Porte's lack of match fitness. It would be folly not to take him along, irrespective of his previous with Froome. I think they are just keeping them separated as much as possible beforehand to minimise friction and maximise the chance of winning both the Dauphine and Tour de Suisse in the run-up to the Tour.

Sponsors require media time

The cycling is an aside.

You're Murdoch

You've put $$$ of Aussie dollars into Sky

You have a two British tour winners on your books, one of which is probably the most famous cyclist and a major celebrity, in the UK.

The Tour starts and runs for three days, in the UK - one of your largest markets

You don't need an MBA to figure it out.

Whatever the case it should be a cracking Tour and one wonders how Froome will react when the pressure is really on. Porte has not raced much this year - good or bad depending on your view of doing the hard miles - and is not a real Team Captain as Rogers was when Wiggins won the Tour. Am inclined to think that the usual suspects are lining up for Froome and not having Wiggins bossing the peloton will create issues for Sky. Froome has all the personality of an accountant - I am an accountant !! - can't see Contador or Nibali saying "please carry on Mr Froome" - Alberto has a score to settle and what better way than in a TdF starting in the UK where the top UK rider may not even be participating. Sorry for all his palmares Froome flies a flag of convenience that means he will never win the hearts and minds game that is so conveniently pinned on Wiggins or Cavendish. The next generation of riders in Sky are all bonafide UK riders and would love to see Ben Swift, Geraint Thomas, and Pete Kennaugh in there - all got balls and will ride themselves into the ground for the team.

Can't tell you how I know this but here's why:

1) they can potentially win both Suisse and dauphine bringing important wins and coverage for sponsors in what has not been a strong year to date. Not a bad year, but could be better.

2) they avoid pre tour micro analysis in the media of how froome and wiggo work together. They get a different type of analysis but kit as bad.

3) they avoid the risk of something unexpected happening that causes tension in the team. They can manage it at the tour but don't need something brewing from now.

There you go...

There are lots of reasons why Wiggins should be in the team:
1. His current good form. Which might make him a more obvious plan B than Porte.
2. A British grand depart, which creates pressure from sponsors, the media and the public to include him.
3.His strength over the cobbles.

However, it his inclusion may be more trouble than it's worth, especially with the constant media questions that will arise. If the Tour didn't start in the UK this year & there were no cobbles he probably wouldn't make the team especially due to the lack of time trials in the race.

What if Wiggins gains 2 or 3 minutes on Froome in the cobbled stage. Who do Sky back then?

Yep that final stage Giro was really dull....

Its about winning not entertaining nodders.

@Simmo72 - I agree. As much as I enjoy watching cycling, it often gives cricket a good run for it's money on the not-much-happening front for the first 150km or so. We might not like the idea, but sub-plots of personal rivalries, drug cheating and corruption have ran side-by-side with the on-road action since the sport began

If brad ain't there, I'm binning my sky box and going to virgin media. Course he will, this is just Murdoch stirring up a story, great headlines.

I want froome to lose 5 minutes in the opening stages, with Wiggo on fire in the time trials and froome clawing back in the mountains, with contador causing all manners of chaos. It has the makings of a great race, which despite the british wins, the tour has been rather dull for a number of years
"strong team ride up mountain, don't allow break, leader attacks in the last km and repeat for every mountain stage"
tres effective but zzzzzzzz"

It would be really daft to drop Wiggins, if owt happened to Froome there would be no natural experienced leader for la Tour, anyway who would leave the worlds best TT'er in the sidelines?

Froome, Porte, Wiggins podium....

Ha ha just joking!

If Wiggins makes the team i wonder how he would go over the cobbles. He was heavier at Paris Roubaix and he's dropped a fair bit of weight to deal with the mountain stages in the ToC.