Sir Bradley Wiggins has been left out of Team Sky’s squad for the Critérium du Dauphiné, where Chris Froome will defend the title he won last year, fuelling speculation that Wiggins will not make its line-up for the Tour de France which starts in Leeds on 5 July.
Instead Wiggins, who has said he would be prepared to play a supporting role to defending champion Froome in the Tour de France, will lead Team Sky at the Tour de Suissse, which overlaps with the Critérium du Dauphiné.
His absence from the squad from the latter race and from recent training camps and reconnaissance trips for key Tour de France stages is likely to result in speculation that the man who in 2012 became the first British winner of the race will not be riding this year’s edition.
Froome in Tenerife, Wiggins in Mallorca
Last month, while Froome was taking part in a high altitude training camp on Tenerife, Wiggins headed to Mallorca to train after winning the Tour of California.
At the weekend, he was missing when Froome and other Sky riders took a look at the Yorkshire stages, and was also absent yesterday for a reconnaissance of the cobbled sections of Stage 5 of the race.
The pair have not raced together for Team Sky for nearly 18 months, the last time being when Wiggins helped Froome win the Tour of Oman in early 2013.
Froome revealed at the weekend that he has not seen Wiggins since a training camp on Mallorca at the start of this year, and also said that he saw his close friend Richie Porte as a more suitable “Plan B” at the Tour de France.
Froome's Tour four to Dauphiné
The Sky team for the Critérium du Dauphiné, which begins on Sunday, includes four of the riders who helped Froome to his Tour de France victory last year: Porte, Vasil Kiryienka, David Lopez and Geraint Thomas.
They are joined by Mikel Nieve, Danny Pate and Xabier Zandio, and if the past two seasons are a guide, the Dauphiné squad will form the nucleus of the one for the Tour.
That may mean there is only one space left for the three-week race, and besides Wiggins, riders such as Luke Rowe, Joe Dombrowski, Christian Knees or Peter Kennaugh, who rode his first Tour last year, have strong claims to be included.
Brailsford: both races part of Tour selection
Team principal Sir Dave Brailsford insisted that riders racing at both the Dauphiné and in Switzerland would be considered for inclusion in the Tour de France squad.
He said: “Both the Critérium du Dauphiné and Tour de Suisse are WorldTour events and we are looking to perform in both races.
“Chris will be going for GC at the Dauphiné and Bradley is going for GC at the Tour de Suisse.
“Bradley heads to Switzerland with a strong team after a great win in California and we’ve got the right group for the Dauphiné, especially considering the nature of the course.
“Both of these races will form part of our selection for the Tour. We have to name 13 riders in a long list during June and we’ll do that from across the squad, including riders at the Route du Sud, not only those in the Dauphiné and Tour de Suisse groups.”
Boardman: Wiggins is performing in mountains
Chris Boardman, who worked alongside Brailsford as head of R&D at British Cycling, believes Wiggins is worth a place on the Tour de France team due to his performances this year.
Quoted in The Times [£], he said: “Knowing Dave he’ll do the best thing for performance and deal with all the politics. Just to be in the top ten [of Paris-Roubaix] says ‘I could’ve won this race’. That was pretty damn cool.
“He’s performing in the mountains at the moment, so I think he’ll get on the team.”
Boardman did point out though that by making Wiggins leader at the Tour de Suisse rather than riding for Froome at the Dauphiné, Sky were missing an opportunity to prepare for the summer’s main event.
“They’re not practising it,” he explained. “It’s dress rehearsal on opening night if you’re not careful. You’re going to find out if someone can do a whole new role. That’s the big unknown.”
45 thoughts on “Does Bradley Wiggins’ Dauphiné omission mean no Tour de France place?”
Yet more two bit media
Yet more two bit media speculation.
BBC Radio 2 – 7:45AMish this
BBC Radio 2 – 7:45AMish this morning – Chris Froome was on a radio interview – He was directly asked if Brad was definitely not in contention for the TdF as he was not part of the CduD team.
Chris replied clearly that this was NOT the case and that the final team slots have not been filled.
So, the public TeamSky view is that it’s all up for grabs.
– Well, that’s changed my TV for the month of June… Porte and Brad both need to perform…
This reflects the importance
This reflects the importance Sky must place on inter-personal dynamics. Looking purely at the results, then surely winning ToC and pulling a Paris Roubaix top 10 would have guaranteed Wiggo a place. I like the fact that Brailsford is demanding Wiggins demonstrates his commitment first hand, and respectable Tour of Switzerland result is essential.
One wonders what the rest of
One wonders what the rest of the team are thinking.
I’d be amazed if Murdoch
I’d be amazed if Murdoch didn’t step in (if he hasn’t already) and insist on a Froome/Wiggins pair up for the Tour. He’s paying the bills, and that lineup would create the big headlines.
DrJDog wrote:I’d be amazed if
Exactly what I’ve been thinking
Sky really do look to have
Sky really do look to have some great strength in depth, it must be a nice situation for them to have to choose between so many riders who are in form.
