“I can never dope because it would cost me everything,” said current Tour de France leader Bradley Wiggins in an impassioned article in The Guardian.
Wiggins put pen to paper (more likely dictated to a ghostwriter) in recent days following on from some aggressive confrontations with the media at this year’s Tour.
The Brit, not one to hold back with his opinions, has like other cyclists who have emerged from the peloton to take the yellow jersey faced increased scrutiny from those who are questioning the genuineness of his progress.
This was particularly the case after his and teammate Chris Froome’s performances in the stage nine individual time trial, where Wiggins defeated the time trial king Fabian Cancellara by almost a minute.
“I understand why I get asked those questions given the recent history of the sport, but it still annoys me,” wrote Wiggins on the speculation.
Wiggins’ contention on why he could never dope centered on the following: too much to lose by getting caught, for his family, his career and reputation; different culture in Britain where doping is morally unacceptable; and his loathing of the cheating culture that once dominated professional cycling.
On the whole the piece was praised as an emphatic denial and a worthy condemnation of cheating by cycling’s new hero. But what marks his arguments out from those who have come before him declaring their innocence?
The sad reality is the recent past of the sport taints the whole peloton. The praise of Wiggins’ claims are more about the hope that the sport has turned a corner and is now in the main clean, rather than Wiggins’ actual arguments.
Wiggins wrote: “It comes down to my family, and the life I have built for myself and how I would feel about living with the possibility of getting caught.”
Does that not apply to any cyclist when they consider the consequences of doping?
“I come to professional road-racing from a different background to a lot of guys,” continued Wiggins.
“There is a different culture in British cycling. Britain is a country where doping is not morally acceptable. I was born in Belgium but I grew up in the British environment, with the Olympic side of the sport as well as the Tour de France.
“I don’t care what people say, the attitude to doping in the UK is different to in Italy or France maybe, where a rider like Richard Virenque can dope, be caught, be banned, come back and be a national hero.”
How does this logic consider the career of Brit David Millar, the reformed “ex-doper” who has been welcomed back into the British cycling fold with Olympic selection and is lauded for how he has turned around his career?
Credit to Wiggins for openly tackling the doping issue. But through not fault of his own – rather the history of his sport – it will take more than words to convince the doubters.
It is cycling’s and cyclists cross to bear – the eternal question of who is clean and who isn’t.
Sick and Tired
Guest
AICAR
KNACKERS
Guest
I wouldn't go on about the good sportsmanship too much. WiggoMan is just doing what is expected and normal-you may as well praise a man for not being a bank robber
Colin N
Guest
"Froome – has had some varied form but then just SMACKS Cancellara in a TT and is monstering everyone on the climbs – day in/day out." I grant you that Froome's second place in the TT was a surprise, but when you consider he's probably a better TT rider (or at least has the ability to beat them) than the majority he beat in the top 10 and Cancellara hasn't been in the best form this season, you can see how he came second. As for the climbs, we've seen gimpses of Froome's form, but actually the most impressive has been Nibali. Froome's only had a chance to attack twice and one was very brief. As for the others, they've been given a chance to rest up really. They do their jobs, drop back and reserve their energy for the next day. As I said somewhere else I believe, Rogers finished in second place in one of the races, so is an exceptional climber in his own right. Also, days like today help Sky. I was surprised that no one tried to reel in the breakaway. It meant a comfortable day and it was almost like a rest day for them. Stages 12 and 14 weren't particularly difficult either.
Bones506
Roar Guru
Wiggins form is not so much an issue for me - though he does have a few skeletons in his closet. Last year Porte would lead Contador up the start of a climb and then just pop. Froome - has had some varied form but then just SMACKS Cancellara in a TT and is monstering everyone on the climbs - day in/day out. Anyone that really knows racing and has experienced it firsthand knows that you cannot sit on the front for the better part of 2 weeks in the Moutains and maintain the form.
Bones506
Roar Guru
Mechanical is a bit different.
Axelv
Guest
I could be wrong but you appear to be new to this sport. The first rule is trust no-one.
Axelv
Guest
Certainly hasn't been the rules that Contador and Schleck have been following, now have they? Last year Cadel had a gear problem up a climb and they both continued to attack and try gain their lead over him on a crucial stage A year or two before, Andy Schleck's chain fell off as he was having a duel with Contador, Contador rode off and gained valuable minutes. Well done to Wiggins for showing sportsmanship, it takes a good man to do that. Also well done to most of the other GC riders for agreeing.
