Bradley Wiggins wants to defend next Tour de France despite Chris Froome being Team Sky"s lead man

Posted on December 13, 2012 by adminsports

Wiggins wants to defend Tour de France title despite Team Sky claiming Froome would be lead man

UPDATED:

11:29 GMT, 13 December 2012

Bradley Wiggins has revealed he wants to retain his Tour de France title next year – despite Team Sky suggesting Chris Froome will lead the British team in 2013.

The 2012 winner said Team Sky will have to ‘service both mouths’ and could even have two leaders.

Team Sky director Dave Brailsford said last month that Froome would focus on the Tour de France with Wiggins focussing on the Tour of Italy, although the plan had not been ‘completely signed off’.

Taking the lead again: Bradley Wiggins said he wants to win the Tour de France

Froome, 27, rode in support of
Wiggins as the 32-year-old became Britain’s first winner of Tour de
France, but it had been expected the roles would be reversed next year.

Wiggins told BBC Radio 5 Live: ‘I
don’t know what the situation is in terms of leadership. As it stands
I’m probably going to try and win a second Tour de France.

‘Maybe we’ll have two leaders, which
is more unlikely I guess. How that will work with the team I don’t know.
That’s more Dave Brailsford’s problem to worry about that, really.

Second fiddle Chris Froome had been touted as the lead man for Team Sky

Olympic stars: Wiggins (centre) and Froome both enjoyed a fantastic London Games

‘It’s just how we service both
mouths. That’s more the problem for Dave to figure out. My goal is to
win the Tour next year, whether that’s realised or not I don’t know.’

Wiggins, however, said he would
accept the team’s decision if the team decide Froome has a better chance
at glory. The 100th edition of the Tour de France, which will take place
from June 29 to July 21 next year, is likely to favour climbers such as
Froome, who impressed in the mountainous stages this year.

Wiggins, speaking from a training
camp in Mallorca today, continued: ‘Whatever the team strategy is, we’ll
support that, because you don’t take the start line (if that’s not the
case).

‘There’ll be someone else that’s
willing to fulfil that job, so you do what is asked of you on the day
really, whatever that decision is.’

Duo: Wiggins with his team-mate Froome

Reflecting on a remarkable year,
Wiggins said it would be difficult to top riding into Hampton Court last
summer to win his seventh Olympic medal with gold in the men’s time
trial.

The cyclist, the favourite to win the
BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year award on Sunday night, said: ‘That
was the highlight of my career and I don’t think it will get any better
than that. I can probably achieve other things but most of us, as
British Olympians, will never experience anything like that again. It
was a phenomenal day.

‘We reset the goals, try and do other
things, maybe try and win a second Tour de France, but you’re never
going to replicate those circumstances in your home Olympics.

‘It will probably never be topped,
but I accept that and I’m happy with that really, because you can’t have
too many occasions like that in your career.’

Bradley Wiggins given third place in 2009 Tour de France

Posted on October 29, 2012 by adminsports

Wiggins awarded third place in 2009 Tour de France after Armstrong's results struck off

UPDATED:

18:50 GMT, 29 October 2012

Bradley Wiggins has been awarded third place in the 2009 Tour de France after Lance Armstrong's result was wiped from the record books.

Wiggins, who won the 2012 Tour, placed a then British record-equalling fourth three years' ago behind Alberto Contador, Andy Schleck and Armstrong.

After the International Cycling Union stripped Armstrong of all results from August 1, 1998, ratifying a ruling by the United States Anti-doping Agency, Wiggins is a two-time Tour podium rider.

Rewriting history: Bradley Wiggins (right) finished third in 2009's Tour de France now

The UCI ruled last week Armstrong's sequence of seven successive Tour wins would not be reallocated and results following any future disqualifications relating to 1998 to 2005 would not be reallocated, but those from his comeback years, in 2009 and 2010, will.

A UCI spokesperson said: 'In 2009 the placing of Mr Armstrong will be reallocated.

'Bradley Wiggins is the third-placed rider for the Tour de France, 2009.'

Stricken from the records: Lance Armstrong's result was erased

Less than a year after winning double
Olympic gold over four kilometres on the Beijing 2008 Games track, in
the individual and team pursuits, Wiggins produced a coming of age
performance on the road in the Tour.

For the first time, Wiggins focused on the fabled race, equalling Robert Millar's 1984 British best placing of fourth.

It was that performance and result which earned Wiggins a move to Team Sky and convinced him he could win the Tour, a dream realised in July, when he became the first British winner of the yellow jersey.

