Wiggins: 'I'm not some s**t rider that's come from nowhere'

Bradley Wiggins and Edvald Boasson Hagen, Tour de France 2012, stage 10

Bradley Wiggins defended his Tour de France lead today on the mountain stage to Bellegarde-sur-Valserine and then his response to a question about doping cynics.

"I don't feel like I should have to sit here and justify everything I have done to the world," Wiggins said in a press conference today.

"I'm not some s**t rider who has just came from nowhere. I've been three times Olympic champion on the track. People have to realise what kind of engine you need to win an Olympic gold medal as an individual pursuiter."

Wiggins responded to a journalist who asked about his response to a doping question four days ago when the race finished in Porrentruy, Switzerland. He gave a strong response, coloured with profanity, to those who write in Twitter and other social media outlets to compare his Sky team with Lance Armstrong's former US Postal/Discovery Channel team. Several of Armstrong's former team-mates are linked with doping and the US Anti-Doping Agency charged Armstrong with doping in the last month.

He was also asked why his Sky team told journalists they could not question him about French cyclist, Rémy Di Gregorio ahead of yesterday's rest day press conference.

French police arrested Di Gregorio yesterday in connection with a doping investigation. His Cofidis team have pulled him from the Tour and temporarily suspended him. The journalist pointed out that Wiggins used to race for Cofidis, but more importantly has some reason to speak for the peloton since he leads the Tour de France.

Wiggins' response today lacked profanity and went on for longer, around 2-45 minutes. At the end, he looked at the translator and asked, "Did you get all that?"

His response:

"I understand it from certain parts of the media, but I don't feel like I should have to sit here and justify everything I have done to the world. I'm not some s**t rider who has just came from nowhere. I've been three times Olympic champion on the track. People have to realise what kind of engine you need to win an Olympic gold medal as an individual pursuiter. I've been six times world champion, fourth in the Tour de France, third in the Vuelta last year. It's not like I've just come from nowhere. I've got an incredible pedigree behind me, junior world champion since I was 18 and an incredible rise through the ranks.

"I didn't lose my cool, I just said what I think. It's completely different. If I'd lost my cool, this table would've been on the floor down there. That's the difference. I just don't feel like I have to sit here and justify to everyone.

"To me, it's them p**sing all over everything I've done, by just saying 'Oh yes, he's cheating' or whatever. That's what really gets to me. Everyone in their individual jobs works hard at what they do. Everyone on this Tour has got a certain job to do and they work hard on it. That's no different to the riders and the position I'm in now. Yes, I'm in the yellow jersey and I'm inspiring maybe kids to take up cycling, this, that and the other.

"But ultimately I've worked hard to be in this position and I deserve every minute of what I've been through this last week or so, especially after sitting at home last year and watching it on the telly. There's one reason why I'm in this position and that's because I've worked hard and I shouldn't have to justify all that other stuff which we spoke about the other day to certain parts of the world.

"I'm tested by the UCI God knows how many times a year, God knows how many times on this race and the Dauphine. Blood tested in the morning. What more can I do? Other than that? I don't know. I'd love to know. I'm only human at the end of the day. I'm not this robot. I'm just a kid from London who happened to be good at cycling, made it here.

"I make mistakes in my life, I swear, I'm not this fantastic role model that everyone wants me to be. I am good at riding my bike and performing on my bike. Other than that, sitting up here, answering all these questions every day, trying to be articulate about it. I don't know what else I can do, other than that."

Tour de France 2012: Latest news

Cavendish enjoying new Tour role

Wiggins taking nothing for granted in 'dream scenario'

Sky keeping Tour focus on Wiggins

Di Gregorio arrested by police at Tour de France

Daniel Martin courts King of the Mountains jersey

Wiggins' special yellow Tour de France skinsuit

Tony Martin abandons Tour de France

Wiggins proud of Tour time trial stage win

Wiggins lashes out after doping accusations

Tour de France 2012: Teams, riders, start list

Tour 2012: Who will win?

Tour de France 2012 provisional start list

Tour de France 2012 team list

Tour de France 2012: Stage reports

Stage 10: Voeckler wins and saves his Tour

Stage nine: Wiggins destroys opposition in Besancon TT

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

Analysis: What we learned at La Planche des Belles Filles

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 10 by Graham Watson

Stage nine by Graham Watson

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 10 live coverage

Stage nine live 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

Brits in the Tours: From Robinson to Cavendish

Brief history of the Tour de France

Tour de France 2011: Cycling Weekly's coverage index

1989: The Greatest Tour de France ever

 

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