In reply to Tiberius:
With all due respect, if Wiggins were American or Spanish, would you hold the same opinion?
To say that 4th in the TdF is the limit of non-assisted rider is a far stretch, most especially when that rider isn't a grand tour specialist. Here's a run-down of the top 10 in 2009:
1. Contador (implicated, positive result)
2. A.Schleck (implicated)
3. Armstrong (implicated)
4. Wiggins (clean as virgin snow)
5. F.Schleck (implicated)
6. Kloden (implicated)
7. Nibali (seemingly clean so far, stage race specialist, won Vuelta in 2010)
8. Vande Velde (suspicion, was on US Postal for 1999 and 2001 wins)
9. Kreuziger (seemingly clean so far, stage race specialist, +8min down on Wiggins)
10. Le Mevel (seemingly clean so far, stage race specialist, +8min down on Wiggins)
If Wiggins had gotten that placing via a breakaway that no one bothered to chase down (a la Pereiro 2006), then that's one thing, but over the course of the 3 week Tour he was consistently in the tops on the TT's AND the mtn top finishes,.... a drome specialist! If he had a history in his younger years of breaking legs in endurance events (i.e., Armstrong) then it might be believable, but he doesn't.
> There is not one hint of suspicion
Level 5, UCI suspicion list... right along with Contador, Vino,
Again, if Wiggins was an American or Spaniard would you afford him the same opinion?
Anyway, it's a sad state that so many within the sport are tainted with drug suspicion, either directly or by proxy.