Tour de France rider abandons race after rejecting Therapeutic Use Exemption that would have let him continue

I think it's a mistake personally, the problem with TUEs is often they aren't made public not that they exist. If he has a genuine medical condition that short-term cortisone use could have alleviated then why not do it under TUE? Just make it public, sure some idiots may question it but I doubt many would.

It is ethical to feel shame.

It is particularly ethical to attempt to avoid the feeling when you know some of your competitors wouldn't or wouldn't have to.

So which one was it, he states it went against his ethics to take a normally banned substance in case it impacted on his reputation. So if people were not hounding Wiggins and Co in regard to the information released by a bunch of illegal hackers, he would have gladly taken it. What is ethical about that. Seems that this witch hunt has stopped him continuing, when he could have legally taken medical aid and carried on.

No no I can't carry on!

We'll give you this, just get a TUE. No no I've got morals (and no chance of winning) 

another excuse for sky bashing!

get over it! Just appreciate some great riding from some f-ing great riders regardless of team

This has probably done his team mates quite a big favour as it will give a slightly better impression of the type of riders on that team, willing to miss part of the biggest race of the year because you don't agree with the system.

I hope he gets over it quickly, it must be pretty nasty if it's enough for him to climb off the bike, considering what a lot of the riders will try to race through.

I can see Dave Brailsford tapping away on his laptop during the rest day, adding notes to Team Sky's database of potential future recruits. Under Tim Wellens, does it now say "not a team player", I wonder?

Exactly, it is poor form of Wellens and Lotto to not use the correct system to ensure that treatment for a medical condition happens.

rules are there to be followed, if you don't use them then are you contravening them? Russians must be loving this!

sponsor has every right to be annoyed too.

Good on him but very sad that he feels he has to abandon when there is a medication that he could use to ease the problem but the witch hunt is in full swing even for medically prescribed medication. As someone else said the Russians must be peeing themselves at the can f worms they've opened while they merrily get on with using PEDs with impunity.

If it had happened to Sky, Brailsford and Dr Freeman would have been rubbing their hands together and wheeling out a hot sauce concoction that'd take your head off. Bear this in mind next time someone tries the tired old "they're all at it" argument. Nice to see George Bennett calling out Wiggins' TUEs as "bullshit" in the NZ Herald the other day too.

The CW article mentions he's had breathing difficulties too - respiratory infection? So, not as simple as just a rash. 

Though not to dismiss rashes too - they can be very painful. A friend recently cycled to Lisbon and had quite a sore, bloody rash under her shorts' legs. 

I get heat rashes, but I usually take antihistamines to keep them under control. It's ruined a few holidays - sunbathing isn't an option any more as the rash pops up on the second day. Never knew cortisone would help - no doctor or pharmacist suggested it when the bottom half of my legs turned port-wine red. (Though by that time, it was probably past help. Took weeks for the skin on my legs to return to normal.)

Nice to see the swivel eyed pitchfork loonies winning yet again.

meanwhile in Russia....same ol', same ol' 'cept they're pissing themselves laughing at us...

He's completed all 3 other grand tours he's raced in. His team know the truth so I can't imagine it to be damaging.

Sounds all great and ethical on the face of it, and kudos to the lad for sticking to his principles.

However, there's nothing to say he won't get this kind of reaction in the same level of heat in the future.  So if after dreaming about it for years, you've finally made it through to the pro ranks, then managed to secure the lottery win of a TdF ride, do you:

A. Stick to your guns forever, potentially ruining your chances as a pro due to the warmer weather climes where many races are.

B. At some point accept that there may be valid medical reasons for a TUE, not least to enable you to continue riding your bike when you aren't, after all, ill or injured?

He may have already ruined his chances of another grand tour ride, due to the risk of him withdrawing where other riders would continue.

Respect, but it shouldn't have to be. Here's hoping the team supports him fully.

The system is clearly flawed, as is the reporting of and public reaction to.

Sounds like a good decision.

I will add a 'but' though -  medication can help surpress symptoms and make life a bit easier - but it not going to clear up a rash overnight. Sounds like it may have been too late for the medication anyway.

Standby for the obvious raft of questions about what other use he's trying to hide, now all the sh1t's stuck to the Bradley blanket....

Among the names released was Sir Bradley Wiggins, who was revealed to have taken a powerful corticosteroid to treat grass and pollen injuries

Pollen injury. Bradley's past get shadier all the time.

Good lad. 

Now about that Wiggins 'character'...