The Bradley Wiggins Show by Eurosport

*/ ?>

Latest Episodes:

Does Cav chase green or Merckx's record? | Politt's cheeky attack buoys Bora Jul 09, 2021

Show notes

Brad and Graham Willgoss look back on Stage 12 of the Tour de France into Nîmes, when Bora-Hansgrohe's Nils Politt attacked off the front of the break to take a solo win on the day that Peter Sagan dropped out of the race.

The attack, says Brad from his vantage point on the motorbike following the action, was a little bit cheeky. "Julian Alaphilippe was at his team car getting bottles and I was next to the Bora Hansgrohe car," he says. "And it was 'Go go go go go!'"

But was it in the spirit of the game? "Somebody had to start attacking," says Brad. "Politt picked his moment, and he went. Sagan going home this morning liberated the team. They've had a tough Tour up until now, and they're chasing a lot... The strongest man won today."

Looking ahead to another potential stage for the fast men, the pair could not avoid talking about Mark Cavendish, on 33 Tour stage victories – one shy of the all-time benchmark.

"Does Cav chase the record?" asks Brad. "And what's more important: winning a green jersey and winning three stages, or going for Eddy Merckx's record and potentially losing the green jersey? He's got time. That will pan out early in the morning."

Elsewhere, Brad praises "class act" Luke Rowe after the Team Ineos man missed the time cut on Stage 11: "He's the first name you'd have on any Tour de France startlist. He's in the same mould as G. They're hard men, they don't give in lightly. And it's a shame to see that man leave the race."

Brought to you by Zwift, where fun is fast.

The Bradley Wiggins Show is produced by Pete Burton.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ventoux hero Van Aert 'born to be on a bike' | Give Ineos credit Jul 08, 2021

Show notes

"It was on like Donkey Kong from the start," said Brad after a brutal Stage 11 of the Tour de France which saw Wout van Aert win after two ascents of the mythical Mont Ventoux.

Brad and Graham catch up after another day on the bike for Brad, which gave him the perfect vantage point to see Tony Martin crash for Jumbo-Visma.

However, Van Aert brought smiles to the faces of the Dutch team thanks to a masterclass from the Belgian rider, who can pretty much do anything on a bike.

Brad also gives credit to Ineos Grenadiers for at least giving it a go, in contrast to some other "negative" teams.

And we reflect on the moment Brad drove past the memorial to Tommy Simpson on Ventoux, and why it meant so much to him.

Brought to you by Zwift, where fun is fast.

The Bradley Wiggins Show is produced by Pete Burton

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Incredible Mark Cavendish could win seven stages at this Tour | Brad is back on the bike Jul 06, 2021

Show notes

Brad and Graham Willgoss chew over Stage 10 of the Tour de France – and another brilliant win for Mark Cavendish.

“It was textbook,” says Brad. “They’ve got it down to a T now… The team were amazing with him… He sounded in a right hole on the rest day. The fastest man in the world again? I don’t think there’s a single person in the peloton who’s not delighted for him.”

Elsewhere, Brad reacts to his first day being back on a motorbike following the race for Eurosport.

“It’s so exhilarating being in that peloton,” says Brad. “And the closest thing I’ll have to bring back in the peloton. I love it.”

The pair also talk about how being part of the race makes Brad think about his own Tour de France success nearly 10 days on:

“You watch them do it now and I’m in such awe of what they do. If you’re away from something for long enough, you sort of question and wonder: ‘How’d I do that?’ Because – and I’ve said it many times – you’re a different person.

“And that gets enforced every year that goes past as you settle into normal life and you forget very quickly the sacrifice it takes to get to the top and be at that level, the likes of G… it’s savage. And you see it first hand from the bike – just how hard it is. And you saw that today.”

Brought to you by Zwift, where fun is fast.

The Bradley Wiggins Show is produced by Pete Burton

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"I don't remember a Tour like it" | O'Connor solos to glory in Tignes Jul 04, 2021

Show notes

Brad and Graham Willgoss look back on another rip-roaring day at the Tour de France that saw AG2R-Citroën's Ben O'Connor solo to a brilliant stage win that cut Tadej Pogacar's lead on GC to just two minutes.

One HC and two Category 1 climbs on the Queen Stage of the race took their toll on the peloton, decimating the field on Stage 9.

