Bradley Wiggins, Tour de France 2012, stage eight
Bradley Wiggins ended the first 24 hours of his yellow jersey run by lashing out the naysayers. In press conference following the eighth leg to Porrentruy, just over the border from France in Switzerland, he was asked about the doping cynics.
He summed it up in one word, "C***s."
The question, the final of around five, came via an Associated Press journalist from the press tent near the finish line. It was delivered via a video link to Wiggins, who sat in a cabin on the back of a truck in the technical zone.
Since his fourth place in the Tour de France in 2009 and throughout this last year, critics placed doubt on his performances. In light of several doping cases in cycling, Alberto Contador to Riccardo Riccò, the critics wondered if Wiggins doped as well.
Sky has dominated stage races this year. The team has helped Wiggins to wins in a never before seen triple: Paris-Nice, the Tour of Romandy and the Critérium du Dauphiné. In the Dauphiné, it had four men in a key nine-man move over a mountain pass.
As Sky conquered, cynics wrote remarks on Twitter, comparing the team to Lance Armstrong's US Postal/Discovery Channel team. The American team dominated the Tour for seven years, but since has had several of its members linked with doping. The US Anti-Doping Agency in the last month charged Armstrong.
"There was some chatter in the Twitter-sphere about the comparison between Sky and US Postal," said the AP journalist. "I'm wondering your reaction. And, what do you say to the cynics who say you have to be doped up to win the Tour de France?"
Wiggins, sitting behind a desk in the cabin, picked up the microphone and delivered his message nearly 100 metres away to the press tent.
"Honestly, they're just f**king w**kers," Wiggins said. "I cannot be dealing with people like that. [Laughs, from the press tent - ed.] It justifies their own bone-idleness because they can't ever imagine applying themselves to anything in their lives. And it's easy for them to sit under a pseudo-name on Twitter and write that sort of s**t rather than get off their arses in their own life and apply themselves, and work hard at something and achieve something. And that's ultimately it."
The translator readied to deliver the message in French, but before she could, Wiggins picked up the microphone and sent the final message to the cynics: "C**ts!"
Abruptly Wiggins left the Cabin, ready for another 24 hours in yellow.
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Tour de France 2012 team list
Tour de France 2012: Stage reports
Stage eight: Pinot solos to Tour win as Wiggins fights off attacks
Stage seven: Wiggins takes yellow as Froome wins stage
Stage six: Sagan wins third Tour stage
Stage five: Greipel wins again as Cavendish fades
Stage four: Greipel wins stage after Cavendish crashes
Stage three: Sagan runs away with it in Boulogne
Stage two: Cavendish takes 21st Tour stage victory
Stage one: Sagan wins at first attempt
Prologue: Cancellara wins, Wiggins second
Tour de France 2012: Comment, analysis, blogs
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Analysis: How much time could Wiggins gain in Tour's time trials
CW's Tour de France podcasts
Blog: Tour presentation - chasing dreams and autographs
Comment: Cavendish the climber
Tour de France 2012: Photo galleries
Stage eight by Graham Watson
Stage seven by Graham Watson
Stage six by Graham Watson
Stage five by Graham Watson
Stage four by Graham Watson
Stage three by Graham Watson
Stage two by Andy Jones
Stage two by Graham Watson
Stage one by Graham Watson
Prologue photo gallery by Andy Jones
Prologue photo gallery by Roo Rowler
Prologue photo gallery by Graham Watson
Tour de France 2012: Team presentation
Sky and Rabobank Tour de France recce
Tour de France 2012: Live text coverage
Stage six live coverage
Stage five live coverage
Stage four live coverage
Stage three live coverage
Cycling Weekly's live text coverage schedule
Tour de France 2012: TV schedule
ITV4 live schedule
British Eurosport live schedule
Tour de France 2012: Related links
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Brief history of the Tour de France
Tour de France 2011: Cycling Weekly's coverage index
1989: The Greatest Tour de France ever
Reader comments
Add your comments
Andy Simpson
July 08 19:29
I've got a lot of respect for Wiggins and, on balance of probability and maybe some optimism, I reckon Sky as an outfit are clean. But, and it's a big but, as someone who has followed cycling since the early 80's I would bet that the vast majority of Tour winners have not been clean for some or all of their careers, and as a fan, I've been "let down" too many times to have blind faith. I can appreciate his frustration, but why should he be believed anymore than Armstrong or Contador? It's a crap position for modern day cyclists to be in, but they can't deny 50 years of cycling history, or expect us to. As for his assertion that people who doubt are people who are bone-idle or lack commitment to something, well that's ridiculous; there's other commitments in life than sport and with far less financial rewards - my doubt comes from history, not from ignorance. As it stands I believe he's clean, without proof otherwise I'll cheer him on to Paris and celebrate a victory if it comes - but no pro cyclist can be surprised or insulted that the public are reluctant to completely invest in the cleanliness of a sport that's failed them time and time again.
