Chasing The Tour | Stage 19 - Changing of the Guard

July 22, 2012

Team SKY dominated yet another stage of the Tour de France with three placings in the top five at the final time trial. There wasn't the excitement, anticipation and wonder that there was in Grenoble last year, but I couldn't help but get a lump in my throat when I saw Wiggins cross the finish line with a pump of his fist and the crowd roaring. No matter what is said about the way SKY went about winning this Tour, it was a momentous sporting achievement that I'll always remember.

Up until now I’ve been undecided about Wiggins’ character. There’s lots I could say but I no longer sit on the fence after attending today’s press conference where we saw the human side of him and how grounded of a person he is. He spoke about what’s driven him to get here (Cadel’s victory being an inspiration), his thoughts on this being perceived as a “boring” tour, his perspectives on what it means to win the Tour, and many other things that you’ll have to listen to below (thank you to Anthony Tan for recording and posting this).

One last ceremonial stage tomorrow with the traditional finish on the Champs-Élysées. There won’t be anyone fighting it out for the points classification nor will there be any chance of the Yellow jersey changing hands. What we can look forward to however is an exciting sprint finish between Sagan, Cavendish, Goss, and Greipel and the podium ceremony that brings closure to three of my favourite weeks of the year. Viva la Tour!

Stage 19 Photos

: Thomas Voeckler comes in 140th place in the stage but secures the polka dot jersey

: Simon Gerrans making his way to 63rd position

: Levi Leipheimer coming in 141st

: Bradley Wiggins made it very clear at the press conference that any tension between him and Chris Froome were just fantasies of the media.

: Bradley Wiggins on his way to a convincing second time trial win in this Tour. He beat 2nd place Chris Froome by 1:16 in the 53.5km TT

: The defending Tour champion suffered a convincing defeat. Cadel Evans was passed by his young team-mate with 20km to go and would eventually finish 5’54” behind the new Tour champion.

: Wiggins punching the air with his fist as he crossed the line. Sir Chris Hoy said that this is the greatest sporting achievement in British history.

: Wiggins crosses the line but can barely get through the dozens of media waiting to speak to him

: Bradley Wiggins - A deserving heir to the throne

Stage 20 Preview

A spitting image of his late father, but nothing like him

Race Results Summary

Tour de France (2012) - Stage 19 (ITT)

Bonneval to Chartres (54km)

21 Jul 2012

View the full race results

Stage

Position	Name	Nationality	Team	Time
1	WIGGINS, Bradley	GBR	SKY PROCYCLING	1:04:13
2	FROOME, Chris	GBR	SKY PROCYCLING	+1:16
3	SANCHEZ GIL, Luis Leon	ESP	RABOBANK	+1:50
4	VELITS, Peter	SVK	OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP	+2:02
5	PORTE, Richie	AUS	SKY PROCYCLING	+2:25
6	GRETSCH, Patrick	GER	ARG	+2:28
7	VAN GARDEREN, Tejay	USA	BMC RACING	+2:34
8	KIRYIENKA, Vasili	BLR	MOVISTAR	+2:46
9	TAARAMAE, Rein	EST	COFIDIS, LE CREDIT EN LIGNE	+2:50
10	ROY, Jérémy	FRA	FDJ-BIG MAT	+3:05

General Classification

Position	Name	Nationality	Team	Time
1	WIGGINS, Bradley	GBR	SKY PROCYCLING	84:26:31
2	FROOME, Chris	GBR	SKY PROCYCLING	+3:21
3	NIBALI, Vincenzo	ITA	LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE	+6:19
4	VAN DEN BROECK, Jurgen	BEL	LOTTO BELISOL	+10:15
5	VAN GARDEREN, Tejay	USA	BMC RACING	+11:04
6	ZUBELDIA AGIRRE, Haimar	ESP	RADIOSHACK-NISSAN	+15:43
7	EVANS, Cadel	AUS	BMC RACING	+15:51
8	ROLLAND, Pierre	FRA	TEAM EUROPCAR	+16:31
9	BRAJKOVIC, Janez	SLO	ASTANA	+16:38
10	PINOT, Thibaut	FRA	FDJ-BIG MAT	+17:17

