Tour de France 2013

ASO would want the current Tour champion on the start line. Sky would need to consider this as much as what Froome wants.

token return? Quite a token I'd say.

watch out for wiggins, if he is going well in the last week and he thinks he can win expect froome to get fucked over

Millar is hardly the most reliable, not to say disinterested, commentator on Wiggins is he though? Or anything really, puffed up, arrogant narcissist that he is.

Millar by name, Millar by nature then (though the younger has yet to demonstrate a penchant for cross dressing). Character analytics aside, what do we think about Wiggins' physical capacity to support Froome? Bit iffy perhaps. Regardless --- reckon it's going to get a bit messy (and therefore most entertaining!)...

I think Wiggins will be true to his word. He's got something of a reputation to protect now. Whether he's able to support Froome after the Giro is another thing.

Geraint Thomas will massively strengthen the team as well. I expect to see him doing some savage long turns on the front.

Can't see past Contador though.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/rogers-to-swap-sky-for-saxo-tinkoff

If that is true, why would Sky even think of letting one of their best domestiques go to their main rival? Has Rogers had his 'interview' yet?

Only reason I can think of to let him go. I didn't realise he was only 32. Seems to have been around for so long.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/rogers-to-swap-sky-for-saxo-tinkoff

If that is true, why would Sky even think of letting one of their best domestiques go to their main rival? Has Rogers had his 'interview' yet?

The rumour I've heard is that Sky gave Rogers time to find himself a new team, rather than instant dismissal following his interview where, one assumes, he had no choice but to confess given what we know of his time at T-Mobile.

That said, the source in Denmark that is reporting it is well known for getting things wrong.

So riders and ex-riders who have confessed to doping are allowed to keep it quiet while they find another team (obviously not a problem if you are going to work with Riis) or pretend they are retiring for health reasons. What would happen if he admitted to doping just a couple of years ago? Or last week? Brailsford's policy really does look shakier and shakier.

Millar by name, Millar by nature then (though the younger has yet to demonstrate a penchant for cross dressing). Character analytics aside, what do we think about Wiggins' physical capacity to support Froome? Bit iffy perhaps. Regardless --- reckon it's going to get a bit messy (and therefore most entertaining!)...
the cross dressing comment aimed at Robert Millar? bit cheap & as far as i know pure speculation. The man is a legend, runner up twice in Vuelta, climbers jersey & runner up Giro, & Polka dot jersey/Dauphine winner in France.

Millar by name, Millar by nature then (though the younger has yet to demonstrate a penchant for cross dressing).

The above is a reference to a story which was never substantiated.

As to real life similarities between to the 2 Millars, I can't think of many, beyond the obvious (they are two of very few British riders to establish a world-class palmares in professional road-racing before the advent of Sky).

Froome is much more of a traditional climber so he might prefer a different approach.

By comparison to Wiggins, but a diesel compared to Contador or Rodriguez. We may have a year of Sky asphyxiation tactics to look forward to.

On Rogers, no doubt they have adequate alternatives, but he did a lot of hard riding in Wiggins winning streak.

ASO would want the current Tour champion on the start line. Sky would need to consider this as much as what Froome wants.

This. The organisers, the TV companies and the Sky team will want Wiggins to start the Tour. However if Wiggins has ridden, possibly won the Giro at that point I'm wondering how effective he will be, and how interested he will be. There seems to be a little tension between him and Froome. I can't see him riding tirelessly and selflessly for Froome for the whole 3 weeks.

Consider a Contador attack that Wiggins can stay with and Froome can't (unlikely I know), can you see Wiggins dropping back to pace him back to the leaders?

It's a case of too many chiefs really, difficult situation for Sky. Ideally I think they need to keep them seperate. Politics and tradition dictate that Wiggins should really start the tour, which could undermine Sky's attempts to win it with either man.

If Wiggins really is going for the Giro he has no chance at the tour if recent history (the last 15 years) is any guide.

If Wiggins really is going for the Giro he has no chance at the tour if recent history (the last 15 years) is any guide.

This is true, which is sort of what I was getting at: would a tired Wiggins after the Giro really want to ride another GT in support of another rider? And if he did would be any use? Sky would be so much better off keeping them serperate, and either Wiggins or Uran leading the Vuelta.

There's still the opportunity for Wiggo to claim a stage. Who wouldn't want more wins in Le Tour or the large chunk of cash. Plus, just being able to start in the 100th Tour would be worth 3 weeks of suffering.

He's already said something along the lines of 'why should I have to ride the Tour just because I won it last year' guff

the cross dressing comment aimed at Robert Millar? bit cheap & as far as i know pure speculation. The man is a legend, runner up twice in Vuelta, climbers jersey & runner up Giro, & Polka dot jersey/Dauphine winner in France.

He's already said something along the lines of 'why should I have to ride the Tour just because I won it last year' guff

I just watched the route announcement and Wiggo said he'll definitely be at the start line of the Tour but wants the Giro overall.

Aha.

I was only joking, my dear,
Looking for a way to hide my fear.
What kind of fool was I?
I could never win.

fair play, its just Robert Millar is/was my hero. I wouldn"t give a fuck if he even had a rumoured sex change. That man was hard as nails, the best pure climber from these islands. He went toe to toe with Fignon, Hampsten, Delgado etc. The man has nothing too prove to anyone.

Good interview below. 1995 TDF rest day special. from 19:41 mins. Millar rocks up on his motorbike.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdtgtF7Wj20

Good interview below. 1995 TDF rest day special. from 19:41 mins. Millar rocks up on his motorbike.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdtgtF7Wj20

great interview with the wee man. Rob always cut through the bullshit. Shame he never wore the national jersey in the Tour, it was his last pro race so he went out on a win. A few yrs later he coached a team while riding with them, such was/is the difference between a top continental pro(Millar) & the British scene he could keep up easily despite being retired from racing.

I just watched the route announcement and Wiggo said he'll definitely be at the start line of the Tour but wants the Giro overall.

I enjoy the fact you record everything and then watch it several weeks later.

this years tour will go to the real climbers watch out for contador rodriguez valverde the schlecks will make a mess of the GC but wont win RNT don't have a coherent team. Froome will do something similar to this years Vuelta he's not good enough and Wiggins is going for the Giro. Looking forward to seeing Thibaut Pinot do something he needs a stronger team though