Tue 21 May 2013 | 
Why Wiggins is a sporting hero
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Enlarge textI’ve watched Bradley Wiggins race from a close perspective for more than a decade. Even before I’d seen him in real-life action, Shane Sutton had called his brother Gary, and my coach, to brag about a rare talent he was developing.
Character ... Bradley Wiggins has plenty of friends and enemies as he fights for the yellow jersey (Getty Images)
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From the get-go, Wiggins was known as an uber prospect. More than this, he was said to have a rare commitment and determination, one of such focus that those around him knew they were watching someone special.
His dominant performances of late for his team Sky, particularly in the time trials, can hardly be surprising. This is a guy who has been world and Olympic champion many times over. His resume already outshines most, and he has only just started his road career in earnest.
From an insider’s perspective, talent isn’t as rare as you think. Nor is commitment to the cause.
What is rare is the combination of the two. If you need convincing, how about the fact that after a 200km road stage, Wiggins was spotted on the wind trainer before he boarded the bus to the hotel? He possesses meticulous attention to detail.
On top of this, he has a team full of devotees. His inner circle contains some of the world’s best riders, managers and coaches, people who don’t suffer fools lightly.
You can probably tell by now that I hold him in fairly high regard. As an athlete, he is a once in a generation kind. Any young rider could learn a lot from studying his methods, and his tenacious attitude.
This single-minded focus comes at a cost, and when journalists ask him the hard questions, his natural reaction is a vitriolic spray. Wiggins is more passionate about cycling, and his mission within it than most people can understand.
I agree with Tomo that he doesn’t need to swear, but at least he is showing us some personality.
If it was a studio interview, I doubt he would react in the same way. His loose language often comes off the back of a long day and a yellow jersey presentation, yet his comments are regurgitated in media as though he has been interviewed in a sterile environment.
Before we tar and feather Wiggo, let’s remember that he is a family man too. While he no doubt has a warm and fuzzy side, he has no obligation to show that to us.
He is an athlete, and should be judged as such. If his passion flows into salacious responses to unwelcomed questions, so be it.
Wiggo is allowed his opinion, and he is allowed to show us some spark, perhaps we just need to get him a thesaurus.
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Comments (137)
21 Jan 2013 13:56 AEST
From: USA
Yes when Sammy Sanchez crashed, Contador slowed the race.
20 Jan 2013 14:41 AEST
From: Albany, Western Australia
Can anyone see Contrador slowing a race when a fellow competitor is in trouble? No he didn't for Scleck in a previous TDF when he was in the lead and his bike chain came off
20 Jan 2013 14:36 AEST
From: Albany, Western Australia
I dislike the word "hero" being used in any sporting arena. It devalues the word. Has a sportsman/womans efforts saved the lives of others?
22 Jul 2012 20:23 AEST
From: Cairns
Bradley Wiggins is not only a great rider, he is also an old fashioned sportsman. He took the lead in halting the racing after Cadel was effectively put out by the tacks incident. He mingles in the bunch finishes to try to get his fast men out. He speaks French - unlike, eg, Lance Armstrong. He feels so passionately about racing "clean" that any other suggestion will send him wild, but he is a sopoirtsman pure and simple and a good one. I believe the French think very highly of him.
22 Jul 2012 5:16 AEST
From: London
I will tell you all why Wiggins is a sporting hero. Because he has won one of sport's biggest prizes CLEAN. One of only 3 Tours in the last 17 you could say with absolute certainty that the winner did it fair and square. I like Cadel for that very same reason!
22 Jul 2012 4:02 AEST
From: Melbourne
Who the hell is Wayne Gretzky, never 'eard of him, and can't be arsed to Google him either.
21 Jul 2012 21:44 AEST
From: Yallourn North
To answer your last question: Because they didn't have an amazing team like Sky to back them up with a rock solid plan to stick to.
21 Jul 2012 13:48 AEST
From: Coffs Harbour
Some cycling fans try to have it both ways, there seems to be resentment of Wiggins holding Froomes wheel and not attacking himself. Wake up guys, this will make the last 2 Tours won by 'clean' athletes, seen the stats for the previous 15? The days of performances that seem beyond the realm of human endurance are gone, mainly because they actually were impossible without EPO. If Wiggins has had it easy holding Froomes wheel why didn't Nibali or the other GC contenders mark his every move ?
20 Jul 2012 19:14 AEST
From: melbourne
Howard you might not agree with Kate's article, I didn't, but don't bin her. Last time I looked kate has a bit of form on the track at the highest level over many years. As for Bradley well he has shown some form too, whilst Froome sems to be in a class all on his own team rules are team rules. Next year Froome will get his own team. Wiggins has shown he has what it takes to be there in Paris this year.
19 Jul 2012 14:45 AEST
From: newport
Plenty of tall poppy syndrome on this thread. Stuff the French media, they have as much credibility as our own. The fact here is that Wiggins is leading to this point, if someone is better they need to show it. Wiggins has shown great respect towards his team mates and other competitors and that is all he has to do. Hope he can keep it going to shut the naysayers up.
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