JD
July 08 19:40
So where were the same fearless US journos a decade ago when US Postal was bossing the peloton? Would they have dared to pop the same question when it might have made a difference? Sheer indulgence. What on earth are riders supposed to say to facile question like that? Good grief.
Robert
July 08 20:05
Wiggins' outburst, rather than giving any assurance that he is riding clean, does rather come across as being a powerful piece of self-justification. It sounds much like the sort of thing Wiggins' hero and occasional advisor, Lance Armstrong, used to say. Something along the lines of "I know that many people will be sceptical of any rider or team who can win or dominate a race like the Tour, especially given its dope-tainted history, but please take my assurances that I and my team are riding clean" would have been much more reassuring. For some reason he chose not to do so. 'Wiggo' does seem to have undergone a major change in attitude since 1997 when he said "you can't blame people for doubting the credibility of the Tour for perhaps the next 5,6,7 years" and when asked "Do you think that all cyclists have been tainted by the same brush?" answered by saying "I don't think so and I think you've just summed it up in the question really by saying you're all taking drugs - so you're kinda pointing the finger at me really. A lot of it is kind of insinuation with questions like that. I can't blame people for perhaps thinking that." In that same interview Wiggins also accepted that the rewards of winning the Tour could tempt people to dope, saying "the financial rewards of winning something like the tour are so great that it tempts people to do what they do. If you compare it to something like the Olympic Games, the financial rewards of the Olympic Games are peanuts to winning something like the Tour de France. If you win something like the Tour de France you are almost guaranteed for 3 years to be on a E1,000,000 contract - that's quite attractive and lucrative to some people to take the risks they do." He also said "I spent a lot of time in the group finishing an hour down most days and that's where the heroes are for me... not the guys on the million Euro contracts who are being done for blood transfusions and things like that." I wonder if Wiggins now thinks that he used to be a bit of a c**t himself for saying the sort of thing he used to?
DJC
July 08 20:12
Bradley - the most tested cyclist at the moment. Completely agree with him!! If he was doped then it would show up like a bull in a china shop
redballoon
July 08 20:51
you tell them Wiggins, absolutely spot on.
Mick W
July 08 21:11
Couldn`t have put it better myself.....
scandalxk
July 08 21:59
Most sportsmen should be kept a mile from a microphone because they bore you to death. Andy Murray, anyone? You just lose the will to live trying to maintain interest in the deadly dull drone of platitudes. Keep it up. Brad!
DopeToWin
July 08 22:14
Compare and contrast with the Wiggins of 2007: http://itv-57.vo.llnwd.net/d1/event1/WIGGINS%20Podcast%2027_7_07_1-2.mp3 So Brad loses some weight, ups his cadence a bit maybe, implies he works harder than others... and even sets up a foundation! Hmmm.
Lightning Hopkins
July 09 01:09
Why would he call them "coats" and "workers" I dont get it. I guess you had to be there.
Frank Eastwood
July 09 02:03
How refeshing to hear anger in a reply from a leading rider when posed with the inevitable doping question. Compare this with the bland evasive replies of numerous other so called stars. Good on you Bradley
adam
July 09 05:32
Ah, us British potty mouths eh? Can't help but giggle... not sure how the Sky PR folk will gloss it over though. I hope Wiggins doesn't apologise either. If that how he feels, then he has an absolute right to say that. Have another good day to Wiggins and amuse us with some more curt comments. I said curt.....
Guy
July 09 08:11
Their comments born of jealousy and ignorance. I will second that, they are just c**ts.
Geoff Waters, Durban, South Africa
July 09 09:07
Is this really the way to deal with the media? Does'nt Sky have a press officer/advisor? Surely such FAQs are to be anticipated. In all sports at all levels supplements are extensively used - check out pharmacies, look at sales figures and talk to trainers. Cycling's answer currently lies with the UCI and WADA. Their testing protocols and strategies may be flawed and open to criticism but to hear of a top cyclist in a physically and psychologically stressed state being reduced to using expletives is simply depressing.