Sprint Classification

Position	Name	Nationality	Team	Points
1	SAGAN, Peter	SVK	LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE	386
2	GREIPEL, André	GER	LOTTO BELISOL	264
3	GOSS, Matthew Harley	AUS	ORICA-GREENEDGE	238
4	CAVENDISH, Mark	GBR	SKY PROCYCLING	175
5	BOASSON HAGEN, Edvald	NOR	SKY PROCYCLING	146
6	WIGGINS, Bradley	GBR	SKY PROCYCLING	144
7	FROOME, Chris	GBR	SKY PROCYCLING	125
8	SANCHEZ GIL, Luis Leon	ESP	RABOBANK	104
9	EVANS, Cadel	AUS	BMC RACING	100
10	IMPEY, Daryl	RSA	ORICA-GREENEDGE	98

Mountains Classification

Position	Name	Nationality	Team	Points
1	VOECKLER, Thomas	FRA	TEAM EUROPCAR	134
2	KESSIAKOFF, Fredrik Carl Wilhelm	SWE	ASTANA	123
3	SÖRENSEN, Chris Anker	DEN	STB	77
4	ROLLAND, Pierre	FRA	TEAM EUROPCAR	63
5	VALVERDE, Alejandro	ESP	MOVISTAR	51
6	FROOME, Chris	GBR	SKY PROCYCLING	48
7	MARTINEZ DE ESTEBAN, Egoi	ESP	EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI	43
8	PINOT, Thibaut	FRA	FDJ-BIG MAT	40
9	FEILLU, Brice	FRA	SAUR - SOJASUN	38
10	MARTIN, Daniel	IRL	GRS	34

Young Rider Classification

Position	Name	Nationality	Team	Time
1	VAN GARDEREN, Tejay	USA	BMC RACING	84:37:35
2	PINOT, Thibaut	FRA	FDJ-BIG MAT	+6:13
3	KRUIJSWIJK, Steven	NED	RABOBANK	+1:05:48
4	TAARAMAE, Rein	EST	COFIDIS, LE CREDIT EN LIGNE	+1:16:32
5	IZAGIRRE INSAUSTI, Gorka	ESP	EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI	+1:20:40
6	VALLS FERRI, Rafael	ESP	VACANSOLEIL-DCM	+1:26:37
7	SAGAN, Peter	SVK	LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE	+1:27:42
8	NERZ, Dominik	GER	LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE	+1:31:08
9	BOASSON HAGEN, Edvald	NOR	SKY PROCYCLING	+1:41:39
10	MALACARNE, Davide	ITA	TEAM EUROPCAR	+1:46:06

tags: 2012 Tour de France, Bradley Wiggins

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Anonymous

Love the photo of the little girl trying to snap a shot with her DS of Levi. Fantastic photo of the finish too.

A deserving champion.
- Justin!
  
  Because, in France you speak French. It’s considered very rude to not even try. He could of just said, “Desolé -j’ai pas les mots” and that would have been fine, which would have fit his, “I only know pub-French”, but to outright not even try - that’s considered rude.
  - IF
    
    …and the Wiggins bashing continues. For those who would like to read a more balanced (ie, not Aussie) view, head on over to The Inner Ring for an excellent article.
    - Martin
      
      By the way,
      
      An interesting fact for the non-French speakers here
      (or the English speakers who think the whole world should speak English…),
      I must say that Wiggins speaks a very very good French.
      
      (Please excuse my english)
      - Matthew DeMaere
        
        Well growing up in Western Canada, going through French immersion studies and frequently getting English in reply when in French Canada, I’ll just roll my eyes at the concern for “its rude”.
        
        Justin!
        
        Canada isn’t France.
      - Chris
        
        I feel there are two points here - the France2 TdF telecast frequently had Cadel and Wiggo being interviewed in French which certainly appeals to the French public and their perception or the riders. And personally I loved hearing Cadel speaking French - that doesn’t make the SBS highlight reel!
        
        There is a separate point that Wiggo refused to respond in French on a occasions (including most notoriously at the presentation before the tour started - http://www.sbs.com.au/cyclingcentral/mike-tomalaris/blog/126438/Wiggins-might-not-be-a-popular-winner ). We can only guess his motives…
    - Justin!
      
      I actually live in the States, but have lived in Paris, I have never been to Aus. It has nothing to do with bashing Wiggins - pick up any guide worth its salt about living and working in France and they’ll tell you the same thing and give you the same advice: at least try to speak French.
      
      Wiggins does highlight that he has won major races in France: Dauphiné, Paris-Nice, and the Tour - ie: he works in France, as a professional cyclist. The French would love to here such a person speak their language.
      - Anonymous
        
        And guides are fantastic for tourists, perhaps not so ideal for international athletes having just won the most famous event in the world infront of the worlds media.
        
        Having lived and worked in a country and spoken a second language I can appreciate his concern for not wanting to undermine his feelings by poorly translating them into another language. If anything it would be rude to reduce the value of his emotion by weakly translating them. “Sorry I have no words” is particularly hollow when you just spent 25 minutes answer questions.
      - Anonymous
        
        And guides are fantastic for tourists, perhaps not so ideal for international athletes having just won the most famous event in the world infront of the worlds media.
        
        Having lived and worked in a country and spoken a second language I can appreciate his concern for not wanting to undermine his feelings by poorly translating them into another language. If anything it would be rude to reduce the value of his emotion by weakly translating them. “Sorry I have no words” is particularly hollow when you just spent 25 minutes answer questions.
    - http://www.cyclingTipsBlog.com cyclingTips
      
      Can you tell me why my post was unbalanced and “Wiggins bashing”? If anything I’d say that is far more on the side of Wiggins (very unbalanced I might add).
      - Anonymous
        
        If anything you have been too sympathetic. Typical Canadian. The moment your man is out you jump on the next best horse.
      - IF
        
        CT, my post was in response to the post from Justin - it had nothing to do with your original article/post and doesn’t refer to it.
  - JBS
    
    Agree, and its this sort of attitude that means I can’t warm to Wiggins (before I get flamed by the Brits here, its a Wiggins thing, not a British or Sky thing!).
    
    If you get a question from a French reporter (in France for crissake) and you can speak French, answer in French. Different story if you can’t speak French, but Wiggins can, he rode for a French team at one point, so he has to at least know, as Justin put it, “pub-French”. French riders will attempt to respond in English when questioned in that language, if they can. Fairs, fair here.
    
    Admire the bloke’s achievements, but not overly fond of the bloke.
  - http://www.cyclingTipsBlog.com cyclingTips
    
    If you can find video footage of Wiggins’ comments about not wanting to speak french to articulate his emotions, I think you might find that his body language softens it a bit. It wasn’t quite as emotionless as the audio may have made it sound.
  - http://www.cyclingTipsBlog.com cyclingTips
    
    If you can find video footage of Wiggins’ comments about not wanting to speak french to articulate his emotions, I think you might find that his body language softens it a bit. It wasn’t quite as emotionless as the audio may have made it sound.
Nat

sandwichands- we expect athletes with English as their second language to do that all the time.
I agree with you, he’s a deserving champion, and an articulate, straight-up guy.
Martin

Viva la Tour! (or in French… : Vive le Tour!)
http://twitter.com/Fennessy Matt

Great win by Wiggins, Chris Hoy says the greatest sporting achievement in British history. I wonder if like Cadel’s win here last year and the response from the general Australian public, how many British will truely understand how big an achievement it is to win the Tour de France?
I love the picture of Gerro, looks like he is going cross country, is he on his BMX perhaps?
Steel

Did the best rider win this years tour? I’m not sure about that. Either way though, the best two riders were from the old dart, and then daylight was next. In boxing parlance, they won without anyone laying a glove on them.

I will also be interested to see the pecking order at BMC at next year’s tour. If Cadel can re-capture some form, he’ll probably go in number 1, but perhaps they’ll wait and see how he and van Garderen go in the first few days before deciding who’s number 1. He’s been damn impressive the young Seppo.
norm

Wiggo is as much of an inspiration to cycling as Cadel. Well done Wiggo!
SL

They’ll struggle to find highlights out of that TT course. Bring on the Vuelta’s Pamplona TTT.
http://cycling.norbtech.com/ norbs

Wade, I agree that the presser was a better side of Wiggins, but given his recent tantrums, I still think he is a knob. Granted, a knob that can ride like the wind, but a knob all the same.

