Wiggins: 'I can’t keep smashing away on the climbs'

Bradley Wiggins Lance Armstrong Giro d Italia 2009

Bradley Wiggins lost 39 seconds to the overall contenders on stage six of the 2009 Giro d'Italia to Mayrhofen in Austria. He slipped to 27th overall but was satisfied with his day after recovering well from his huge effort on the mountain finish to Alpe di Siusi in Wednesday.

Wiggins finished ahead of Lance Armstrong, Damiano Cunego and Marzio Bruseghin at the top of the 24km climb, showing the benefits of some intense training on the climbs and a winter totally dedicated to the road.

The 29-year-old Brit proved he has the potential to be competitive in short stage races and help team leader Christian Vande Velde in the mountains at the Tour de France.

Speaking to Cycling Weekly after anti-doping near the finish in Mayrhofen, Wiggins admitted that a top 20 finish is the Giro d?Italia is perhaps a difficult objective because he also has the Tour de France as a major goal this year. However, he definitely has his eye on the 60.6km stage 12 time trial along the spectacular Cinque Terre coast and the final time trial in Rome.

?I felt fine again today and was pretty comfortable on the climb. It split it on the descent and I lost time. I was in the Lance group,? he told Cycling Weekly.

?Other than it was a pretty good day. Although I know I?m going to have to shut it down pretty soon. I can?t keep smashing away on the climbs like that. I?m capable of getting 25th or something in the Giro but I don?t want to be in a coffin at the end of the race because it could affect what I can do in the Tour de France in July.?

?I?m going to select my targets and really think I can do well in the Cinque Terre time trial next week. I can perhaps get top five in that and then I can perhaps win the time trial in Rome.?

?I?ll play it by ear until that time trial and then talk about things with the team and perhaps decide to go gruppetto.?

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Giro d'Italia 2009 links

Stage reports

Stage six: Scarponi wins longest stage with big break

Stage five: Menchov wins mountain battle as Di Luca grabs the pink jersey

Stage four: Di Luca denies Soler on the line; Lovkvist takes pink jersey

Stage three: Cavendish loses pink jersey after being caught behind late crash

Stage two: Petacchi denies Cavendish the stage win

Stage one: Cavendish in pink as Columbia prove their point to Garmin

Photo galleries

Stage five photo gallery

Stage four photo gallery

Stage three photo gallery

Stage two photo gallery

Stage one photo gallery

Desktop wallpaper photos

News

Wiggins eyes top 20 finish overall

Armstrong after Giro stage 5: 'That was hard'

Cavendish looking for Giro revenge

Armstrong happy with stage four performance

Lovkvist will fight to keep Giro lead

Giro could be last race for Armstrong's team

Vande Velde crashes out of Giro

Petacchi claims he didn't know of Cavendish crash

Cavendish struggles to find consolation in pink jersey

Petacchi: I've been working out how to beat Cav

I'm wearing pink on behalf of the team, says Cavendish

Wiggins ready to win Giro team time trial

Friday, May 8: Giro news round-up

Cavendish out to topple Garmin in Giro team time trial

Team time trial start times

Cycling Weekly's Giro d'Italia top ten prediction

Brits in Venice for Giro presentation

Armstrong overshadows overall favourites at Giro presentation

Armstrong confident of finding new sponsor for Astana

Armstrong working to save Astana team

Wiggins in top form for Giro

Garmin Slipstream kitted out for Giro opener

Dan Lloyd gets late Giro call-up

Armstrong's special Giro bikes unveiled

Daniel Lloyd overlooked for Giro ride

Cummings and Thomas not selected for Giro d'Italia

Cavendish tests Giro form at Tour of Romandie

David Millar confirms he's riding in 2009 Giro

Bennati to take on Cavendish in Giro 2009 sprints

2009 Giro d'Italia to start in Venice

Evans and Silence-Lotto disagree on Giro 2009 ride

Armstrong to ride 2009 Giro

Tuttosport reveals 2009 Giro d'Italia route

Dolce & Gabbana design new Giro jersey

2009 Giro d'Italia guide and features

Find the pink jersey competition

Giro d'Italia 2009: The Big Preview

British riders to have led the grand tours

CW's Giro top ten prediction

Brits in the Giro 2009

Brits in the Tours: From Robinson to Cavendish

CW Classic: the 1987 Giro d'Italia

2008 Giro d'Italia archive

Giro d'Italia 2008 coverage index - race reports, photos, results

From rule Britannia to cruel Britannia

Giro 2008: The final word on this year's race

Brits at the 2008 Giro: photo special

Five days to go, what's in store?

Giro d'Italia 2008: Rest day review (May 27)

Giro d'Italia 2008: Rest day review (May 19)

Giro d'Italia 2008 preview

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