Bradley Wiggins, Tour de France stage 9
Bradley Wiggins has arrived at a crossroads following today's Tour de France stage to Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne. Following his losses in the last two Alpine stages, he must now reassess his goals, according to Sky Sports Director Sean Yates.
"We should put more emphasis on trying to pick up a stage win," said Yates, "I don't think we are in a position at this point where he should put all his eggs in one basket."
Wiggins sits 16th overall at 7'18" following today's time loss of nearly five minutes. Besides a stage, Yates believe Wiggins still has a chance at a top 10 or top five result by the finish in Paris.
Astana drove the group today on the Madeleine climb for captain Alberto Contador and dropped overall leader Cadel Evans (BMC Racing). Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) responded with attacks of his own and then rode clear with Contador to gain time.
Luxembourg's Schleck now leads by 41 seconds on Contador.
"It is definitive, there are now two guys better than the rest," said Sky's team manager, David Brailsford. "The race will be fought out between them."
Since Wiggins' chance of winning the overall is gone, Brailsford said that he was going to sit down this evening and consider other options.
"There is a whole host of options - stage wins, going on the attack - rather than just laying down and accepting our fate."
Wiggins arrived at Sky's bus, cooled down and thought to himself about what was possible. He will speak with Brailsford, Yates and Rod Ellingworth tonight about the two weeks ahead. However, he did say that the classification is his main aim.
"I don't think the GC's finished totally in terms of getting a respectable position and that may be top 10 for me," he explained.
"I don't want to give up, there's been so much support out there on the road it's been fantastic."
Tour de France 2010: Latest news
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Tour de France 2010: rest day review (July 12)
Armstrong's Tour de France dream ends
Sky's objective clear ahead of Tour's high mountains
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Wiggins crashes on Tour stage start
Cavendish and Farrar return to top
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Sky delivers Boasson Hagen to third without pressure
Tour de France 2010: Stage reports
Stage nine: Casar wins stage as Schleck and Contador go head-to-head
Stage seven: Chavanel wins stage and takes overall as Thomas drops out of Tour's white
Stage six: Cavendish makes it two as Tour hots up
Stage five: Cavendish wins his first stage of Tour
Stage four: Petacchi wins into Reims
Stage three: Hushovd takes dramatic win; Thomas second on stage and GC
Stage three live coverage: As it happened
Stage two: Comeback man Chavanel takes victory in Spa
Stage one: Petacchi wins in Brussels as bunch left in tatters
Prologue: Cancellara pips Martin to win
Tour de France 2010: Photos
Stage nine photo gallery
Stage eight photo gallery
Tour 2010 wallpaper
Stage seven photo gallery
Stage six photo gallery
Stage five photo gallery
Stage four photo gallery
Stage three photo gallery
Stage two photo gallery
Stage one gallery
Prologue photo gallery
Tour de France 2010: Videos
Stage eight video highlights
Stage seven video highlights
Stage six video highlights
Stage five video highlights
Stage four video highlights
Stage three video highlights
Stage two video highlights
Stage one video highlights
Prologue video highlights
Tour de France 2010: Race guide
Tour de France 2010: Cycling Weekly's coverage index
Official start list, with race numbers
Brits at the Tour 2010
Tout team guide
Tour jerseys: What they are and what they mean
Brits in the Tours: From Robinson to Wiggins
Tour de France 2010: Pictures
Tour team presentation, Rotterdam
Tour teams take to the cobbles: Photo special
Reader comments
Add your comments
Hadyn Bosher @ 77in Thailand
July 14 08:37
It was never going to happen for Wiggins,and i've always been amazed that the likes of Yates,Sutton and Ellingworth ,remember him being born as myself and his dad were racing buddies in the same club, that they seemed so nieve to think he would be up there in the G.C..Also as i've commented before, the team was just not good enough,for the G.C, if you don't have proven climbers,then it should not even be in your mind,would love to know what was,must still believe in Father Christmas i think !!!
Adrian T
July 14 10:43
Totally agree with Hadyn Bosher. Wiggomania has gone berserk this year and it has no foundation in him having any real prospect of putting in a real showing. He just isn't good enough and last year was 90% luck. A stage win was always the best he could hope for .. and even that is a very very long shot. Top 10? No chance.
Matt Jennings
July 14 12:17
Despite the hype and the hope, Wiggins was never going to repeat or improve upon last year's great performance due to the significantly more dificult route, and no team time trial, this time. I'm surprised more commentators and journalists didn't acknowledge this beforehand. If he were to finish top 10 from here it could arguably be considered a greater achievement than last year's 4th place. But I fear he will lose more time in the mountains and thus leave himself too much to do in the final time trial. We won't have a British winner unless we produce an attacking climber who can at least hold their own in time trials.
Hadyn Bosher @ 77in Thailand
July 14 15:46
Nice to read YOUR comments,AdrianT & Matt Jennings, Yesterday's stage brought back memories as i rode those climbs and also watched the Tour at the top of the Galibier in 1952 when Coppi won overall.I was 19 at the time and the bike then was 6speed with a 58 bottom gear,with saddlebag.,the road condition,OHHH icould go on!!sorry,but listening nowerdays to all the complaints i.e how steep/dangerous etc,and that fiasco neutrolisation, really p-------s me off !!!.keep in touch.