"The last two days, it's been hard to follow it," says Brad. "I've not seen a Tour de France like it. It was savage today, and there's not many riders who could have coped with those conditions and those temperatures like Ben O'Connor did. He did it in such style, as well."

Tadel Pogacar again looked imperious, hitting the rocket boosters on the final climb and riding away from Team Ineos's Richard Carapaz. Pogacar's superiority has brought with it questions from some quarters that Brad believes are unfair.

"It's funny how it's always Ineos who face those questions when there's a performance like that, and people like Chris Froome after his performance on Ventoux," he says. "But they don't seem to be raised with Pogacar, and I don't think they should be raised. He's a phenomenon of the sport."

One bright spot for Dave Brailsford's squad: it was a much better day for Geraint Thomas. "I'm really pleased for him," says Brad. "I don't think this race is over for G yet. It is for GC, but he can pick up a stage win the way he was going today."

Brad was also impressed with Mark Cavendish and Deceuninck – Quick-Step's efforts to get Cav through what he called 'the one stage I was terrified of':

"I saw him getting dropped on the first climb, and he had three or four teammates around him," says Brad. "It shows the difference that a team makes to you, committed to a cause and committed to Mark as well. And it shows he was lacking on the team front a couple of years ago, and he's back in his rightful place."

Brad sums up the first week: "It's been savage, and I don't remember a Tour like it." A much-needed rest day, then – but lots to look forward to.

"We're on the race after that," says Brad. "So it's going to go up a level."

Brought to you by Zwift, where fun is fast.

The Bradley Wiggins Show is produced by Pete Burton

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

'Supreme' Tadej Pogačar has blown The Tour to pieces | Is the race over already? Jul 03, 2021

Show notes

Brad and Graham Willgoss look back on another day for books as the Tour de France enters the Alps and Tadej Pogacar seizes the Yellow Jersey with what Brad calls a "sheer display of dominance".

In a torrid stage of pouring rain that saw action at every turn and the peloton splattered across the road, Dylan Teuns took a solo win to make it two in two for Bahrain Victorious, with Pogacar fourth.

"I can't see Pogacar faltering or losing his form," says Brad. "Having said that, anything can happen in the Tour."

While the 2020 winner "bounced back and stuck to 'em" to displace Mathieu van der Poel in the overall lead, GC hopefuls Geraint Thomas and Primoz Roglic were definitively dropped early on after a fierce pace was set on the first climb – and the race never let up.

"They went from the gun," says Brad. "This Tour has delighted us with race action. The rule book is out the window. It's like kids' racing just watching it. It's quite something."

Brad also has praise for Wout van Aert's performance to remain second on GC.

"Wout, come on man," he says. "You've got to start looking at the overall now. There's a podium in it."

Brought to you by Zwift, where fun is fast.

The Bradley Wiggins Show is produced by undisputed quarantine swimming pool penalty shootout champion Pete Burton.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

'Roglic's Tour is over; Jumbo should put all their chips on Wout' Jul 02, 2021

Show notes

Brad and Graham look back on an unexpectedly epic Stage 7 of the Tour de France – the longest of this year's race – while still in quarantine in the Ardèche.

Bahrain Victorious rider Matej Mohorič stormed to the line first off the front of a fiercely strong breakaway that included Maillot Jaune Mathieu van der Poel and riders from practically every other team. "It was some feat," says Brad. "He never looked like flinching."

The big team not represented off in the break? Tadej Pogačar's UAE, who had to ride on the front of the pack for practically the entire stage, making them, in Brad's words: "The biggest losers of the day."

Primoz Roglic, meanwhile, finished a way behind – out of gas and out of hope.

"I felt for him today," says Brad. "He's suffering the consequences of his fall and his injuries. There's no way back for him after this."

Can Wout van Aert, now second on GC, take the lead for Jumbo Visma? Brad thinks now could be his big chance:

"Sometimes you have to take the opportunities when they arise. It landed on me in 2009 when Christian Vande Velde crashed out. Sometimes it's better when you're coming into a race not expecting to be a leader. He has two days in the mountains now to test himself, then a rest day and then we'll have a better idea of what Wout can do. Top 10 is feasible. Top 5? Who knows? I wouldn't discount a podium."

Brought to you by Zwift, where fun is fast.

