- News
- Reviews
- Bikes
- Accessories
- Accessories - misc
- Computer mounts
- Bags
- Bar ends
- Bike bags & cases
- Bottle cages
- Bottles
- Cameras
- Car racks
- Child seats
- Computers
- Glasses
- GPS units
- Helmets
- Lights - front
- Lights - rear
- Lights - sets
- Locks
- Mirrors
- Mudguards
- Racks
- Pumps & CO2 inflators
- Puncture kits
- Reflectives
- Smart watches
- Stands and racks
- Trailers
- Clothing
- Components
- Bar tape & grips
- Bottom brackets
- Brake & gear cables
- Brake & STI levers
- Brake pads & spares
- Brakes
- Cassettes & freewheels
- Chains
- Chainsets & chainrings
- Derailleurs - front
- Derailleurs - rear
- Forks
- Gear levers & shifters
- Groupsets
- Handlebars & extensions
- Headsets
- Hubs
- Inner tubes
- Pedals
- Quick releases & skewers
- Saddles
- Seatposts
- Stems
- Wheels
- Tyres
- Health, fitness and nutrition
- Tools and workshop
- Miscellaneous
- Tubeless valves
- Buyers Guides
- Features
- Forum
- Recommends
- Podcast
news
Sir Bradley Wiggins at Stage 2 of 2015 Tour de Yorkshire - picture Alex WhiteheadSWpix.comShane Sutton questions Sir Bradley Wiggins' hunger to make Rio 2016 squad
Shane Sutton has expressed his concerns over whether Sir Bradley Wiggins, who yesterday evening smashed the UCI Hour Record in London, has the hunger to continue pushing himself to gain a place in the team pursuit squad at next year’s Olympic Games in Rio.
Wiggins has long said that he wants to target a fifth Olympic gold medal in Brazil next year, in the event in which he won a gold medal at Beijing in 2008. He retained his individual pursuit title at those Games, and three years ago won the time trial in London.
In April, Wiggins left Team Sky to join his own development team, which is built around riders with ambitions for a spot on the team pursuit squad in Rio, the notable exception being JLT-Condor’s Ed Clancy, seeking a third successive Olympic team pursuit gold.
But British Cycling technical director Sutton, who has worked closely with the 2012 Tour de France winner throughout his career – Wiggins has described him as a father figure – has questioned whether the 35-year-old is willing to continue to make sacrifices in pursuit of a fifth gold medal.
Speaking to Sky Sports HQ at the Lee Valley VeloPark last night, Sutton said: "He's got a great coach in Heiko Salzwedel with him, and Tim Kerrison and the whole team have done a great job getting him to here, but can we get him to Rio now?
"That's the big question and it's one that we will sit down and discuss. Brad, as everyone knows, is a real family man and it was great to see his family there yesterday supporting him.
"I'm not sure whether he will be able to sit down and think, 'Is it what I really want or I just want to put myself through it because I have said I am going to do it?'
"We've got to find out where his desire is for Rio right now. For us, as a team, and a nation we all want him there so hopefully we can convince him to carry on."
But Wiggins, who established a new record yesterday of 54.526km, roared on by a capacity crowd that evoked memories of London 2012 when Team GB dominated the track events, insists he is now looking ahead to the next track season with a view to booking himself a place in Rio.
"This is my end of the season now and I’ll start building again for the track programme through to the European championships and the track winter programme to the worlds in March,” he said after his record-breaking ride.
Wiggins has seven Olympic medals in total, and is second only to Sir Chris Hoy in terms of gold medals won by a British athlete, the track sprinter taking his tally to six at London 2012.
Last year, after taking over the reins of the national team from Sir Dave Brailsford, Sutton said it would be “a big ask” for Wiggins to make the individual pursuit squad.
“The bar needs to be raised,” he said. “Whether Brad can raise the bar, that is the challenge he has set himself. Only Brad can answer that question.”
If that statement was accompanied by the sound of a gauntlet being thrown down, Wiggins – who insists that had conditions been better, he could have ridden another 700 metres – picked it up and last night proved not for the first time that when he is fully focused on a goal, he is more than capable of achieving it.
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
Latest Comments
- Eton Rifle 4 min 15 sec ago
The system for elderly drivers in the UK is insane. Basically, once you hit 70 years old, you have to re-apply for your driving licence every three...
