The sport of cycling, already reeling from yesterday’s publication by the United States Anti-Doping Agency of its reasoned decision in the Lance Armstrong case, suffered a further shock today when Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins appeared on TV sporting a new haircut that suggested his barber may have inadvertently sneezed at a crucial point as the scissors hovered over the Team Sky rider’s fringe.
Luckily, Wiggins had recovered his composure by the time he appeared in front of the Sky News camera, starting off by acknowledging that as the reigning Tour de France champion he understood that he was a figurehead for the sport, albeit a reluctant one.
Describing USADA’s evidence as “irrefutable,” Wiggins made a reference to the reaction of one of Armstrong’s lawyers, saying: "It is certainly not a one-sided hatchet job, it is pretty damning. I am shocked at the scale of the evidence.
"I have been involved in pro cycling for a long time and I realise what it takes to train and win the Tour de France,” he went on.
"I'm not surprised by it... I had a good idea what is going on," he added.
However, he insisted that the sport had moved on.
"A lot of this stuff happened nearly 15 years ago, the sport has changed considerably."
The man who this July stood on the Champs-Elysées podium in the maillot jaune, as Armstrong had done on seven separate occasions, lamented the impact of the revelations on the Tour de France itself.
"This historical race is going to be without a winner for seven years. ...I mean what happens to those history books?"
Well, road.cc can reveal that fortunately help is at hand from a French national hero from some of the first history books children across the Channel encounter, and whose name may well go against all seven editions of the Tour de France from 1999 to 2005.
Asterix, we salute you.
Though if that Mr Tygart comes asking questions, you might want to keep quiet about dodgy druid Getafix and his magic potion, eh…?
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It's only 'original' in the sense of being a copy of an orginal mod cut. I had one just like it in 1967, one-sided hatchet job to the front included.
It's a tad Noel Gallagher come to think of it.
I'm sure that Brad will shrug off the comments regarding his hair style. It's original and says a lot about his personality.
Fair play to him, it's his hair… but "original"?
Here comes the biro.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLm9iBUAogk
I had a haircut lke that when I was 16 and on holiday in France - being too embarrassed about my dodgy French I bottled going to the hairdresser and did it myself. Perhaps Brad had a similar experience?
Wiggo has always had a dodgy mop.
In Lancashire we’re not know for our hairs and graces.
Maybe we just need a new design for the yellow jersey :
http://cheathard.spreadshirt.com/
Does Phil Liggett play the little known Goscinny/Uderzo character Uttabollox?
Sorry, that should have been "wary", not "aware". Mornings are not my best time (neither are afternoons or evenings...)
I still haven't got the Asterix joke. However, being the reigning TDF champion I would be aware of criticising other winners. You reap what you sow...
They are it's called a 'community treatment order' just goes to show how powerful the delusion of liberty is! and how hard it is to keep tabs on us mad sad cycling folk.
If it had been any other rider i would agree but i dont think you will get a cleaner rider than Wiggins. IMHO.
Come on, get your facts straight. Asterix doped until 2006, then decided to reform and testify to USADA, thus ensuring he could retire graciously at the end of last season and still bring out his new EPOnymous clothing line.
I wonder if he had his helmet on when they cut his hair.
Watched the interview and he was polite and explained his points well.
Oh sweet jesus, it's taken me THIS LONG to figure out the Asterix gag.
I do feel sorry for his DS through all the years, went by the name of Obelix. He'll not get a mention for helping out Asterix.....
So he also admitted doping but stopped as a young boy
Agree with everything Wiggo says but he should steer well clear of mentioning one-sided hatchet jobs until his hair has grown out a bit.
He should have called them a load of lady bits and walked off