"Gutted" - Sir Bradley Wiggins confirms he won't ride Tour de France

What a ruddy shame. It could have been awe inspiring watching them ride together, pouncing on each others weaknesses, fake smiles and pats on the back. I think it makes Sky look really ruddy terrible not allowing a Tour De France winner ride. Balls to them

Chris Froome is a great bike rider but he needs to keep it shut now and concentrate on riding a bike.
Wiggins is showing a different side to his character which is good.
He needs to leave SKY, ride the tour next year which would be great to watch, ride Rio, then retire.

The tour would be better to watch with Wiggo in it, but only if they let him compete. Watching Froome supported by Wiggo isn't really what I want to watch anyway, I'd much rather see them go head to head next year along with all the other contenders that no doubt will give Froome a good run for his money this year.

Pre-Madonna ? would that be Diana Ross, Cher and Tina Turner

Personally, I'm disappointed, it won't be as good a Tour without him (for me).
Also is it not a missed marketing opportunity for sky. With Froome and Wiggins in the team, irrespective of what's going on in the actual race, 'Sky' would be in the headlines every day over how the state of their special relationship is progressing. Unless it's all part of the master plan, and he'll get miraculously drafted at the last minute in a whirlpool of drama and intrigue.
Here's hoping.

The decision not to ride Wiggins is 'business', not 'emotion'. Its about selcetcing a team that can get Froome to win. its a shame he isn't riding but Sky are just making a logical rational decisionm; could you imagine them doing anything else?
One day it will be Froome who is seeemingly 'dumped' when a younger, better rider emerges: that may not be for five years; it could be next. This professional sport; everyone gets 'dumped' in the end.

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I think Froome is the best candidate for Sky in terms of a GC winner, but the way this has played out isn't really pleasant, a lot of fans are going to feel somewhat cheated by Wiggins' non-appearance but Sky need to keep winning races, not popularity contests so these decisions need to be made.

It is rather interesting that Froome seems so ..... threatened by Wiggins this year??

It 'd be BMC, done deal surely?

For me, Sky and the TDF will be a lot less interesting this year. So many of us tend to support riders, not teams.

Exactly.

I am as sad as most people in this thread that Wiggo is very unlikely to make the team this year. However, Sky's intention has been very clear from its inception: to win the TdF.

As stated elsewhere in this thread, the team is not there to provide a parade of the most popular riders, and Sky has demonstrated clearly that it will do what it believes will give the best chance of winning, irrespective of who likes it or not.

Given what these guys put themselves through, it seems entirely reasonable to ensure the team leader feels 100% comfortable that every other man is working entirely for him, has complete confidence in their support, and has good understanding of how they tick and of their capabilities. The last thing the team leader needs is any niggling doubt about one of his most vital support men. If Wiggo wanted to be CF's primary support for the TdF this year, I would have thought it would have made sense for him to be training shoulder-to-shoulder with CF throughout the year to instil in him a deep confidence that he would be his right hand man, no matter what.

It would be fantastic to see Wiggo in this year's TdF. It would be great for the sport (esp. in the UK), and for the UK fans. And despite his behaviour in the last couple of years, I am still more of a fan of BW than CF, who I can't quite warm to.
However, as a Brit, I will continue to support Sky throughout the TdF this year. I will still avidly following each stage and hope to see CF on the top step in Paris (or one of his lieutenants if some unfortunate accident were to befall him on the way).

I hope that Wiggo wins Tour of Switzerland, and has the opportunity to go on and win the Vuelta.

Good luck team Sky.

BTW folks. If you're going to start calling someone a 'prima donna', please learn how to spell it.

ABF? ABS.

Terrible, terrible decision. Hope that someone buys out his contract and lets him ride.

'obviously hasn't been willing to become a team player.'
That being levelled at Wiggins, rather than Froome, is hilarious.

I am amazed at how anti-wiggins so many of these comment are.

Based on what?

Pre-madonna... How and when?

I personally think Wiggins has been royally done over by Sky since his tour win.

I get it, from a sporting perspective, the safe bet is Froome. In that case, why not just be upfront and get rid of Wiggins? Seems to me they have had him hanging on in the sidelines in case it all went tits up with Froomedog.

Britains first TDF winner deserves more than he has received in team support.

As for being a pre-madonna, if by that, you mean trying to assert himself as a leader, then yeah maybe... for instance, how dare he get upset that one of his deputees ignored team orders after all...

... but imagine, you've just won the biggest annual sporting event in the world, and then your bosses say 'thanks for that, now could I have two sugars in my tea please, tea boy?'

Its not right.

It does look as if Wiggins is a difficult character or 'mercurial'. Rod ellingworth's autobiograhoy is worth a read about the how they flexed british cycling/sky's systems for him. Looks like they have reach the point in his career and they see they have other riders that they dont need to accomodate hims anymore if they cant trust hes 100% behind froome.

having said that though I am still suprised based on form, hes probably been one of skys best riders this year, has consistently said he would work for froome and could realy do a job towing the train on the lower slopes and flats (and cobbles!) this year, esp. with Stannard injured.

the 2013 Brad i would have had no sympathy but 2014 Brad i am suprised and dissapointed for him.

Wouldn't it be a good idea to have Wiggins as a backup for Froome? Everyone knows how quickly a race can be over due to crashes or illness. Perhaps the choice was made over relationships and potential tension in the group rather than racing ability, which would've maybe have had negative knock-on effects on performance? Either way, I'm very impressed with the way Wiggins spoke in that interview. You could tell he was gutted but he stayed professional. A great role model for the sport!

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This interview is him throwing his toys out of the pram.

I disagree. Have you seen the interview? He was answering the questions put to him calmly and without placing blame anywhere. No toys visible.

I feel that this interview was either;

a) Just a part of his contract / TDF team negotiations with Sky. (is he still managed by that company he signed up to early last year?)

OR

b) Wiggins trying to set the expectations with media and public before the TDF team is announced. Better a nice friendly chat with some (non cycling specific) journalists where he can tell his story rather than having to deal with it all over the Tour Swiss

OR

c) Both of the above