"A big ask" for Bradley Wiggins to make Rio team, says Shane Sutton

In his first major interview since taking over from David Brailsford as head of the GB cycling team, Shane Sutton has cast doubt on Bradley Wiggins' ability to make the track team for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Speaking to the Telegraph's Tom Cary, Sutton said: “Brad will know that I’m sat here looking at his numbers and thinking: ‘Right, Brad, this is going to be a big ask for you to make this team.’ Listen, Brad has basically got a 55 [3min 55sec] posted to his name from the semi in Beijing. Yes, we did a 53 in the final but were behind the back of the Danes for the last four laps. We went 51 in London two years ago. We are going to need to go quicker [in Rio], that is for sure.

“The bar needs to be raised. Whether Brad can raise the bar, that is the challenge he has set himself. Only Brad can answer that question.”

Sutton says he's "starting to find my own feet” in the job, but Brailsford's shadow looms large.

"I think I went on record as saying Dave is the greatest leader British sport has ever had," said Sutton. "But he has really helped me through the process."

With the chance to shape the British track team in his own way, Sutton has a wealth of talent to choose from. Not only has Wiggins declared his wish to return to the track, but Sutton says other graduates of the program will be back, including Pete Kennaugh, Luke Rowe, Ben Swift and Mark Cavendish.

Cavendish has been reported as considering a tilt at the omnium event at Rio. Sutton says it's game on.

“Cav is looking specifically at the omnium, as is Ben,” he said. “They don’t want to be add-ons to the team pursuit, which you can understand. So we are looking at that at this moment in time, with Heiko [Salzwedel, men's endurance coach]. And obviously Rod Ellingworth who has mentored Cav all of his career.

“That omnium is set up so beautiful for them now with the change to the points race. I think it is a golden opportunity. I don’t want Cav – who is going to leave this sport not just a great but a legend – to look back at the end of his career and say: ‘Jeez, I should have went for that.’ ”

But the Question of Wiggins making the team is still high in Sutton's thoughts. In theory the 2012 Tour de France winner will set up his own team next year, which will be a springboard for him and other GB riders to fine-tune for Rio in 2016. But August 5 2016 is still a long way off.

“Listen, it's great that Brad’s back,” said Sutton. “Just his presence has lifted the whole team. And the one thing in Brad’s favour is that when he sets his mind to something, like he has here – setting up his team, wanting the fairy-tale ending – it is very hard to distract him from the goal he has set out to achieve.

“The final decision will be made purely on the evidence I have in front of me. Brad would want me to make that decision on that evidence. If he makes it, he makes it. If he doesn’t, he doesn’t.”