Coming of age: Wiggins' performance on the tour was excellent

Chris Froome finished second, becoming the second Briton to claim a place on the Tour podium.

The Armstrong affair was the subject of much discussion last week in Paris at the launch of the route of the 2013 Tour, the 100th edition of the fabled race.

There Wiggins suggested he would target the Giro d'Italia next May and ride the Tour, which begins in Corsica on June 29 and finishes in Paris on July 21, in support of Froome as Team Sky seek to defend the title.

Shinji Kagawa vows to bulk up

Posted on September 14, 2012 by adminsports

Lightweight Kagawa vows to toughen up after rude awakening in England

UPDATED:

22:35 GMT, 13 September 2012

Shinji Kagawa has vowed to bulk up after admitting the back injury that threatens to rule him out of Manchester United's clash with Wigan may be due to a lack of strength and conditioning.

Kagawa pulled out of Japan's match against Iraq just before kick-off on Tuesday, having received treatment for a back twinge he felt in training.

Harden up! Kagawa has vowed to hit the gym to develop his strength

A 12-hour flight to Manchester will not have helped the problem and United’s medical staff were assessing his fitness.

Kagawa, who only weighs 9st 9lbs, admits he has to grow stronger to be able to compete in English football following his 12million move from Borussia Dortmund.

'I've realised that I need to limber up and strengthen my body,' he said.

'There are some tough games coming up. This injury may be due to travel and fatigue but I can get by if I take good care of my body.'

Striker Robin van Persie is also receiving treatment for a thigh injury ahead of the Wigan game and Wednesday's home Champions League tie against Galatasaray.

Race for fitness: Van Persie is also battling back after the international break

Andy Murray wins US Open: Brit celebrates in Central Park

Posted on September 11, 2012 by adminsports

This is just the beginning! Lendl backs King of New York Murray to land more Slams

UPDATED:

15:59 GMT, 11 September 2012

Andy Murray's coach Ivan Lendl believes the 25-year-old's victory at the US Open can be the first of many grand slam triumphs in his career.

Murray claimed a thrilling five-set victory against Novak Djokovic last night in New York.

And Lendl, who like Murray lost four grand slam finals before winning his fifth, is hopeful the Britain can take his career to a new level.

Time to shine: Andy Murray celebrates his US Open final win over Novak Djokovic

Britain's Andy Murray poses with his trophy in Central Park

Andy Murray celebrates his US Open final win over Novak Djokovic

Proud mum: Murray with Judy in New York's Central Park after his final win

Andy Murray of Great Britain poses with the US Open Championship trophy

Not letting go: Murray with his US Open trophy in New York's Central Park

Lendl himself retired after winning eight major titles.

'I'm very happy for him. It's a great achievement for him and let's hope he can continue and rack up many more,' said Lendl, who joined the Murray team last December.

'You can help somebody for a very short period of time. However, it takes more than that. You cannot help somebody in one week, you cannot do that in one month and hopefully we are not anywhere near where Andy can be.'

Former British No 1 Roger Taylor, a four-time grand slam semi-finalist, believes Lendl's contribution cannot be overlooked.

The 70-year-old told Sky Sports News: 'So much confidence has come from Andy's Olympics win and Lendl has added a great presence.

Eyes on the prize: Murray with his US Open trophy following a stunning win over Djokovic

'Andy respects him and Ivan has realised Andy needs to play closer to the baseline.

'He (Lendl) has made a great difference, he is a great character and has gelled the team together.'

Former British number one Greg Rusedski, who tasted defeat in the 1997 US Open final, believes Lendl has helped Murray to be mentally tougher.

'At the end of the day he found a way to get it done and found a way to control his emotions,' Rusedski told Sky Sports 1.

'He can thank Ivan Lendl for that. You have to give him so much credit for what he's done, to keep believing in what he's done.

Britain's Andy Murray poses with the trophy after defeating Serbia's Novak Djokovic

'It shows you what a champion he is and, having won this, he can go on to win many majors and maybe end the year as the world No 1.'

Great Britain's Davis Cup coach Leon Smith, who is also head of men's tennis at the Lawn Tennis Association and was Murray's first coach of his professional career, knew from an early age the Scot had the talent to go all the way in a grand slam.

Smith told BBC Radio Five Live: 'I'm so pleased for Andy, because knowing him you see how much work he's put in, not just this year but over the years.

'He's really worked so hard, physically and mentally to get his game to this level.'

Britain's Andy Murray poses with the trophy after defeating Serbia's Novak Djokovic

Sheer relief: Murray celebrates winning the US Open after a enthralling battle with Djokovic

Roger Draper, chief executive of the LTA, believes the win caps a remarkable year for Murray, with the triumph coming off the back of victory over Roger Federer to win Olympic gold at Wimbledon.

