Wiggins sympathises as Cavendish seeks early release

Published on 10/09/2012 02:30

Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins says he can understand the frustration of fellow Team Sky racer Mark Cavendish.

Cavendish, the 23-time Tour de France stage winner, is seeking an amicable end to his Sky contract, which has two further years to run, as his personal ambitions do not match those of his employers. The 27-year-old, whose hopes of victory on the opening stage of the Tour of Britain yesterday afternoon were dashed after a late crash, is set to meet Team Sky principal Dave Brailsford for discussions over his future in the coming weeks. Wiggins has sympathy for the situation the 2011 world champion finds himself in, but admitted the complex dynamics of team road racing have the potential to create dissatisfaction among some riders. “There are a lot of things going on which are not out there [in the public domain],” said Wiggins. “I am as much in the dark as everyone else, but I do speak to him about things Of course I can understand, and I have said it before – it is not easy, and it is some position you are in when the world champion has to leave to get an opportunity. That is the downfall of our own success in a way.”

Cavendish had been teed up for a shot at a sprint-finish win yesterday after an early breakaway group was reeled in by the peloton, but a series of collisions heading into the final turns of the 120-kilometre course saw those hopes dashed. Instead, fellow Team Sky racer Luke Rowe kept clear of the carnage to take the stage at the Royal Norfolk Showground for his first professional victory.

“Luke deserves it, he has been knocking on the door all year,” said Wiggins, who also took a tumble in the bunched finish. I have had easier days on the bike, but it was nice to be back in the team racing, to have a job, a role and routine.”

Despite the sweltering temperatures, the route was lined with enthusiastic spectators, many no doubt inspired by Wiggins’ heroics at Le Tour and the Olympic Games this summer.

The Olympic time-trial gold medallist will miss tomorrow’s Team GB celebrations in London as the Tour of Britain heads to Nottingham and on towards Knowsley Safari Park.

He said: “I am just glad to have three days without drinking now, and am quite happy going to bed with my peppermint tea!”

Reflecting on his achievements this summer, Wiggins added: “It is hard to come to terms with really.

“When I go to Tesco and am trying to pack the shopping, and you are getting all this [attention], or you are trying to have a pizza with your kids, that is 
difficult.

“You are expected to know the answers to everything, you are the Messiah, everyone wants to know what you think, but I don’t know all the answers, I am just human at the end of the day.”

For Welshman Rowe it was a memorable day, having been called as a late replacement into the Sky squad.

The 22-year-old said: “The past month I have started to adapt to the level of racing and I came here with quite a lot of confidence. It was a race I always wanted to do, so to get called up and win a stage is pretty special.”