Is Chris Froome better than Bradley Wiggins?
TWO years on the bounce, and Britain has seen one of its own winning the prestigious, gruelling Tour De France. First came Bradley Wiggins, briefly making sideburns fashionable, cod-mod, into rugby league and bringing a certain swagger to proceedings. Thanks to this, he became a Knight, which is impressive.
Then, a year later, along came the determined, studious Chris Froome, unswervingly grateful on the podium with his yellow jersey, sincere, with a surprising sparkiness and fire in his belly.
However, the relationship between the two isn’t exactly great with the pair trading blows in a sport that brings out incredible levels of shark-eyed one upmanship.
With the Olympic champion, Wiggins, missing the Tour of 2013, Froome confidently strode into view, leaving cycling nuts anticipating how they’d get on in 2014, when the TdF departs from Yorkshire. Who would be the team leader? Would they even get on? More importantly – who is better?
It seems Sir Brad thinks Froome is a finer cyclist.
“I don’t mind admitting that Chris is probably a better Grand Tour rider than me,” said Wiggins. “He is a much better climber, he can time trial as well. He has age on his side, he has no kids. That’s fine. If Chris wants to, he could potentially win five tours now. So if I want to win another tour, I’d probably have to leave the team. I love this team. This is my home. I’m not going to go, ‘I want to be leader so I’m off’.
“I felt, as the defending champion, I was quite entitled to to put my hand up and say ‘I would like to be considered for the leadership’. But if someone is chosen over me I am professional enough to do my job. I know that, at the last press conference I gave before the Giro (d’Italia), saying that caused quite a stir from Chris’ camp.
“I remember at the start of the Giro there was a lot of shit and, to be honest, it affected me.”
So much so that Wiggins didn’t congratulate Froome on his Tour de France win, but alas, that might be something to do with him not having Froome’s number, an excuse he confesses is “pathetic”.
Are we about to see one of the greatest rivalries in cycling? If so, who is better? Froome is certainly gifted on a bike, but Wiggins has the charisma which will always make him more of a star in the field and obviously, he’s no slouch.
Who do you like better and who is the best cyclist of the two?
Posted: 4th, September 2013 | In: Sports Comment (1) | TrackBack | Permalink