M Reynolds
July 09 10:24
Why oh why do some people have to spoil what is a great event in the cycling calendar? The media and Press seem to revel in unfounded speculation. The Tour De France is the ulimate goal in any professional cyclists career; and they need to achieve an extremely high level of fitness just to complete race. Accusations of doping; and the constant speculation, would upset even the mildest mannered person. Time to support the Sky Team and not listen to idle gossip or scare-mongering tactics of the press and media.
Big Al
July 09 10:25
Nice one Wiggo. Made me chuckle anyway.
Woody
July 09 10:52
Superb response there from Wiggo!
Martin Littlewood
July 09 11:13
Might not appreciate the swearing but 100% behind the comments. Go Brad and Team Sky
David
July 09 11:54
Bravo Wiggo!!
Seamus Leahy
July 09 12:27
I did say in a previous comment that this (accuse the successful of doping) would occur, re Armstrong he was tested so many times that they should now leave the bloke alone or go back to the beginning of Le Tour and systematically strip all the winners of their titles, some justifiably, others just in case
Simon E
July 09 12:57
It's a sad indictment of the times that poor old Brad can't do anything right by some people. Damned if he keeps quiet, damned if he speaks out. I am glad he said what he did and with the forcefulness that he used. At least you can't call him 'mealy-mouthed' or trying a typical doper's response. My kind of bloke. #AllezWiggo.
Phil Walker
July 09 14:10
Cant believe what some people are reading into a) what Wiggins said and b) the insinuations that have been made, judging by the comments here. I can totally understand his frustrations at the crap being levelled at them - because they are controlling a race and riding very well, they MUST be doped up? Do some of you REALLY believe that rubbish? If so, you are no better than the people who made that crap up. Show me some evidence, then feel free to say what you like, till then, shut up and let the lad get on with winning a bike race!!
Simon WS
July 09 15:34
Well said, that man!
Matthew
July 09 18:25
Gotta love someone who doesn't give out the same dull platitudes in sport. Any sport needs personalities, miserable, feisty or vibrant. Surely someone speaking their mind is better than the inane dirge trotted out by 'media-trained, personality-dulled' footballers?
Andy
July 10 00:06
Good man Wiggo - great role model for all the kids watching.
Cormac
July 10 00:14
Lets face it - Wiggans is a superb bike rider because he has dedicated his life to training, diet, racing etc. He probably did all this whilst neglecting a decent education - probably the reason why his vocabulary is limited. Its a bit disturbing but not surprising to see so many British fans who think his comments are great. If he keeps the comments such as c**ts and w**kers I'm sure he will make a great after dinner speaker at British events when he retires. Makes you proud...
Frank Green
July 10 12:26
Decent education Cormac ?, who gave you the job of educational officer you pretentious c**t.
geoffrey smith
July 10 13:15
well done wiggo.. 99% of us real riders agree with you,, only the do goders like that SA bloke from durban stand on holy ground... i raced in SA in the 70's and after every track or road race,(at national level) , the riders downded a 2 ltr bottle of coca cola.... now if you are in the know,, you know what that means.. Geoff
Jackie
July 10 13:33
While I thought the language was a bit potty mouthed, I absolutely agree with the sentiments expressed by Wiggins in his press conference. God only knows I, as a fan, get sick to the back teeth of explaining to all my friends, colleagues and family that actually no, not all procyclists take drugs - the frustration of constantly being asked the same old questions time and time again in press conferences must be immense!
May Sports Images
July 10 15:24
Anyone who has ever met Brad (and I'm proud to say I have) or even read his autobiography would know that he would never dream of doping. He loves his sport with an undying passion and simply would not drag it through the mud in the way that some previous "Champions" have in the past. Fortunately there are still a few genuine sporting heroes who are beyond reproach. Bradley Wiggins is right up there with them. We need to get behind him to bring home the biggest prize in the sport. As for that a#sehole Cormac. Such an expert on education and Professional Cycling that he can't even spell Brads name right!
James
July 23 12:52
Must be roid rage!
Meimei Wang
October 25 07:50
I agree entirely with this comment and I still think we should push the investigation further into the possibility of Bradley Wiggins having taken dope during the Olympic Games.
Scott
January 18 23:14
Bradley wiggins is a boring old fart. Would bet the farm he's doping.
ol
January 19 20:55
I'd put money down that he'll get busted too. You don't improve like that (weight loss my ar se) and don't win so much (over the course of the year did he lose a race he entered?!) on gatorade and powerbars. One other thing - already sick of hearing how many times he is tested. How many times was Armstrong tested? Every single caught (and contrite) doper has told how easy it is to beat hte system. All it means is the most organized team with the most cash can afford the best of everything. I'm a massive fan of British Cycling - but I don't like what I'm seeing here.