Wiggins lashes out after doping accusations
Bradley Wiggins ended the first 24 hours of his yellow jersey run by lashing out the naysayers. In press conference following the eighth leg to Porrentruy, just over the border from France in Switzerland, he was asked about the doping cynics.
He summed it up in one word, "C***s."
The question, the final of around five, came via an Associated Press journalist from the press tent near the finish line. It was delivered via a video link to Wiggins, who sat in a cabin on the back of a truck in the technical zone.
Since his fourth place in the Tour de France in 2009 and throughout this last year, critics placed doubt on his performances. In light of several doping cases in cycling, Alberto Contador to Riccardo Riccò, the critics wondered if Wiggins doped as well.
Sky has dominated stage races this year. The team has helped Wiggins to wins in a never before seen triple: Paris-Nice, the Tour of Romandy and the Critérium du Dauphiné. In the Dauphiné, it had four men in a key nine-man move over a mountain pass.
As Sky conquered, cynics wrote remarks on Twitter, comparing the team to Lance Armstrong's US Postal/Discovery Channel team. The American team dominated the Tour for seven years, but since has had several of its members linked with doping. The US Anti-Doping Agency in the last month charged Armstrong.
"There was some chatter in the Twitter-sphere about the comparison between Sky and US Postal," said the AP journalist. "I'm wondering your reaction. And, what do you say to the cynics who say you have to be doped up to win the Tour de France?"
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Wiggins, sitting behind a desk in the cabin, picked up the microphone and delivered his message nearly 100 metres away to the press tent.
"Honestly, they're just f**king w**kers," Wiggins said. "I cannot be dealing with people like that. [Laughs, from the press tent - ed.] It justifies their own bone-idleness because they can't ever imagine applying themselves to anything in their lives. And it's easy for them to sit under a pseudo-name on Twitter and write that sort of s**t rather than get off their arses in their own life and apply themselves, and work hard at something and achieve something. And that's ultimately it."
The translator readied to deliver the message in French, but before she could, Wiggins picked up the microphone and sent the final message to the cynics: "C**ts!"
Abruptly Wiggins left the Cabin, ready for another 24 hours in yellow.
Tour de France 2012: Latest news
Evans and BMC out-gunned by Sky in the mountains
Wiggins looking to keep Tour lead until Paris
Froome on Tour stage win: I had the legs and went for it
Martin to lead Garmin in the mountains as Hesjedal withdraws
Dislocated shoulder hinders Greipel sprint
Hesjedal may be out of Tour after Garmin suffer in crash
Stage seven video preview
The Feed Zone: Tour news round-up (July 5)
Celebrating the Tour's lead-out men
Liquigas's yellow and green jersey aim at Tour
Brailsford: Sky on the front for Cav and Wiggins
Tour de France 2012: Teams, riders, start list
Tour 2012: Who will win?
Tour de France 2012 provisional start list
Tour de France 2012 team list
Tour de France 2012: Stage reports
Stage eight: Pinot solos to Tour win as Wiggins fights off attacks
Stage seven: Wiggins takes yellow as Froome wins stage
Stage six: Sagan wins third Tour stage
Stage five: Greipel wins again as Cavendish fades
Stage four: Greipel wins stage after Cavendish crashes
Stage three: Sagan runs away with it in Boulogne
Stage two: Cavendish takes 21st Tour stage victory
Stage one: Sagan wins at first attempt
Prologue: Cancellara wins, Wiggins second
Tour de France 2012: Comment, analysis, blogs
Analysis: What we learned at La Planche des Belles Filles
Analysis: How much time could Wiggins gain in Tour's time trials
CW's Tour de France podcasts
Blog: Tour presentation - chasing dreams and autographs
Comment: Cavendish the climber
Tour de France 2012: Photo galleries
Stage eight by Graham Watson
Stage seven by Graham Watson
Stage six by Graham Watson
Stage five by Graham Watson
Stage four by Graham Watson
Stage three by Graham Watson
Stage two by Andy Jones
Stage two by Graham Watson
Stage one by Graham Watson
Prologue photo gallery by Andy Jones
Prologue photo gallery by Roo Rowler
Prologue photo gallery by Graham Watson
Tour de France 2012: Team presentation
Sky and Rabobank Tour de France recce
Tour de France 2012: Live text coverage
Stage six live coverage
Stage five live coverage
Stage four live coverage
Stage three live coverage
Cycling Weekly's live text coverage schedule
Tour de France 2012: TV schedule
ITV4 live schedule
British Eurosport live schedule
Tour de France 2012: Related links
Brits in the Tours: From Robinson to Cavendish
Brief history of the Tour de France
Tour de France 2011: Cycling Weekly's coverage index
1989: The Greatest Tour de France ever
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Founded in 1891, Cycling Weekly and its team of expert journalists brings cyclists in-depth reviews, extensive coverage of both professional and domestic racing, as well as fitness advice and 'brew a cuppa and put your feet up' features. Cycling Weekly serves its audience across a range of platforms, from good old-fashioned print to online journalism, and video.
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