Draper said: 'We are really proud of Andy and what he has achieved. We see the hard work that he puts in day in and day out. It's a fantastic achievement for Andy.

'To win Olympic gold, to beat the greatest tennis player on Centre Court, to then win the silver with Laura Robson and then again to go out and be the first British man in 76 years to win a grand slam has been a phenomenal achievement.'

It was Murray's first win in five grand slam finals, and Miles Maclagan, who was Murray's coach between 2008 and 2010, believes the setbacks had prepared Murray for the closing moments of his US Open win.

'Towards the end he was quite calm,' Maclagan said. 'I think he was ready for it. He had experience of four finals before so he knows what went wrong and what went right. He knew what he had to do and he was ready to do it.'

Sheer relief: Murray celebrates winning the US Open after a enthralling battle with Djokovic

Battle to the end: Both players were at their very bast in New York as the match went all the way

Battle to the end: Both players were at their very bast in New York as the match went all the way

Party time: Murray's mum Judy and girlfriend Kim Sears celebrate his win in New York

Team Murray: Coach Ivan Lendl (left) and hitting partner Daniel Vallverdu watch their charge in the final

Oscar Pistorius, the story – nothing is impossible

Posted on August 26, 2012 by adminsports

How Paralympic legend Pistorius found nothing is impossible

UPDATED:

22:00 GMT, 25 August 2012

Oscar Pistorius was in high school when he showed up at Jannie Brooks’s garage gym in Pretoria, South Africa, with a group of friends looking to get fitter.

He boxed, skipped and did press-ups until he threw up. It was six months before Brooks realised he had no legs. ‘He was just one of the bunch, doing everything at the same pace as everybody else,’ he said.

Pistorius, who is defending his 100m, 200m and 400m titles at the Paralympics, was born 25 years ago into a prominent family in Pretoria without fibulas, the outer of the bones that run between the knee and the ankle.

Encouraged: Oscar Pistorius with his father Henke who helped him along the way

His parents, Sheila and Henke, grappled with information, complied with doctors’ advice, and at 11 months, his legs were amputated below the knee.

‘It was a hugely emotional decision,’ said Dr Gerry Versfeld, the orthopaedic surgeon who performed the operation. ‘It is easier now to convince somebody the right way to go is amputation because Oscar Pistorius is an icon you can point to and say, “Look, this is possible”.’

Pistorius breaks down frontiers. He produced one of the marquee moments of London 2012 when he became the first amputee to run in the Olympics. Much of his success is attributed to the fact he was always treated as a ‘normal little boy’.

/08/25/article-2193556-14AFC903000005DC-361_468x312.jpg” width=”468″ height=”312″ alt=”History maker: Pistorius broke new ground when he competed at the Olympics” class=”blkBorder” />

History maker: Pistorius broke new ground when he competed at the Olympics

His can-do attitude made him popular with classmates. During annual triathlons, one friend would carry him on his back while carrying his legs. When it came to the swimming, he threw his legs on to the side of the pool and dived straight in. At cycling, he would do 20km stretches as a 12-year-old without complaint.

Hugh Herr, director of the Biomechatronics Group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a close friend of Pistorius, said his quick cycling is because his hips are a ‘huge engine’. This also allows him to reposition his limbs quicker and complete the 400m, his favoured event, in a personal best of 45.07sec, a time never thought possible for an amputee.

Overcoming problems: Pistorius

At 13, Pistorius began boarding at Pretoria Boys School. ‘During the admissions interview I had concerns about how a legless boy would fare with the rough and tumble of a school of 1500 teenagers,’ said Bill Shroeder, headteacher of the school until 2009. ‘All his mother could say was, “Of course he’ll cope”. That was how she brought him up — to be completely normal.’

Pistorius went down in school folklore when, during a rugby match, a player from the opposite team tackled him. ‘His legs came off in the boy’s arms,’ said Shroeder. ‘But he carried on running over the line, I think the other kid still has nightmares.’

Tragedy struck for Pistorius when his mother Sheila died following an allergic reaction to treatment for suspected malaria when he was 15.

Pistorius threw himself into sport but suffered a knee injury playing rugby in 2003. He did athletics as a form of rehab at the University of Pretoria.

Less than a year later, he lit up the Athens Paralympics aged 17, winning gold in the 200m and bronze in the 100m in the T44 class, which also includes single below-the-knee amputees.

‘Within months he was an icon,’ said Shroeder. ‘My biggest challenge was keeping a teenager who was the envy of every kid on the straight and narrow.’

