Bradley Wiggins de panne 2009

Bradley Wiggins finished 12 minutes 34 seconds behind stage winner and Giro d'Italia leader Danilo Di Luca in Pinerolo but as he got changed on the Garmin team bus, rather than disappointed, he was in some way relieved that he no longer had to fight for a place in the top 20 in the overall standings.

Wiggins? ability to climb with the leaders, and even drop Lance Armstrong, has made him one of the revelations of the first part of the Giro and someone for British cycling fans to cheer for on the climbs. But he is intelligent enough to see the bigger picture and know he has more important and more achievable goals, later in the Giro and at the Tour de France in July.

?It wasn?t actually too bad for me. The whole accumulation from the day made it hard but it was getting to everybody at the end.? he said coolly after racing for 262km in the Alps.

Wiggins is now 42nd at 17-39 and that is where he wants to be.

?If I stop and think about what I came to the Giro for, it was about a good time trial, maybe a stage win and to get ready for the Tour de France. I can?t forget that, no matter what happens,? he says.

?I?ve spoken to (Garmin team manager) Jonathan Vaughters about it. I was 27th overall before today and so if I get in the top 20 after the time trial, I might get tempted to go for a GC place. That would be great and I?ve taken a big step up in this race but I don?t want to get into the top 20 overall and then refuse to come out if it. I can?t end up in a body bag.?

?I?ve got to think about the Tour de France. The Tour is a lot more favourable for me in terms of GC. I?ll be riding for Christian but if I can scrape top 20 it?d be great and some of the guys think I could even do better than that because of the route. I might be getting a bit carried away but there aren?t any crazy finishes like this and the climbs aren?t as bad.?

?I?M NOT SUPERMAN?

Wiggins could probably have finished with the overall contenders, at only a minute behind Di Luca but he lost contact and sat up on the last Pra Martino climb, 15km from the finish.

?I got bad position at the start of the last climb but it was kind of an excuse for me to come out of the GC,? he said.

?We hit it as if it was the Cipressa during Milan-San Remo and I was a bit too far back. I?m not superman and so I sat up.?

Giro d'Italia 2009

Wiggins after stage 10: looking forward to Thursday's time trial

RIGHT MENTAL STRENGTH FOR THE TT

Wiggins avoided putting himself in a GC hole and quickly began thinking about Thursday 60.6km time trial in the hilly Cinque Terre area south of Genoa.

It is perhaps one of the toughest time trials seen for decades in the Giro, requiring a full out effort for an hour and half. However, Wiggins is convinced he has the physical ability to handle the climbs in the first part and the bike handling skills for the technical second half. Most importantly he has right mental strength to push himself hard and get a result.

?I?m going to have a really good go. I could go top three or top five,? he says, clearly convinced.

?I?ve been thinking about the time trial since even before the rest day. I?m going to have a good shot at it, then pick a day in the last week to go for and then target the final time trial in Rome. I think that?s plenty to worry about for now.?

Cycle Sport feature: Bradley Wiggins, born to do this>>

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Giro d'Italia 2009 links

Stage reports

Stage 10: Di Luca lays down the gauntlet

Giro rest day review (May 18)

Stage nine: Cavendish blitzes rivals to win in Milan

Stage eight: Siutsou makes it two in a row for Columbia-Highroad

Stage seven: Boasson Hagen takes treacherous stage

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 nine photo gallery

Stage eight photo gallery

Stage seven photo gallery

Stage six photo gallery

Stage five photo gallery

Stage four photo gallery

Stage three photo gallery

Stage two photo gallery

Stage one photo gallery

Desktop wallpaper photos

News

Armstrong and Basso say sorry for Giro protest

How are the Giro favourites doing?

Cavendish says 'I'm addicted to winning'

Riders stage go-slow protest during Giro stage in Milan

Cavendish cool before Milan sprint

No sympathy for Armstrong from Giro boss

Boasson Hagen celebrates his birthday early

Cavendish overjoyed for Boasson Hagen

Armstrong 'livid' at dangerous Giro stage

Astana riders wear faded kit in protest over unpaid wages

Armstrong sees Leipheimer in pink

Giro news round-up: 14 May

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

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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