Wiggins confirms Giro start

by Andrew Hood

Bradley Wiggins will be among the big names at the 2010 Giro.

Bradley Wiggins will be among the big names at the 2010 Giro.

The Giro d’Italia continues to attract big names to its 2010 edition.

Despite butting up against the Tour of California, the corsa rosa is seeing some top names poised to race the season’s first grand tour. Carlos Sastre (Cervélo) and reigning world champion Cadel Evans (BMC) have already indicated they will race the Giro.

Joining the lineup is new Sky captain Bradley Wiggins, who told the Gazzetta dello Sport he will be at the start line in Amsterdam come May.

Last year, Wiggins used the Giro to prepare for his surprising fourth place finish overall at the Tour de France. Wiggins hung close to the best climbers during last year’s Giro, providing a preview of better things to come.

Wiggins will headline the new Sky team following his early departure from Garmin-Transitions.
And the 29-year-old promised he won’t be there just to prepare for the Tour.

“The Giro is an important race,” he said. “I especially plan to focus on the time trials, from the prologue in the Netherlands to the final in Verona, but you do have to make a choice and the priority for me is the Tour.

“Making a choice is necessary,” he added. “Look at (Carlos) Sastre, who fully focused on the Giro and then went on to have a poor time at the Tour.”

Categories : Giro d'Italia, News, Road

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  • CliveDS
    Soon we are going to be talking about the "Wiggo effect" his presence in the sport it bringing the UK public back into cycling. Good for everyone.
  • rider/fan
    I'm already sick of reading about Wiggo, who has gotten more attention for his limited performances than anyone else riding. Of course he's a capable rider, but what has he really done on the road? There's plenty of one-hit wonders out there and the main reason he gets all the press is that he's English and as we all know, the poms tend to sensationalize everything tabloid style. Would we be reading so much about him if he were an Aussie or a Kiwi? I think not. The Austin Powers lookalike better put up or shut up in 2010 and for me, I'm glad he's gone from Garmin. They have a fine leader in Christian VdV, and not only that, the guy has a the best attitude in the business.

    My prediction? Wiggo's own ego will do him in and he'll fade from the limelight. The way he left Garmin should give all and sundry an insight into his way of thinking. If the English need a Tour hero, then I say look again to the Manx Missile. Cavendish will have a tougher time of it without George Hincapie, but he'll no doubt gather up a fair number of stage wins anyway.

    The top three Tour favorites? Contador/Armstrong even odds, then the Shlecks, then VdV, a rejuvenated Sastre, Tony Martin, and Austin....I mean Bradley Wiggins.

    Cheers.
  • jesusnieto
    To tell you the truth, I like Wiggo because I also follow track racing very closely, and I think it is amazing to see a world champion in a 4 and a bit minute event develop into a Tour star. Just like Chris Boardman... brittish, by the way, and Cavendish... brittish too. Or like Steve Bauer, Viatcheslav Ekimov, Brad Mc Gee, Christian Vande Velde etc.
    And I also have a lot of respect for anyone who races a whole season, especially if they do a good Giro, then a great Tour de France and then keep going for the interest of their sponsors, their team mates, and their fans. Not too many do that anymore. Go Wiggo!!!!
  • jesusnieto
    Great! It will be an interesting season. With some of the top Tour riders spreading out to different teams, rather than riding together in bully teams, the grand tours should be more exciting than the past few years. This year we will have Lance vs. Alberto, Vande Velde vs. Wiggo, George and Cuddles enjoying a newfound freedom. On the other hand, Liquigas has 3 or 4 GC riders, and let's not forget Levi and Kloden, who haven't said what their plans are, but surely will be also ready for July in case something happens to the Boss. Very interesting dynamics, I can't wait to see how the tour season develops this year.
    Cheers to Wiggo, one of the few riders I admire. He RACES a full season, and even did some amazing domestique work for his team mates in races after the worlds. I hope he doesn't turn into a Tour Diva, like those who ride races just to get ready for the Tour, and then take the rest of the year off and live like rock stars.
    Keep it up, Wiggo!!!!!!
  • rumblebee
    I like Wiggo too,he rides the full season. Hopefully after his great ride at the Tour last year he doesn't "hole himself up" getting ready for it this year and we actually get to see him RACE before the big show.
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