Pistorius now earns almost 1m a year in deals to promote everything from perfume to groceries and telecommunications, while a South African magazine recently voted him the country’s sexiest celebrity.

Euro 2012: Jordan Henderson ready to play if Steven Gerrard and Scott Parker can"t

Posted on June 13, 2012 by adminsports

Henderson says he's ready for a first team place if Gerrard and Parker can't take the strain

UPDATED:

16:13 GMT, 13 June 2012

Jordan Henderson has declared himself ready to be thrust into the thick of England's European Championship campaign if Roy Hodgson's worst fears about his central midfield are realised.

Hodgson admitted on Monday he was not certain Steven Gerrard and Scott Parker could continue to play every four days in Poland and Ukraine.

That could see Henderson thrown in at the deep end in either Friday's second Group D game against Sweden or Tuesday's final match against Ukraine.

Ready and willing: Jordan Henderson says he wants to start for England

The Liverpool midfielder, who replaced Parker for the final 13 minutes of Monday's opening 1-1 draw with France, said: 'I will be ready if I am needed.'

However, Henderson played down the prospect of that occurring any time soon, having watched Gerrard and Parker in close quarters on Monday.

'Steve and Scotty did very well in there,' said the 21-year-old, who earned his fourth cap in Donetsk.

Euro 2012 email button

'I think they're both fit enough to last the full game but I was delighted to get on for the last 15 minutes.

'I had to treat it like any other game. It was another amazing experience for me.'

It was an experience Henderson would not have enjoyed but for the injuries that ruled Frank Lampard and Gareth Barry out of Euro 2012.

Even after that, there was a backlash against Henderson's elevation over the likes of Michael Carrick, so badly had he been adjudged to have performed in his debut season at Liverpool.

'There has been a lot of criticism but that is part and parcel of football – it doesn't bother me,' said the former Sunderland star, who cost in the region of 17million.

Hard work: Steven Gerrard (centre) might not be able to handle playing so many games in a row

He added of England's injury jinx: 'There have been a few changes, but changes I was pleased with.

'I wanted to come away with the squad. I have been able to do that.

'The last 12 months have gone quickly, but I am delighted to be in the squad. Now I want to try and get myself in the team.'

Doing so against Sweden or Ukraine would be the perfect early or late birthday present for Henderson, who turns 22 on Sunday.

'I was trying to keep that quiet,' he said.

'Hopefully it will be a nice birthday after the Sweden game.'

Combative: Scott Parker might also find playing all the matches a tough ask

Henderson could be celebrating with his family, with the England squad's loved ones arriving in Krakow on Wednesday.

He said: 'It is always nice to see your family. I am sure some of the lads will see theirs.

'It definitely can be a positive thing and to switch off from football and see the families will be great for them.'

There is also the small matter of building on the 1-1 draw with France by beating Sweden on Friday.

England earned praise and criticism in equal measure for their counter-attacking tactics on Monday.

Rotate: Roy Hodgson (centre) must decide what to do with his squad players

Henderson said: 'France had more of the possession and a lot more shots but I think, if you go back to the game and look at the chances, we created a lot more clear-cut chances that we could have taken a little bit better.

'As chances came, we probably had the better ones.'

He added: 'The build-up to Sweden hasn't been too much different.

'We have to be confident in ourselves and make sure we are doing the right things in training.

'Sweden are a good team, who work very hard and will make it difficult for us.'

Paul Scholes stars against QPR

Posted on April 9, 2012 by adminsports

Scholes leading Man Utd title charge as veteran stars against QPR

UPDATED:

22:00 GMT, 8 April 2012

It was entirely in keeping with the way Paul Scholes has conducted his career that after delivering a man-of-the-match display at Old Trafford on Sunday he did not appear on television to pick up his bottle of champagne.

Vintage performances are what drive Scholes on, not vintage plonk.

Anyone who has dealt with the Manchester United veteran over the years knows how much he likes to shy away from the limelight. Scholes would happily have enjoyed a back seat helping coach the club’s reserves and spending time with his family had he not surprised everybody by coming out of retirement in January.

Bang: Paul Scholes drives in the second goal as Manchester United beat QPR 2-0

The 37-year-old realised how much he missed playing and how much he still had to offer. Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville had warned him about this before he supposedly signed off with a testimonial against New York Cosmos in August.

Scholes opened the scoring that day with a trademark shot from 25 yards. At the time it was sad to think we would not see it again. The only person who didn’t see it on Sunday was QPR goalkeeper Paddy Kenny.

