[Closed] Team Sky announce team. Wiggins is watching from the side lines.

Richie Porte, Geraint Thomas, Mikel Nieve, Vasil Kiryienka, David Lopez, Bernhard Eisel, Xabier Zandio and Danny Pate.

Great selection IMO, don't see what Wiggins would have brought to the table except Hollyoaksness.

Richie Porte, Geraint Thomas, Mikel Nieve, Vasil Kiryienka, David Lopez, Bernhard Eisel, Xabier Zandio and Danny Pate.

Great selection IMO, don't see what Wiggins would have brought to the table except Hollyoaksness.

😉

Come on Contador!!

So many British riders to support there. I'll bet all the replica kit will be flying out of the shops on the back of this 🙂

All the BS about the team not being selected yet. Not much to like about Sky now and the money comes from Murdoch to boot. This seals it for me, I'll not make the trip up even though my daughter has been quite heavily involved in the organisation.

It will be interesting to see how many "Where's Brad" type signs we'll see in Yorkshire and what he has to say himself.

Here's some fish for your chip Jambalaya

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Not much to like about Sky now

Seriously? He wasn't up to it. His form was crap in the Tour De Suisse. There's still two British riders in the team to get behind, so how about you get over yourself and do that instead.

While I can understand that people are disappointed that Wiggo won't be riding, I don't understand why people are so anti-Froome.

He isn't the most charismatic of people, but he is Britains best chance of a win and despite this people will happily support Contador instead. Why?

If he were Italian or French, it would never happen.
I don't care where he is born, or what grievances there are between himself and Wiggo - that is for him and the team to sort out. The country should get behind Froome now.

While I can understand that people are disappointed that Wiggo won't be riding, I don't understand why people are so anti-Froome.

Richie Porte, Geraint Thomas, Mikel Nieve, Vasil Kiryienka, David Lopez, Bernhard Eisel, Xabier Zandio and Danny Pate

Brilliant, stunning efforts, exceptional underated climber, powerhouse extrodinare, climber par excellance, stoic defiance, protector, windbreaker.

That's how I'd describe them 😀

Froome? Billy Whizz.

There's still two British riders

One surely? As far as I'm aware Froome's never lived here.

I don't care where he is born, or what grievances there are between himself and Wiggo - that is for him and the team to sort out. The country should get behind Froome now.

You would say that, you're Welsh 😉

One surely? As far as I'm aware Froome's never lived here.

Lucky there's two bits of fish up there, you can share with Jambalaya. 🙄

I hope Contador crushes him, and Nibali, in fact I don't want to see froome anywhere near the podium!

Although it would be funny to have Hinaut throw him off!

One surely? As far as I'm aware Froome's never lived here.

And Wiggins is really Belgian and Millar is Maltese. Who gives a ****? Froome has an English dad and British grandparents and has always had a UK passport.

Lucky there's two bits of fish up there, you can share with Jambalaya.

😀

Whilst I have no love for Froome he's the only rider that can keep Steak Boy from winning.

I don't understand why people are so anti-Froome.

Dull in press conferences in the main

Brad is charismatic and a tad eccentric. Does not do BS PR and comes across as honest
His wife is not a gob shite either.
He is cool basically Froome is not

I am explaining not saying I agree

He isn't the most charismatic of people, but he is Britains best chance of a win and despite this people will happily support Contador instead. Why?

Maybe Sky did a long weather forecast and see it going to rain a lot over the tour and thought best not to take Brad........

Also looks like he not racing the Nat champs this Sunday.

"NATIONAL Time Trial champion Sir Bradley Wiggins won't take part in Sunday's road race in Monmouthshire after confirming that his Tour de France hopes are over for this year."

As others not he is British by family and has never lived here. Given this many see him, rightly or wrongly, as not very British.

So someone who is suitably patriotic that despite not having lived here wants to call himself British is worse than someone who is definitely not British, has no claim to ever being British, and cheats?

Yep, that really makes sense.

i don't get all this 'support the brits' nonsense. This isn't football. I, like many others watch cycling for the excitement, the charisma, the hard men, not to support someone who is British.