- Moist von Lipwig 33 min 2 sec ago
Bit of googling gone wrong in the article - the JAT is the Junction Assessment Tool, the Joint Approval Team appears to be a coutner terrorism...
- Mr Blackbird 55 min 54 sec ago
We need to also take into account the van driver's viewpoint. He may have been obese and on his way to McDonalds for a salt/ sugar / fat fix. Can...
- HKR 1 hour 48 min ago
Can't believe that child threw his bike on the floor at the end of that. Young people today have no respect... ;))
- Griff500 35 min 46 sec ago
Its not the same stem fitted to the two bikes though, and we aren't talking about HTA we are talking about stem inclination or "stem rise" to use...
- TheBillder 9 hours 49 min ago
My new double glazed wooden framed sash windows are £1600 plus vat per (quite large) window. House built in 1904. The cost includes fitting and...
- galibiervelo 10 hours 4 min ago
We promote #bikefriday You dont need it - go for a spin. Nice bikes and kit are lovely, but not as noice as a dawn spin this friday morning with a...
- David9694 10 hours 8 min ago
Council acting like ‘the Sheriff of Nottingham’ with parking charges...
- David9694 10 hours 12 min ago
Man taken to hospital after vehicle crashes into pub...
- David9694 10 hours 21 min ago
Car flips in Millennium Way, Sheerness, near former Aldi supermarket that reopens as Home Bargains this weekend...
Add new comment
13 comments
If this were said in a football context the press would be gushing "oh, that Shane Sutton is an absolute master of the mind games..."
Gentle throwing down of the gauntlet to Wiggo, i'd say.
Incidentally, was I the only one who heard Sutton, when interviewed during the hour, say that when the pain got bad in the last 10 or 12 minutes that Wiggo would be OK, because he'll be able to "draw on his greatness"?
What an odd thing to say. There are definitely times when I wish I had a spot of 'greatness' to draw on to get me through the day!
Perhaps I imagined it?
My guess is that it is very feasible that given free choice of any four British cyclists he might not make the squad.
Thomas, Stannard and Cavendish might have a higher 30 second power output. Kenuagh and Swift are better sprinters too. Since Wiggins lost a stone he's not had the starting power to win short time trials, though he normally loses by only a second or so and beats all the GC contenders.
However all those guys are on the road and I don't see them coming back. That said Wiggins is larger than any of those guys and if he converts back to his pre Twiggo size he could probably out power them.
I'd put money on him having a crack at the IP record which would make his seat on the team pursuit a lot more likely.
Wasn't Shane Sutton sacked in regards to Zero Tolerance?
Yates was sacked, Sutton was hit by a car around the same time and was off work with a severe head injury.
That's how I remember it anyway?
Anyone know how many watts he put out?
This would goad me into raising my game... I don't think Shane Sutton has a record of making mistakes in his coaching methods does he?
It's awesome to see British cyclists dominate their sport - we really are the very best in the world.
Has nobody seen Shane Sutton in action before . Its how he rolls and it works . Do you think Bradley would be where he is now without Shane's mentoring ? Watch a few Wiggins/Team Sky documentary's and see how Shane questions (not doubts) Wiggins's hunger to win the Tour de France after his failure in 2011 when he withdrew due a broken collar bone and we all know what happened in 2012 don't we .
Shane's comments are not aimed at Brad at all (if he wants to speak to Brad, he can just speak to Brad. The press is not needed).
No, Shane's comments were aimed at the press and general public - just putting it out there that Brad does not have an automatic right to be picked for Rio, he has to prove himself, and *might* not make it.
Yup!
I think you've nailed it there.
Given that he seems happily married and has two kids I doubt he's 'swimming in women'. Bit of an odd thing to say
.
I'd imagine he's pretty hungover and enjoying the money, sponsorship and God-like status though.
He does seem to have a bit of a fragile psychology when it comes to comments made about him and pressue on his shoulders etc. We saw that after the TdF win when he quite openly talked about not liking all of the attention. So, maybe this interview might make him question things.
I hope not though, I hope it's just Shane being honest and analytical.
Sutton knows how to get the best out of Wiggins, that's for sure. I think this comments is part of that. To really make sure Wiggins is doing this for the right reasons.
this must be a nice read for Wiggo this morning.
What a stupid time to make such a comment
He's probably swimming in women, money, sponsorship offers and generally being treated like a god. I doubt this'll ruin his day