The Bradley Wiggins Show is produced by Pete Burton

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cav joins Brad for an exclusive chat: 'My priority now is going to be survival more than the Green Jersey' Jul 01, 2021

Show notes

Mark Cavendish Zooms in to The Bradley Wiggins Show on the back of another special day on Stage 6 of the Tour de France, where the Manx Missile powered to his second victory of this year's race.

Cav tells Brad he was on the rivet all day and didn't know if he had the legs to finish the job as history repeated itself in Chateauroux, where he took the first of his 32 Tour stage victories in 2008.

In the second episode recorded from quarantine in the foothills of Mont Ventoux, Brad tells Graham that Cav is thinking on his feet with split-second decisions and can continue dominating the sprints.

"He's still doing something very difficult with the greatest of ease," says Brad. "He's back where he should be, and he looks happy."

The pair also try and work out Alpecin-Fenix's two-sprinter strategy and Brad is full of praise for Tadej Pogacar smashing the Tour's first time trial.

"I don't think any of us were expecting him to come to the fore so early,," says Brad. "He's proved that last year wasn't a flash in the pan."

Brought to you by Zwift where fun is fast.

The Bradley Wiggins Show is Produced by Pete Burton

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

'Cav gives us so much joy, and he could win three more' - Brad on the most emotional win of the year Jun 30, 2021

Show notes

In a very special bonus episode of The Bradley Wiggins Show, we reflect on the incredible scenes on Stage 4 of the Tour de France as Mark Cavendish recorded his 31st stage win at the biggest bike race in the world.

Graham, Brad and Pete have arrived in their quarantine villa in the South of France and there was only one topic to kick off with...

Brad gives his reaction to seeing his great friend enjoy one of the most emotional victories the Tour de France has ever seen.

"Cav means a lot to a lot of people," Brad says, "I love him to bits and it means a lot to him."

Brad also reveals a conversation with Cavendish where he said he thought about retiring there and then after winning on Tuesday.

But could he even win another three stages before the race is out?

Brought to you by Zwift where fun is fast.

The Bradley Wiggins Show is Produced by Pete Burton

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

'Absolute chaos' on Stage 3 | What will happen to Bennett after spicy Lefevere comments? Jun 28, 2021

Show notes

A day of carnage at the Tour de France concluded with Tim Merlier (Alpecin–Fenix) taking victory on Stage 3 and a worrying crash involving Caleb Ewan (Lotto Soudal) and Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe).

Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) kicked off the drama when he dislocated his shoulder in a crash with 145km remaining, Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) hit the deck with 10km remaining to spark a frantic chase, and Ewan and Sagan collided metres from the line as Merlier swept to victory.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emotional winner van der Poel will make people fall in love with cycling | Cav can make it 31 Jun 27, 2021

Show notes

Graham and Brad are joined by Eurosport presenter Orla Chennaoui to look back on an emotional and eventful first weekend of the Tour de France.

To begin with, the trio discusses the emotional significance of Mathieu van der Poel moving into yellow after his Stage 2 victory, wearing the jersey that eluded his grandfather, Raymond Poulidor. Wiggins said that it is the sort of moment that can make people fall in love with cycling.

For Chennaoui the brilliant performance for Van der Poel is something that anyone can appreciate, even non-cycling fans. For Wiggins, it reconfirms that he is the best in the world and he is now carrying the future of the sport in his hands, while the human side of Van der Poel is what helps elevate him in terms of public affection.

After that talk turns to Ineos Grenadiers rider Geraint Thomas. Wiggins said he expected more from Thomas so far with Ineos in general not performing as we might have expected. By contrast, Wiggins has been hugely impressed by Primoz Roglic.

Later on Wiggins “doesn't give a f***" about the fan who caused the huge pile-up on the first day whilst Chennaoui had a little bit of sympathy, pointing out that it must feel terrible that the entire race and sport are out to get you. The team agree that it seems harsh that Tony Martin is getting blame given his history.

Finally, we look ahead to Stage 3 and the possible opportunities for Mark Cavendish to make it 31 stage wins at the Tour de France. As Wiggins says "why not?", but stops short of tipping him… He’s not going to risk jinxing his mate!

The Bradley Wiggins Show is produced by Pete Burton.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

The Bradley Wiggins Show by Eurosport

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected