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Can Wiggins win the Serpentine sprint?

by Matt Slater (U1647490) 09 May 2007
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Bradley Wiggins in action during the 2006 Tour de France

I'm not saying he will and I'm not saying he won't - what I am saying is that Bradley Wiggins CAN win the Tour de France's prologue in Hyde Park on 7 July.

Now I realise that my views on cycling are as welcome to some of you as Jeremy Clarkson's but let's see if we can't just have a straightforward debate about prologues.

We can talk about the Giro's opener if you like. Or just how significant Wiggins's win in Dunkirk is.

Better still, we could look ahead to London and talk about Wiggins's main (perhaps more realistic, in your view) rivals for the yellow jersey during the run down to Canterbury.

The reasons I think BW can do it are that he is in the form of his life, his pace over similar distances on the track is unrivalled, he is focusing 100% on the prologue this summer (he isn't trying to finish the race), he is still too young to write off as a road racer, his recent road results are very encouraging, he will get a great lift from the crowd, he has a proven record of handling pressure/expectation and, finally, he sounded pretty convincing when he told me he would do it.

To help get things started, here are the latest odds according to the bookies (skybet):

McGee and Millar, 3-1
Wiggins, 5-1
Hincapie, 7-1
Hushovd and Savoldelli, 9-1
Moreau and O'Grady, 14-1
Rogers, 16-1
Boonen, 20-1

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comment by reallywheelie (U8190426)

posted May 10, 2007

Matt: “The sport is pretty hot right now…”

If Chris Hoy’s Kilo World Record attempt is still on for Saturday I’d say it was scorching!

Wiggins Can, Millar Will.

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comment by hevipedal (U4275137)

posted May 10, 2007

I don't think BW will win the prologue; I think David Millar is the best home choice - I think Dunkirk was a good result by BW but who did he beat? BW is great on the track but not the road. For this course I reckon a strongman will win. Cancellara for instance. I ride a lot of this course every day on my commute and some of it will be a shock to the riders - unless TfL make sure the roads ar resurfaced, especially Constitution Hill, this has a horrible surface that grabs at the wheel, very hard to ride fast on it. Wellington Arch could be the catch out, there's lots of loose gravel. Of course if it's resurfaced then that makes it easier.

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comment by TheInvigilator (U4743667)

posted May 10, 2007

Does any techie-type person know why 5 of the 20 comments for this thread have gone missing? If you click on "all 20 comments" it then says 15 - ooooer!

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comment by reallywheelie (U8190426)

posted May 10, 2007

missing comments...

I'm still trying to find out why my first comment was removed from the 'Saddle sore' story. Maybe we have a mystery hacker?

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comment by enjoy_the_ride (U7937800)

posted May 10, 2007

TheInvigilator - just what I was wondering.

Until that is I realised that my own very politly put comment (and that of others) as to what Jeremy Clarkson would make of Richard Hammond's quote in Cycling Weekly (03 May 07 issue page 18) as to his preference to cycling when in London and Range Rovers being unnecessary.

It seems that it is OK for the author of this thread to make reference to Jeremy Clarkson, but not our humble selves.

Hence the missing comments in this thread.

Oh well...

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comment by Lowlandbrit (U5083598)

posted May 11, 2007

Since it seems Matt is trying out this reporting on what we talk about thing (well, it's giving the audience what they want smiley) could I perhaps suggest a preview for the Giro? See it as a chance to practice for the Tour..?

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comment by Matt Slater (U1647490)

posted May 11, 2007

I'll do what I can Lowlandbrit. No promises, mind, I wish I could say it's as simple as writing a story....but it's not.

What I can tell you is that Steve Cummings has just been given Basso's place.

And those asking about the missing comments. I genuinely have no idea (and am a bit miffed too). But I can assure you that it is not some conspiracy of silence! Machines break, we're not smart enough to fix them, simple as. You can find them, strangely enough, if you go to my member page and look at the recent comments section...they're all there.

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comment by Lowlandbrit (U5083598)

posted May 11, 2007

"I'll do what I can"

Blimey! Do my eyes deceive me? There really has been a turnaround here hasn't there winkeye?

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comment by exracingcyclist (U8273926)

posted May 12, 2007

I thinck Wiggins is right in saying that cycling will never be a huge sport in the UK ,but the tide is turning for the sport !
maybe the best we could hope hope for is more recognition with in the media!
As the for Wiggins chances in the prologue he's my favorite to win,though only in a dream come true sense as he's a Londener it would be great if he could win!

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comment by enjoy_the_ride (U7937800)

posted May 13, 2007

Missing comments - Matt, thanks for the reply, point taken.

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