Scholes’s former United teammate Mark Hughes will have detected the warning signs immediately as his players gave the United man an extra yard of space he needed to stride forward and dispatch the ball into the bottom corner.

Joy: Scholes' team-mates must love playing with him

It crowned another majestic performance
and eased the nerves around Old Trafford just when United’s failure to
build on their one-goal lead against 10 men was beginning to cause
concern.

‘It was a typical Paul Scholes goal,’ said Ferguson. ‘You see the control he has of the game and our tempo. He’s a great, great player.’ Afterwards, the statistics flowed even though the champagne didn’t.

It was Scholes’s 153rd goal for United in 692 appearances, coming almost 18 years after he last scored against QPR. One stat even pointed out that his last four Premier League goals outside the penalty box had come against London clubs.

Typical: Sir Alex Ferguson said the goal was one of Scholes' usual type

In fact, the only stat that matters to Scholes is that since his return United have won 11 and drawn one of the 12 league games in which he has appeared. This was his third goal.

Scholes has to manage his body these days and might not play at Wigan on Wednesday. But he has made a major contribution to United sitting top of the table, eight points clear of Manchester City.

If he picks up an 11th Premier League title winner’s medal next month, Scholes will have fully earned it.

Chris Robshaw: the Millfield man who delivered

Posted on January 31, 2012 by adminsports

Chris Robshaw: The Millfield man who went on to become England captain

From a teenage prop to the first England captain under interim coach Stuart Lancaster. That’s the story of Chris Robshaw’s rise through the ranks.

When Robshaw enrolled at Millfield School – the famous Somerset sporting institution – his strength and mobility stood out.

‘We did not have anyone else for prop,’ was Jonathan Brimacombe’s assessment of his new pupil aged 14.

‘He had a very good build for it, but as he was he was very mobile, he had as much an influence in the front row as he would have had if he had played in the back row. Chris did eventually gravitate to back row but prop is where he started.’

Star pupil: Robshaw (middle row, third from right) in his Millfield days

Brimacombe, a long-standing rugby coach at Millfield, realised he had an emerging back-row forward two years later when Robshaw blossomed to 6ft 2in and 17 stones. But he admitted that he never felt Robshaw was destined to be England captain.

‘What he did have was application and he was always consistently excellent,’ added Brimacombe.

‘He has shown that there is more to professional rugby than raw ability.

‘He has great determination and is your Mr Hundred Per Cent man.’

The same appraisal comes from John Kingston at Harlequins where the Surrey-born Robshaw started in the club’s academy.

‘I think the big thing about him is he has the most professional attitude in everything he does,’ said Kingston. ‘And he’s never lost that appetite as he has moved through the ranks. He’s had his ups and downs but he’s always bounced back. He’s always looking to improve himself. He’s self critical and he’s incredibly coachable, always asking questions and taking a big interest.’

Swing low: Robshaw on holiday with brothers James (centre) and Al (right) in Portugal

Robshaw has earned himself a reputation as one of the Premiership’s most consistent players. Kingston believes the 25-year-old deserves to captain England despite the fact he will be playing only his second Test in Saturday’s opening to the Six Nations Championship against Scotland at Murrayfield.

He said: ‘He’s earned the right. He missed out on the World Cup, which was disappointing for him, but he’s worked hard to gain this chance. I don’t think you have to play 40 times to captain England.

‘What would have been more of a surprise was if they had picked a player who had never captained a team at a decent level before.’

Along the way, Robshaw has enjoyed the trappings of being a professional sportsman. He is dating singer Camilla Kerslake and was best man to Henry Sands, actor Julian’s son. Robshaw has also not forgotten his roots at the Warlingham club in Surrey. This season he organised a trip for the club’s mini and youth section to watch Harlequins – which delighted club president John Worsfold.

Mr Consistency: Robshaw is presented with the Premiership Player of the Year Award in 2009

‘It was a great day and showed he had not forgotten where it all began,’ said Worsfold. Robshaw is the club’s second cap, following centre Terry Brook, who played twice in 1968.

‘Everyone is so delighted. It shows there is a pathway from bottom to top,’ added Worsfold.

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Tag Archives: realised

Bradley Wiggins wants to defend next Tour de France despite Chris Froome being Team Sky"s lead man

Bradley Wiggins given third place in 2009 Tour de France

Shinji Kagawa vows to bulk up

Andy Murray wins US Open: Brit celebrates in Central Park

Oscar Pistorius, the story – nothing is impossible

Euro 2012: Jordan Henderson ready to play if Steven Gerrard and Scott Parker can"t

Paul Scholes stars against QPR

Chris Robshaw: the Millfield man who delivered