An interesting few Tweets by UCI_overlord last night.

“Now here’s an interesting stat, 5th place is almost 10 minutes down on Wiggins. Last year, everyone said close margins meant clean. 2012?”

“My little tweet test was interesting. I wonder, if a Spanish or Italian rider won by this margin, what would the British press be saying?”

“I hope the British press remember their moment when they ponder passing judgement on riders of other nationalities in the future.”
- http://www.cyclingTipsBlog.com cyclingTips
  
  I can’t comment if this was a clean Tour or not (I have no idea), but I’m pretty certain that the time margins of the top 10 cannot determine this.
- Teezy
  
  After reading this article, I believe his ‘tantrums’ are the signs of something far more complex and genuinely sad about Wiggins that perhaps might be traced back to his relationship with his abusive father (now deceased).
  
  His comment the other day about the media being relentlessly negative and uncomplimentary about his success could have just have easily have been about his dad.
  
  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2176740/Tour-France-2012-Bradley-Wiggins-bitter-rivalry-drunken-violent-father-drives-Brit-set-win.html
  
  I am now a fan of Bradley Wiggins.
- jules
  
  i like Wiggo. he tells it like it is. i’m a pretty placid person but when people s**t me i’ll have a crack. as a keen cyclist, this usually means motorists. it’d be easy to sit back and judge Wiggo for his foul mouth, but how many of us do the same thing when we feel provoked?
Kiat Huang

Great article and thread. The first I’ve seen (having read a lot in the past 3 weeks) to see a picture of Wiggins dad - and on a bike and six-day racing. As a kid I went to the Skol 6-day race in London. Perhaps Wiggins dad was there, I think Tony Doyle was. Brings back the warm memories - thanks for that.

Now I’m going to take issue with those who wield the “Wiggins bashing” stick, which is a blunt instrument. If you don’t agree with what someone says, then argue against it. Bradley is no saint, but he seems a decent bloke. His language when blue in press conferences must, however, be regrettable. You can be emotional and eloquent without using those unprintable swear words. His emotional state was fragile and he lost control. It should not be celebrated. Brailsford supported him, rightly, because he is so focused on winning. But in reality it was a drop in class, at complete odds to his riding style. Being incredibly successful at cycling doesn’t give him the right to expect to not be questioned proportionately about his views on doping in cycling. His violent reactions have been the only negative about Wiggins on this tour for me.

As a clear, world-class track star he never had a successful road career - yet he is now at that rarely experienced pinnacle of the toughest stage race in the world, of any sport. He deserves all the credit that is his due. But, it would have been awfully difficult if Froome was not there to shepherd him and, possibly, not happening if Froome was on another strong team. It’s a moot but, perhaps interesting comparison to cycling fans, to consider the overall GC time with Froome as team lead with Wiggins supporting him, rather than the other way around.

Sky unleashing Froome with full team support to explore *his* full potential, will be a fascinating sight. And they will. just as they convinced World RR champion Cavendish to be a water-carrier domestique for most of the TdF’s stages - a bizzare sight in the peleton, but one which riders can respect - they will aslo have Bradley Wiggins who will gladly support him (despite the friction between their respective WAGs).
- IF
  
  As the OP of the ‘Wiggins bashing…’ comment, I’ll reply. I didn’t agree with what someone posted, so my argument against it was made by referring to another popular cycling blog/website, and one which is linked from the homepage of this excellent blog. Early on a Sunday morning with neither the time or (more importantly) the literary talent to express it any better, I was happy to let a darn good cycling writer tell the story about a sportsman. I have no more time for Wiggins less eloquent moments than you.
Ga306

chapeau, bravo, bravissimmo, well done.
http://www.fyxomatosis.com fyxomatosis_one

Chapeau Bradley.

Equalled perhaps only by Matt Keenan with his knowledge on the sport.

Trackstar, Tourstar, Rockstar.