• Cycling

Wiggins understands Cavendish predicament

ESPN staff
September 10, 2012
Bradley Wiggins is the focus of attention at Team Sky © PA Photos
Enlarge

Tour de France and Olympic champion Bradley Wiggins understands why team-mate Mark Cavendish is keen to leave Team Sky to enhance his own career prospects.

Cavendish has only been with the British outfit for a year, but saw a reduced success rate in the Tour de France - and failure in his pursuit of road race gold at London 2012 - as Sky predominantly focused on Wiggins' general classification ambitions.

Realising that it is difficult for the team to give both cyclists equal billing, Cavendish is keen for an amicable divorce from the team - and Wiggins understands his predicament.

"I speak to Mark about things and I understand. It's not easy," Wiggins said. "It's some position you are in as a team when the world champion has to leave to get an opportunity, we are a victim of our own success."

Both riders crashed near the finish as the Tour of Britain got underway on Sunday, but that did not dampen spirits as both men were cheered wildly by the watching spectators.

"Its been incredible what has happened to British Cycling this year, it's been building for a few years but this was the defining year across the board with track and Paralympics cycling as well," Wiggins added.

"This is the reward. Cav crashed and I crashed but it wasn't about that, they were just happy to see us. That's the beauty of this week."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices