The Cycling Thread

[Adam]

Sir Bradley Wiggins withdraws from Giro d'Italia due to illness

Sir Bradley Wiggins has withdrawn from the Giro d'Italia because of illness.

Seven-time Olympic medallist Wiggins, who is five minutes and 22 seconds down overall, has been suffering from a chest infection.

The Team Sky rider, 33, will be aiming to recover in time to defend the Tour de France, which starts on 29 June.

"His chest infection has been getting worse and our primary concern is always the health of our riders," said Team Sky boss Sir Dave Brailsford.

"Bradley will return to the UK today for treatment and to rest, and we hope to have him back on the road as soon as possible."

The Giro d'Italia was a big target for Wiggins in 2013 as he sought to become the first British winner of the pink jersey.

It took on even greater importance after Team Sky said team-mate Chris Froome would lead the British outfit's challenge at the Tour de France.

The Englishman was one of the favourites for the road race in Italy after winning the Tour de France and Olympic time trial gold in 2012.

"As a passionate racer he wanted to continue but he is simply unable to do so on medical grounds," added Brailsford.

Wiggins endured a difficult Giro, falling in wet conditions on stage seven and failing to deliver a victory in his specialist event - the individual time trial - on stage eight.

The Lancashire-based rider came home with his main rivals in stage 11, but was unable to respond when they injected a burst of speed towards the end of stage 12, which was won by fellow Briton Mark Cavendish.

Wiggins is currently 13th in the Giro general classification, three minutes and 18 seconds behind Team Sky team-mate Rigoberto Uran in third, with leader Vincenzo Nibali a further two minutes and four seconds ahead.

Overall standings

1. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita/Astana) 46:28:14"

2. Cadel Evans (Aus/BMC Racing) +41"

3. Rigoberto Uran (Col/Team Sky) +2'04"

4. Robert Gesink (Ned/Blanco) +2'12"

5. Michele Scarponi (Ita/Lampre) +2'13"

Despite Wiggins's exit, Brailsford insisted Team Sky are still in a strong position in the Giro, with Uran well placed.

"I think we have got a very strong team," he said. "They are all very motivated and they will continue to ride for Rigoberto, so the team doesn't lose its purpose.

"When Bradley broke his collarbone in the 2011 Tour, that was quite a difficult thing to take on because the team swapped from trying to get a result in the race to getting stage results, whereas here we still feel that we are competitive in the race."

Defending champion Ryder Hesjedal of Team Garmin-Sharp has also withdrawn from the Giro ahead of stage 13.

"The conditions on Thursday's rainy, cold stage combined with Hesjedal's deteriorating physical condition proved too much," the team said in a statement.

"It's heartbreaking," added Hesjedal. "I built my entire season around the Giro and I came here feeling great, but I have been suffering since the time trial."

So yeah...cycling! Looking forward to Froome's assault on the Tour de France, but the Giro has not really panned out for Wiggins. Cavendish is doing well as usual though.

[Lineker]

Mark Cavendish's 12th Stage win was the 100th of his professional career.

[Lineker]

Wiggo has been ruled out of the Tour de France due to injury.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

The word going around fans is that it's a clever way of avoiding more debate around the Tour de France leadership for Sky. I won't lose any sleep over it. For Sky fans Uran did excellently at the Giro and Froome should be a top five for the Tour. So that's good for you.

My Garmin lot have had a very poor season so far though.

[Gazz]

Hamster, who's going to win the TdF now then, because everyone but Froome is big odds.

[Adam]

My exact first thought when I heard this was that it's too avoid any internal drama within Sky, and it gives Froome a clear run at the title now.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

Froome won't win it. Put money on that.

In the top ten I think we'll see Contador, Froome, Cunego, Schleck, Rodriguez, Sanchez (if he's entered), Van Garderen or Evans, Rolland, De Gendt, someone from Garmin and maybe Valverde if he rides (the swine).

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

Rein Taaramae is another I was thinking of. Youngish Estonian rider for Cofidis. Very good.

[EddieG]

Die, Cavendish.

[GoN_]

I don't think it was on purpose, but it was a rather dangerous riding from him.

[EddieG]

He had plenty of space on the right, there was no need for it, completely intentional.

[GoN_]

Cyclingnews Editor Daniel Benson has spoken to Omega Pharma-Quick Step team manager Patrick Lefevere, who has confirmed that urine was thrown at Mark Cavendish during the time trial.

Nasty.

[Rich]

He had plenty of space on the right, there was no need for it, completely intentional.

The guy went Left and then Right back in to Cav's path, not exactly intentional, and everyone including Tom Veelers, the guywho fell, have absolved Cav of all blame.

So yeah, Bad Eddie making a bad call there.

Oh, and Hammy, are you still confident over the "Froome wont win" prediction?

[EddieG]

I still don't think it's a bad call, you look at it again, Cav went far more right than he ever had to go.

[Rich]

I have looked at it again, its easy to see from the line down the middle of the road that Veelers went left, Cav began to accelerate, Veelers then drifts right crossing back over the line down the middle of the road right in to Cav's path after Cav had started to accelerate, no fault on Cav's part there. I would like to see you try drift accross in front of Cav going at greater than 60kn/h and hope he stops and moves around you and not knock in to you when he is less than half a meter behind you.

Get back in you box sonny jim

[GoN_]

It's a shame I don't trust Froome's amazing results.

[Adam]

It's a shame I don't trust Froome's amazing results.

That is the sad state that this sport has been put into though. Did you doubt Wiggins last year too? I'm confident he is clean but if I wasn't I probably wouldn't even be able to watch road cycling anymore.

Great effort today to increase that lead. He was never going to beat Tony Martin, what a time trial beast he is. And the urine thing is disgraceful, I don't care if that crash was Cav's fault or not.

[GoN_]

It's a shame I don't trust Froome's amazing results.

That is the sad state that this sport has been put into though. Did you doubt Wiggins last year too? I'm confident he is clean but if I wasn't I probably wouldn't even be able to watch road cycling anymore.

Great effort today to increase that lead. He was never going to beat Tony Martin, what a time trial beast he is. And the urine thing is disgraceful, I don't care if that crash was Cav's fault or not.

Yes... A lot. It's sad that I watch the Tour every year, and it's been so for over 10 years, but I have a hard time trusting some of the bigger stars like Contador, Wiggins or Froome. And while last year I still could give the benefit of the doubt for the fact that the course fitted Wiggins really well, this is year it just seems really murky. Even if we don't have EBH pulling up front in mountain stages like last year.

It's just not their amazing performances. Is how much they exploded and started having spectacular results from one year to the other. Wiggins was an amazing track rider, that's a given, but from one year to the other the guy goes from being awful on the road to a Top 5 in the Tour, riding with the best in the mountains and retaining his TT abilities. At the age of 29...

Froome is even more mind boggling, even if he is younger. The guy did nothing relevant until he barely won a Vuelta to a nobody called Cobo Acebo. Ever since the guy started climbing like Pantani and TTing like Armstrong. All of this, after being diagnosed with a pretty mean chronic disease (coinciding with his magnificent improvement).

In the end, it's like Contador... I hope he is clean, but I don't believe it that much.

[GoN_]

Boasson Hagen out of Tour de France after crash

[GoN_]

Movistar fucked up big time.