Tour de France champion Bradley Wiggins has confirmed the Giro d’Italia is his main priority this year.
“The Giro d’Italia is my new challenge, my inspiration, the new fire burning inside me,” Wiggins told race organiser Gazzetta dello Sport on Tuesday. “I think winning it, for certain aspects, will be more difficult than winning the Tour.”
Wiggins also won the time trial at last year’s London Olympics before home fans, and the Giro route should favour his ability at racing against the clock.
Beginning in Naples on May 4 and ending in Brescia on May 26, the race features three time trials for a total of 92 kilometres.
Wiggins listed the steeper Italian climbs and other challengers, namely Vincenzo Nibali, as his biggest obstacles toward winning.
Wiggins has raced the Giro five times, including his grand tour debut in 2003 when he failed to finish. In 2010, he won the opening time trial in Amsterdam and wore the leader’s pink jersey for one stage, eventually finishing 40th for his best finish in the race.
“In terms of cycling history, the Giro is just as important as the Tour, but it has a more human aspect,” Wiggins said. “The Tour has maybe gotten too big.”
Wiggins won three Olympic titles and six medals in track cycling before focusing exclusively on the road.
He said that he first began to believe in his climbing ability when he finished ahead of Lance Armstrong in the first big climb of the 2009 Giro at Alpi di Siusi.
But Wiggins wouldn’t analyse Armstrong’s doping confession last week.
“I’m not interested in what happens to Lance,” Wiggins said. “My worry is in what state this scandal leaves cycling. Where have (UCI president) Pat McQuaid and all the others brought this sport? Certainly not in a great position, especially for the riders racing now. … Our credibility is on the line.”
Wiggins said he will help Sky teammate Chris Froome at the Tour after they finished 1-2 last year.
“But I’m still hoping to race another Tour at a high level after the Giro, that’s the challenge – maybe another podium,” he said. “Anyhow, it’s better for the team to have two cards to play than one.”
Lamby
Roar Rookie
So we just let him go, dominate cycling and then go through the same Lance confessions in 5-10 years. Lets list the problems with Contador and why he should not be allowed to compete: - There was a mysterious batch of bags found from operation puerto with the initials AC and almost all of his Liberty Seguros implicated. - Riding with Lance and Johan Bruyneel at Discovery and Astana - Bruyneel's teams are all suspect. - Rides for Saxo Bank with Bjarne Riis - Banned for 2 years for clenbuterol This is what is wrong with cycling. The same UCI that allowed Lance and a whole generation to dope is still allowing it to happen.
Frankie Hughes
Guest
He served his ban... Get over it.
Lamby
Roar Rookie
Yes, Contador will win because he is also a lying drug cheat.
Frankie Hughes
Guest
Contador will reclaim the Tour de France and Giro Italia. Would be pretty sweet to see another rider win all three grand tours back to back. If Wiggins doesn't try and beat Contador for the 2013 TDF it shows that Wiggins was fortunate to cash in during Contador's ban. For me Contador is the most complete rider around and he'll be too good.
Colin N
Guest
How did they dominate in all three tours? Froome was spent in the Vuelta and he hardly had the same protection from the team.
Lamby
Roar Rookie
Yep, he knows he will struggle this year (and so will Sky) without the doping doctor Geert Leinders (who masterminded the Rabobank doping) Sky dominated last year (in all 3 tours) unlike any team since US postal.
jameswm
Guest
The course suits Froome better. What odds they go 1-2? Froome could possibly have won it last year, if he took off on his own on some of the climbs.
Jamiej
Guest
Ahhhh, I think they kind of are already..
aggregated drupe
Roar Pro
It is the 100th Tour De France and Wiggins is more interested in the giro. I say that Team Sky should try and make Froome win the tour