I'll be supporting Cav because he's exciting, i'll be supporting Millar because he has panache and beautiful form on the bike, and likes to attack, I'll be supporting Sagan because he's mental, I couldn't care less about team Sky, and Froome.

But, i will say not taking two potential GC contenders on a tour with Pave smacks of cutting off your nose despite your face. There's potential for a lot of disappointed sky fans if Froome takes a tumble on the cobbles....

If he were Italian or French, it would never happen

erm.....I'm not sure thats true

Also looks like he not racing the Nat champs this Sunday.

Is confused, This article states he just won the national tt champs...

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/other-sport/cycling/national-championships-2014-sir-bradley-7334272

Njee That is exactly what I was trying to get across there with my explanation

WELL DONE

IMHO no one is wore than Bertie steak boy in the current peleton.
i assume the come on contador was troll not worth responding to tbh

Considering the TdF is such a massive marketing vehicle, I find it strange that Sky are leaving Wiggo out. I suspect a lot of British people won't be tuning in to watch it like they did 2 years ago. Seems a daft decision in my opinion.

He isn't the most charismatic of people, but he is Britains best chance of a win

He isn't 'British' though. He's just using a flag of convenience, which I think is wrong, really. He should race under the Kenyan flag, like he did when he was young. Most British people don't recognise him as British, unlike Wiggo, who actually grew up here.

While I can understand that people are disappointed that Wiggo won't be riding, I don't understand why people are so anti-Froome.

Froome's not 'one of us' in the way Wiggo is.

As for the "who's the most British" thing...
Froome makes almost constant reference to his Kenyan upbringing and family ties, Wiggins you wouldn't know wasn't a "Brit" unless you delved into his biog.

Froome is more interesting to watch on the bike, he'll actually attack.

Everything else is secondary.

If Froome does tumble early doors then GT could be in Yellow by the end of the Pave. He'll fall off on the 1st tidy hill though. Could be Porte and Contador slugging it out up the big ones.

I'd love to see Garmin be in with a shout of the Yellow Jersey towards the end...can't see it though.

scruff9252 - Member

"Also looks like he not racing the Nat champs this Sunday."

Is confused, This article states he just won the national tt champs...

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/other-sport/cycling/national-championships-2014-sir-bradley-7334272

Road race is on Sunday.

Chris "Zola Budd" Froome is just not very likeable.

Froome is more interesting to watch on the bike

Froome is absolutely horrible to watch on the bike

The thing people seem to have forgotten is that this is a Pro-tour, commercial teams competing in a commercially funded event, its not a World championship or the 'lympics.

Team Sky may have been tied into BC originally to create the ultimate gold and Yellow jersey winning machine, it was mutually beneficial but that link is over and done with now, DB has made the jump to the "Commercial side" and the Team did the same some time ago...

Strictly speaking neither Wiggins or Froome ride Grand tours for their country, as professional cyclists they ride it for good ol' dirty money, lets not romanticize it...

Where is the incentive to field a Sky Team that the management doesn't believe to be their strongest, just to keep the UK's [I]new golfers[/I] happy?

Sky will get more column inches and sponsors logos in print, by winning than they ever would for knowingly delivering a slice of plucky, patriotic failure...

If Wiggins actually wants another TDF Ride then he needs to find another team its pretty simple really...

Ok so its disappointing that Wiggo is not going to the TDF but it is a team sport and could Brad really offer the support Froome will need to beat the other GC contenders. Loads of whingers going on about how its a disgrace Wiggo's not going blahdeblah, yeah ok but get over it and enjoy the spectacle the Tours's going to be and get behind all British riders even the ones without a blue stripe.

heavy_rat - Member

"Froome is more interesting to watch on the bike"

Froome is absolutely horrible to watch on the bike

Yeah but it's definitely 'interesting' 😀

I mean more in terms of the race than his actual physical appearance. His attack up Ventoux last year ferinstance.

And +1 Cookeaa

But, i will say not taking two potential GC contenders on a tour with Pave smacks of cutting off your nose despite your face.

1) it's cutting your nose off "to spite" your face, not "despite" your face, although I like that!

2) yes and no, potentially more disruptive than having a clear leader, if a team can't decide who's riding for who (and you've got two big egos to deal with), you're virtually banking on one crashing to decide the team, the likelihood of which is fairly slim really.

