To say I was wrong about Bradley Wiggins.

[bearleftmonkeyright]

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3741462/We-mole-camp-Sir-Bradley-Wiggins-claims-tried-sabotage-Team-GB-s-bid-cycling-glory.html

Sorry for the clichéd apology about the Daily Fail link, but who the bloody hell does he think he is to criticise Jess Varnish in this way? There is an inquiry by British Cycling about the Shane Sutton incident, its got fuck all to do with him. And I apologise for not agreeing with others when they said he was a dick. Cos he is

[shovetheholly]

(Quote from BW) ^'And there are two ways you can take something on board when someone says something. And how it's written isn't necessarily how it's said.

'For example, 'why don't you go off now, have a baby, start a family' is different to 'go and have a f***g baby'. That's just an example. I'm not saying that that quote is right. That was one of the things that was reported. And I know Shane better than anyone and I believe he'll be cleared.'"

It strikes me, reading that, that he doesn't really understand how sexism works.

[bearleftmonkeyright]

What Sutton said to Jess Varnish is the ultimate belittlement to any woman. He hasn't got a clue has he?

[OurBlanche]

I'm not sure that the whole Jess Varnish story is out... there is something odd, as in not in the usual manner of things, in her story. Her experience is nothing like that of the young cyclists I use to teach.

I have no idea what has or has not happened, but I suspect that neither her public statements, nor those of Sutton and the NGO, are the full story.

And Wiggins is just an uber-driven athlete who has no other thought in his head than eat, train, compete. He appears humorless and judgemental because he is in the middle of his career swan song - driven, single minded and anxious. Not that he is much of a ray of sunshine at other times... if other tv interviews are anything to go by. But then nor was Sir Steve Redgrave!

[bearleftmonkeyright]

I just think he was so wrong to say anything but having said that Chris Hoy and Chris Boardman have also defended him. How can the inquiry be impartial and lessons learnt if the most successful males in the sport dismiss her accusations as sour grapes?

[Badders123]

All the current male cyclists seem like utter dick heads tbh

[MidnightVelvettheSixth]

I said he was a dick & I stand by it!

'This whole sexism thing, I'd never ever seen any sign of that, really,' said Wiggins.

Oh really twatface, do you think that might possibly be because you're a man & therefore will not have experienced it But because you say it doesn't exist then it can't possibly exist! Well that's alright then, let's sweep it under the carpet & forget it was mentioned shall we?!

[bearleftmonkeyright]

"There's a womans academy now" oh, lovely thank you for making sure that the ladies have something to do

I'm pretty disappointed in the whole thing to be honest. Someone linked to an article by Nicola Cooke when this first emerged and she has been very outspoken also about the sexist culture within British Cycling. It will get swept under the carpet.

[bearleftmonkeyright]

*article (on another thread)

[RedHelenB]

If the women had nt done as well as the men I think she would have more of a case looking at it as an outsider. And he is right, the tone in which things are said does make a difference.

[Lottapianos]

It's not the first time he had said stupid twit stuff. He referred to himself cycling 'like a girl' after a poor performance. Plonker.

[bearleftmonkeyright]

But unless the inquiry is impartial then nothing will be learnt. On the face of it there is great success in womens cycling but that doesn't necessarily mean there aren't problems. Wiggins has no right to speak about it, it will never have been his experience and never will be. And as such a success in the sport its unfair of him to wade in. Just the few comments he has made show he is pretty clueless about sexism at all.

[PacificDogwod]

YANBU to concede that you were wrong about BW.
YABU to have taken so long

He is a twat.
I do have a reluctant respect for the conviction with which he follows his twattery through though. He's a throwback of the highest order.

[JudyCoolibar]

I don't think you can say Wiggins doesn't have a right to talk about this. He has an interest in the success of British cycling, which therefore gives him an interest in who runs it, who the coaches are, how it is managed etc.

[Rainbunny]

I don't know how much truth there is in it but I did read that his charitable foundation, meant to raise money for disadvantaged children actually gave much money towards his fellow cycling stars. It was the Daily Fail though, but still very damning if true!

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3706092/Why-did-Wiggins-charity-money-cycling-superstars-Olympic-hero-Bradley-Wiggins-vowed-charity-focus-poor-children-investigation-reveals-gave-money-team-mates-son-s-rugby-team.html

[whattodowiththepoo]

How dare he give his opinion on his experience.

[bearleftmonkeyright]

The point I am trying to make is its not his experience. It never will be. And an independent inquiry will be pointless if the most successful males in the sport rubbish the females. That tends to be how sexism works in most areas of life.

[shinynewusername]

How dare he give his opinion on his experience.

Useful to have a bit of insight about the relevance of that experience. I have never experienced racism. Therefore racism does not exist.

[bearleftmonkeyright]

Its interesting that Victoria Pendleton has immersed herself completely in another competitive and somewhat dangerous sport. She clearly has that raw competitive edge and was so very successful. I thought she had more to give to track cycling. Anna Meares is still there.

[TheNaze73]

I don't think we'll ever know the full truth. I think if Laura Trott had made the remarks Wiggins did, they'd be more credible

[bearleftmonkeyright]

Laura Trott didn't say them though. And I would be baffled if anyone male or female thought that it depends on tone to say go off and have a baby is ever an acceptable thing to say to someone who is trying to be successful in their chosen sport.

[OurBlanche]

Possibly because it works for some women, like Jess Ennis and Jo Pavey.

Volleyball, tennis, swimming, weight lifting, marathons, triathlons... an ever growing list of elite female athletes coming back to top flight competition, both endurance and sprint, team and individual.

There is some new research, well, sort of, looking at how female bodies react to elite training post childbirth. If the perceived results are born out then it could mean that many more female athletes will not have the cut and dried choice - child or sport!

So we don't know the wider context that any such conversation took place in. Maybe British Cycling is sexist... maybe some women do voice their doubts and get different advice from coaches... maybe some athletes just don't like to be told they have lost their edge!

Oh... and before anyone shouts about the 'fat' comments... body fat% is a widely used measure that directly reflects changes in fitness levels. Women are, by nature, more prone to changes in mid 20s - more research is ongoing!

Always assuming that such a gender bias is allowed, of course!

[shinynewusername]

Oh so it was all a coaching technique, OurBlanche? Silly us. And was calling disabled riders "wobblies" was a clever ploy to encourage them to try harder? Do me a favour.

[bearleftmonkeyright]

Ourblanche, I think you're somewhat missing the point of what I'm trying to say. I was aware in athletics that many woman make a successful return to sport after having a baby. I remember Liz McColgans success. But its off the issue somewhat I feel. Seriously, do coaches recommend having a baby to improve performance?

[OurBlanche]

That really has fuck all to do with what I did type shiny but don't let that stop your outrage!

bearleft I don't think I am missing the point... silly me thought I might have been discussing it, pondering, widening it.

I doubt coaches actually suggest it however if any female athlete talks about conflict between family and training then coaches would have a strong discussion, questioning whether that athlete is still in the right mind set for the training sacrifices needed.

We have no idea how that conversation started, what prompted it, what was actually said, I am musing, as you and others are...

All I am saying is that these days there is a growing body of evidence, and examples across a wide range of sports, that having a child (or even 2) may not be the end of an elite female sporting career.

Maybe soon coaches in some sports will have those conversations....