If they end up with a Froome, Wiggins, Porte, Thomas + Knees, Kennaugh or some of the other available riders as the core for the squad that could be a tough team to beat (assuming they can all get along nicely)
Can’t tell you how I know
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…
why can you not tell us how
why can you not tell us how you know? do you work for mi5?
Can’t tell you how I know
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…
This Tour with it having an
This Tour with it having an English start needs Sir Brad, well that my opinion. I for one am heading to Yorkshire with my family hoping to see our British riders like Brad, Cav, Thomas and Froome as well as stars from around the world.
I just hope I’m not disappointed!
As a Wiggo fan and someone
As a Wiggo fan and someone heading up to Yorkshire, I’m really hoping he makes the final selection.
Brackley88 – sounds logical
Brackley88 – sounds logical to me.
If Wiggo was not to lead the team in the Suisse – who would they have gone for?
I’m inclined to go with
I’m inclined to go with brackley88’s view.
There is already too much speculation and extrapolation by the armchair experts. Surely those on the inside will have a better idea than us what’s needed – they know all the riders very well by now and will set out what needs to be done. If they make an error of judgement (and we all do) or hindsight tells them something new then so be it.
Brad responds well to being given specific goals and he’s surely capable of winning the TdS. And why wouldn’t Sky want to try to win both races? It’s not been a great season so far for them.
Given the history between the
Given the history between the two riders, and Sky’s emphasis on controlling the controllables, I think it’s perfectly valid to speculate on the implications of the announcement of the Swiss and Dauphine teams.
The facts as we know them are that Wiggins and Froome aren’t close (putting it mildly), they haven’t spoken since January (which is also the last time they were together), let alone trained in the same place at the same time since then.
Wiggins hasn’t been involved in any of the pre-Tour recces, and you’d imagine if he were central to their plans he would have a key role to play supporting Froome on the two tough stages in the opening week they’ve looked at – Stage 2, and the cobbled Stage 5.
Moreover, by the time the Tour starts, they won’t have raced together for a year and a half.
Would Sky go into the biggest race of the year without ensuring at least some of that had happened, and the pair could actually work together to achieve the team’s goal, which is a third overal victory? I doubt it.
I’d be happy to be proved wrong, but I don’t think any of the information we have at the moment points to Wiggins figuring in the plans for the Tour.
If Wiggins makes the team i
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.
Froome, Porte, Wiggins
Froome, Porte, Wiggins podium….
Ha ha just joking!
It would be really daft to
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?
If brad ain’t there, I’m
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”
@Simmo72 – I agree. As much
@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 😉
Yep that final stage Giro was
Yep that final stage Giro was really dull….
Its about winning not entertaining nodders.
There are lots of reasons why
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?
Can’t tell you how I know
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…
Whatever the case it should
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.
Sponsors require media
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.
I want my MBA !!
I want my MBA !!
I want my MBA !!
I want my MBA !!
If Froome does a Schleck and
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.
It would have been extremely
It would have been extremely embarrassing for Sky to make Wiggins drop back to allow Froome to win in the Critérium du Dauphiné.
MinardiM189 wrote:It would
I agree. Wiggins doesn’t need to be a domestique in two races. By doing the Tour de Suisse he can get some valuable racing in for when he takes over from Froome :)) .
brackley88 wrote:Can’t tell
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.
giobox wrote:Exactly. This
Froome helped Wiggins win both Romandie and the Dauphine in 2012 (and then the Tour de France).
The only time Wiggins has ridden in support of Froome in a Sky jersey is at last year’s Tour of Oman.
I’ll be surprised and
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.
Ghedebrav wrote:The only way
Agreed.
Wiggo in this year’s Tour would have a similar three weeks to Cadel Evans in the Giro just gone – gradually slipping back whenever they cross a big hill, holding on in the TTs.
I think Bradley Wiggins would
I think Bradley Wiggins would be a valuable team member in the role of road captain given his experience.
The two have huge egos but
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.
Beaufort wrote:The two have
Unlikely they’d get ayway with that one. If he’s not doing the lap of France, he’ll be doing the hard yards in training for the Commies.
The more I think about it,
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.
Wiggins wouldn’t need to do a
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.
‘Froome helped Wiggins win
‘Froome helped Wiggins win both Romandie and the Dauphine in 2012 (and then the Tour de France).’
that third one is arguable.
Interestingly, Brad was
Interestingly, Brad was training on the Manchester track yesterday – in GB kit – under the watchful eye of Shane Sutton
Sim1 wrote:Interestingly,
Really? Maybe not doing the Tour de France, and having a crack at the hour record later in the year.
Does seem odd that he didn’t do the recon with Froome in Yorkshire or on the cobbles.
cat1commuter wrote:Sim1
Looking ahead to Commie Games, innit. Richard Moore reckons he’s going to ride track events as well as the TT.
cat1commuter wrote:Sim1
Looking ahead to Commie Games, innit. Richard Moore reckons he’s going to ride track events as well as the TT (as per latest Cycling Podcast).
Whatever the case and whoever
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.