Wait, what? I'm supposed to support Froome 'cos he's British? (when it suits him)

Must have missed that memo, best stop cheering for Wiggo for his style on the bike, Nibali for his die hard descending, Cav's electric sprints or Cancellara 'cos well it's Cancellara. I'm sure I'll forget about how incredibly ugly Froome looks on the bike and look forward to his dry as **** monotone voice, at least his Mrs will keep us entertained. Fans need moar than the performance and certainly more than a common nationality to become fans.

The country should get behind Froome now

One of the things I really, really like about watching bike racing is that I can pick and choose who I am rooting for without worrying about what country they're from. I simply don't experience it as a nationalistic thing.

I'm not drawn to Froome. Without Wiggins, my next natural choice as "person to feel happy when they do well" would have been Boasson Hagen. He's ruled out too, so it'll probably be Thomas Voeckler.

🙂

Where is the incentive to field a Sky Team that the management doesn't believe to be their strongest, just to keep the UK's new golfers happy?

Because it's those 'new golfers' who keep Sky/other sponsors in business. I only ever wathc the Td F, I'm not interested in cycling sport much. In 2012, I watched every single race (highlights). Mny non-cylcing people tuned in. Viewing figures were unprecented. There's never been such British interest incycle sport. Last year, I watched a handful of races. I just wasnt'y as interested. And neither were many others. So it's about maximising your exposure potential, more than it is to actually wn.

Great selection IMO, don't see what Wiggins would have brought to the table except Hollyoaksness.

What he brings to the table is being Sky's second best rider. Sure, he was abysmal at the TdS but Froome didn't exactly cover himself in glory at the Criterium, did he?

1) it's cutting your nose off "to spite" your face, not "despite" your face, although I like that!

I never knew that 🙂

I also don't get the fascination with Froome and the pave? Why is he the one who's automatically going to crash and not Contador?

ransos - Member

What he brings to the table is being Sky's second best rider.

Not for this parcours.

Sure, he was abysmal at the TdS but Froome didn't exactly cover himself in glory at the Criterium, did he?

Won the points jersey.

I also don't get the fascination with Froome and the pave?

I *think* it is a result of Froome bleating like a schoolgirl that he didn't like bumpy bits when it was announced that there would be some pave.

Really? What did he say?

mtbmatt - Member
While I can understand that people are disappointed that Wiggo won't be riding, I don't understand why people are so anti-Froome.

Weird alien arms.

Looks like a good team to me. I'd have loved Wiggo to be there but realistically it was never going to happen with Froome as the leader.

My dream TDF over the coming weeks would include at least some of the following:
Jens Voigt and David Millar in some tasty breakaways, ideally with a stage win for each.
Tommy Voekler gurning his way to a win somewhere as well, if not at least throwing it all on the line in the hills and blowing up 2km from the top.
Geraint Thomas in the mix for GC. I really do think there is a top class GC rider in him somewhere.
Cav to win the early sprints, wear yellow early, finish in green.
Garmin to cause general havoc and light up the racing like that did at the Dauphine.
Niki Terpstra to show the grand tour riders how to ride cobbles.
Froome to win GC.
And finally, the Schleck brothers to drop away early, never to be heard from again.

Cav has Bronchitis so that could rule him out of some wins, hope he fully recovers in time as he's looking impressive but he's never beaten Kittel in an out and out sprint.

Abandy Schleck is riding in support of Frank this year. Don't think either of them will be at Trek next year.

Yellow for Cav would be great, if only to complete his collection.

I'm not drawn to Froome. Without Wiggins, my next natural choice as "person to feel happy when they do well" would have been Boasson Hagen. He's ruled out too, so it'll probably be Thomas Voeckler.

Agreed, allez Voeckler!

To be honest I think Sky are a fairly loathsome team and dont seem to stand by anyone , Cav had a poor time there , Sean Yates was dispatched fairly quickly and Wiggins seems to have been forgotten as soon as 2012 came to a close.
I'm looking forward to the tour but my highlights would be either a stage win for David Millar or Jens Voight , Also looking for ward to going to stage 3 for a day out.

'Vive le Tour'.

