Cycling

Wiggins, Froome and Co have 'no excuses'

ESPN staff

October 1, 2013

Sir Bradley Wiggins won silver in the men's time trial but pulled out of the road race © AP

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Great Britain team manager Rod Ellingworth believes his riders underperformed in the men's road race at the World Championships in Italy and has called for Chris Froome and Co to "take a look at themselves".

Ellingworth saw all of his eight riders, including Tour de France champion Froome and Sir Bradley Wiggins, withdraw during a rain-soaked race in Tuscany on Sunday, which was won by Portugal's Rui Costa.

Wiggins and 2011 world champion Mark Cavendish were caught in a pile-up shortly into the 272.5 kilometre race while Froome withdrew with over 80km left to ride. Geraint Thomas was the last to pull out, leaving Ellingworth disappointed with the result and stating his team had "no excuses."

"A lot of people were talking the talk and didn't see it through. Each and every one of them underperformed," Ellingworth told BBC Sport.

"The lads are all disappointed in themselves and they are right to be disappointed. To have nobody in the race with 100km to go is not normal for us. I don't think they showed what they're worth. You have to be prepared for anything and I don't think the lads were.

"The lads have got to look at themselves. They're all full-time bike riders and if we're talking about going forward, talking about Rio 2016, this was a very disappointing result.

"They all got a bit too carried away too early, then the weather got to them for no reason. There are no excuses at all."

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