It is too early to say whether he can keep it up over the entirety of the race but it is so far, so good for Sir Bradley Wiggins at the Tour of California. His efforts in the bunch on stage one dealt an early warning blow, causing splits. A headwind denied the leading group – which also included eventual stage winner Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma-Quickstep) – the chance to stay out until the end but Wiggins’ form was apparent.
And he proved it on stage two against the clock. People will point to the field he competed against, with Rohan Dennis and Taylor Phinney his main rivals, rather than the likes of Chris Froome, Tony Martin and Fabian Cancellara. But Wiggins can only beat those placed in front of him, and the form and power he showed suggested he would have won regardless of who he was up against. If he can keep this form up through the week, we could well be celebrating the return of Wiggo.
Sir Dave Brailsford may have considered the ‘who will lead Sky at the Tour?’ dilemma last year’s news, but if Wiggins wins comprehensively in California, the debate is likely to begin again. With cobbles and a penultimate stage time trial on the route, cycling’s enigma may fancy the job again.