I prefer to judge Froome on his riding, rather than whether I like him as a person (even though I don't know him), or whether he's 'cool' (whatever that may be).

And as a rider, he is outstanding. I'll be cheering him on.

stanfree - Member

To be honest I think Sky are a fairly loathsome team and dont seem to stand by anyone , Cav had a poor time there , Sean Yates was dispatched fairly quickly and Wiggins seems to have been forgotten as soon as 2012 came to a close.

Wasn't a good move for Cav, certainly, there was never any chance of him having a dedicated lead out IMO. Yates left because of his admission of doping and Sky's 'zero-tolerance' policy. Wiggins had was team leader for the Giro in 2013 and was gash.

As long as its not the convicted drugs cheat Contador, who along with any other drugs cheats should not be allowe4d to race, I just hope its an exciting race.

what about all the unconvicted drugs cheats though?

I prefer to judge Froome on his riding, rather than whether I like him as a person (even though I don't know him), or whether he's 'cool' (whatever that may be).

And as a rider, he is outstanding. I'll be cheering him on.

my dislike of him came from his riding 🙄 stage 13 2013... jumped by Contrador he sent his team to burn on the front while he skulked in the bunch. Didn't even have the decency to sit third wheel and encourage his troops while Bertie was doing long turns on the front of his train.

And finally, the Schleck brothers to drop away early, never to be heard from again

a big PLEASE for this

I am really not bothered who is riding for Sky or any one else this year, I'm to excited about it all coming to Harrogate to care less about the politics of team selection

BUT

Having said that there are certain things I'd like to see.

Not least would be if Cav can't win in Harrogate I hope its cos big Jens takes everyone by surprise on the last little hill on Ripon Road and does enough to hold everyone off up Parliament Street, doubtful but who could deny him a stage win and stint in Yellow 😀

I just hope its an exciting race.

good luck with that... after the first week it may be the most boring race we've ever witnessed.

Cav and Sky were never a good match, he needs a dedicated team to win and Sky wanted GC. You won't win green (or any other jersey) without having a team committed to it. OPQS is a much better match for him as they are a classics team who will throw weight behind the sprints in the tours.

Sean Yates left due to his associated with doping in the past. His connections with Lance and Motoman are far to tight to be comfortable for Sky. I suspect Mick Rogers suffered a similar fate.

Wiggo wasn't forgotten in 2013, he was planning to go for GC in Italy first then go to France and work with Froome as a 2 pronged attack. Sadly, he made a pigs ear of the Giro so that stopped that idea. This year he was the focus for the spring races and actually did rather well with support from Thomas, Boasson-Hagen and Eisel. He still shouldn't ride the tour but I do think he could do a job at the Classics next year if he trained for them specifically.

Klunk - Member

my dislike of him came from his riding stage 13 2013..

The cross-winds stage?

warton - Member
I just hope its an exciting race.
good luck with that... after the first week it may be the most boring race we've ever witnessed.

It's impossible to be more boring than 2012.
Factoid.

warton - Member

good luck with that... after the first week it may be the most boring race we've ever witnessed.

I don't know about that, seems more wide open this year than it has been for a while.

Well in Wiggo's year of course I was supporting him. That was historic. It's probably right he's not going this year and it's a shame he won't be on show for the British fans. But thre is still a race to watch and in general i'm not too fussed about who wins, I just enjoy watching a good race. Let's hope we get one.

Oh and I think I'll be cheering Cav, Millar and The Jensie as they go by.

I'm sure that as Froome learns of how disapproving STW is of his riding style he'll be crying himself to sleep on top of his bed made from yellow jerseys stuffed with prize money.

I'll be cheering Cav and Contador, can't stand Sky the team. But mostly I want to see action.

Wiggins had was team leader for the Giro in 2013 and was gash.

True, but the giro with it's steep climbs isn't really playing to his strengths. Whereas a Tour with fewer and more gradual climbs and more TT is.

@Lifer you've lost me with the chip (on your shoulder) reference ?

I'm just not interesting in spending a weekend fighting crowds and spending £500 travel and hotels plus 5hrs each way travel if Brad's not riding. Brad riding in Yorkshire Grand Depart was what it was all about for me. The London stage finishes less than 1k from the office so I'll try and see some of that.

Let's be honest, Wiggins is a grumpy git who is boring as hell to watch on a bike. If he wasn't British then you lot would hate him for being a dull arrogant prick.

Froome can be a bit dull off the bike but he's an exciting rider who has more in his arsenal than just the ability to TT up a mountain.

Never mind that fact that his form at the moment just doesnt merit a place in the squad.

Whereas a Tour with fewer and more gradual climbs and more TT is.

So not this years route then? One shortish TT in the whole thing.

Hoping Gee does a Froome & usurps his leader.

Is Yates riding for Orica?

Is Yates riding for Orica?

Nope. Big season already and he's only young so they've parked him for now.

@whatnobeer Wiggins is a multi-medalled Olympian going back to 2000 and was the first ever British TdF winner (proving we could do it) and won the London home Olympics road race the same year. That cannot be matched. That's why he's Sir Bradley Wiggins and Froome is just Chris.

While I can understand that people are disappointed that Wiggo won't be riding, I don't understand why people are so anti-Froome.

It's been done to death numerous times but just the whole package of Froome as a person and rider is so hard to connect with or get behind, kind of regardless of nationality I feel. For a whole host of reason I think I'd be more likely to cheer for the personality-devoid Andy Murray playing a sport I couldn't care less about.

One of the things I really, really like about watching bike racing is that I can pick and choose who I am rooting for without worrying about what country they're from. I simply don't experience it as a nationalistic thing.

I'm not drawn to Froome. Without Wiggins, my next natural choice as "person to feel happy when they do well" would have been Boasson Hagen. He's ruled out too, so it'll probably be Thomas Voeckler.

I kind of agree with this. Voeckler is out injured though isn't he? Shame as I guess it is up to Roland to take up the mantle as intrepid kamikaze attacking Frenchman... and he is as loved in the peleton as Froome is in the UK 😆

More interesting perhaps is to see how other nations settled the "established elder vs in form youth" debate with Valverde throwing his weight around to be Movistar team leader for the TDF 😀 He may be old but he seems to have been eating his beef this season in a last ditch attempt at glory 😆

I'll be cheering on David Millar.
I'll miss him.

My era is coming to an end, my heros are or have departed, it's a becoming a pale pallet on a bumpy canvas stretched a little too tight.

When Vockler goes I suspect I'll stop watching/following altogether.

One more win Dave please, ta.

Let's be honest, Wiggins is a grumpy git who is boring as hell to watch on a bike. If he wasn't British then you lot would hate him for being a dull arrogant prick.

❓ I don't understand any of this.

It's been done to death numerous times but just the whole package of Froome as a person and rider is so hard to connect with or get behind, kind of regardless of nationality I feel.

Never mind that fact that his form at the moment just doesnt merit a place in the squad.

In all fairness, he needed a big show in Switzerland, yesterday was too little too late.

Gutted - love Wiggo

He just won the British TT champs - took 1.5mins out of Alex Dowsett who is hoping to start the TdF.
(and also a minute out of Gee)

The TdF has a lot more to it than TT'ing...

I don't understand any of this.

What is there to understand? He's dull to watch on a a bike. Can't attack, can't respond to attacks expect by slowly upping his pace. It's not fun or exciting.

Cav and Sky were never a good match, he needs a dedicated team to win and Sky wanted GC. You won't win green (or any other jersey) without having a team committed to it. OPQS is a much better match for him as they are a classics team who will throw weight behind the sprints in the tours.

Yeah, but there was that amazing moment when Wiggo in yellow led Cav out on the Champs-Élysées. How mental was that?

I think that's only in contrast to the (relatively) charismatic Wiggo, though - it's not like the peleton's alive with engimatic team leaders, is it?

True, but it isn't just about charisma. The vast majority of the peleton have a massive passion for cycling as a sport, can be really human and easy to relate to in how they approach various things, seem like decent human beings when interviewed, don't have partners from hell constantly craving attention 😀 ... etc etc. So much about Froome is hard to get behind in any way and there's nothing to really respect about the chap. Sure he has one good TDF result (which is admittedly amazing) but not much more going for him.

I think someone needs to prod Cuddles a bit again this year (if selected for BMC) 😀 Now THAT is entertaining! 😆