Colin N
Guest
"The drugs they would use, if in fact hey are, are not able to be tested. The wealthy teams are well ahead of the game." You mean like those cyclists who were all part of wealthy teams but were caught? Fair enough if you're right, but I trust a man like Brailsford, who helped reinvent British cycling. I would also trust a man like Wiggins who is three-time Olympic champion, six-time world champion, fourth in the 2009 Tour de France (and was beaten by three competitors who aren't in this year's tour). He's also shed weight to improve his climbing since then. As regards to peaking, Wiggins has won three races, so has been pretty dominant anyway, with the likes of Rogers finishing second in one of the races ahead of Cadel Evans. Wiggins is a very good TT rider and has won several TT's this season. As an example, he thrashed Tony Martin by 34 seconds in the Criterium du Dauphine. Cancellara hasn't had the greatest season by all accounts and the prologue win was seen as a return to form, but considering the results over the season, it's not a surprise to see Wiggins dominate the next TT. Sky's dominance isn't a surprise considering the strength of their team with several strong climbers. You mentioned that you believe Evans is clean, but his team, with the exception of van Garderen are strongest on the flat and are very good at keepig him out of trouble on the sprint stages. You can't really compare BMC to Sky. Everyone seems to think that Sky have been perfect, but if you remember, they were caught up in all sorts of trouble in the first week, with the team failing to protect Wiggins.
Tim Renowden
Expert
I liked how they never made strong, explicit allegations about Carl Lewis, but had an expert on to talk about how human growth hormone enlarges the jaw, so seeing adult athletes with braces on their teeth is a bit of a giveaway.... and then later in the show had a big close-up shot of King Carl smiling and showing off his new braces.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Am with you Bones506. Sky have had the results that we know for the last few months and have been outrageously dominating the dauphine and now the TdF. A climber like Froome was 30sec faster than Cancellara over the 41km TT! hmmm... i know, people train, get better etc but i found it hard to have 3-4 riders from the same team peaking in TT and mountains when they want, at the same time over a 3-4 months period. call me cynical.
Bones506
Roar Guru
That is the unwritten Rule of he Peleton. It has always been he case. The yellow Jersey leader should be the one to make the call and I applaud him for that
Bones506
Roar Guru
The drugs they would use, if in fact hey are, are not able to be tested. The wealthy teams are well ahead of the game. If people want a real insight into what goes on they need to read "Breaking the Chain"
Bones506
Roar Guru
I really hate saying it about a sport I love so much but things do look very suspicious to me. Doesn't anyone find it slightly strange that all of these riders have all of a sudden hit absolute peak form all at once. You don't smack Spart like that in a TT. Rogers is riding well above his prior form.
Bones506
Roar Guru
Cadel's history with other teams and their clear lack of intent to race nd support him properly is the best indication he is clean.
Colin N
Guest
"Questions really must be raised of Team sky and their TDF 2012 performance." The only way that should happen is if the numerous drug tests that they've been subjected to during this tour find any illegal, performance enhancing substances in them. Sky have also assembled a very strong team. It's not like any of them have suddenly broken through like some of the previous drug cheats.
Sean Lee
Expert
"Rogers has never ridden this well" Hey Bones, don't forget that Rogers has finished top 10 in the Tour before and was virtual leader before crashing out the year after. He is also a three time world champion. He is most capable. Sky's only crime is that they have accumulated a talented line up. Porte could be anything. We've seen what EBH can do. Froome and Wiggins are elite level cyclists.
zacbrygel
Roar Guru
Great sportsmanship of Wiggins to slow the peleton last night when Evans had punctures. Now that is true class.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
This doco aired last week on SBS. Very informative look at what happens in sports. A sprinter/cyclist realises he is behind the top guy most probably because this one is taking something, hence his decision to strat talking something. Then he wins. Then the others realise they have to take something to achieve similar results. And it goes on and on... Even Carl Lewis had apparently tested positive to something but the samples were found to be missing. Same in cycling. I understand Wiggins frustration but he has to realise that the public is entitled to have doubts when we have been cheated countless times for years with sportsmen having exactly the same speech that he is having right now.
Hoy
Roar Guru
Oddly enough, as I write this in a thread about drugs cheating, the Tour is well known for sportsmanship.
Lroy
Guest
I think given his decision to slow the peleton down after all the flats (sabotage) was a remarkable feat of sportsmanship. He could have bolted off and won the tour on the spot. Obviously Im supporting Green Edge.. or Cadel.. but if neither of those can get up I really hope this English guy gets up and wins it. I think this is almost the best sport story of the year.