Bradley Wiggins reveals desire to compete in rowing at 2020 Olympic Games
The five-time gold medal winner is now being coached for rowing 'seven days a week' since retiring from cycling at the start of the year
Sir Bradley Wiggins has revealed that he hopes to potentially go for more Olympic glory in the next Games in 2020, this time competing in rowing.
The 2012 Tour de France winner, who has won five Olympic gold medals, took up rowing in his retirement at the end of 2016 to stay fit, but now says he is receiving week-round coaching and hopes to begin competing soon.
The Daily Mail reports that the 37-year-old is working with former Olympian James Cracknell ahead of competing in the British Rowing Indoor Championships at Lee Valley Velodrome on December 9.
"I took up rowing when I retired just to keep fit, but my numbers started getting quite good so I've started taking it up professionally now and getting coached seven days a week," Wiggins said at an event in Manchester on Thursday night.
"I'm doing the British Championships in December, and I'm going to see how far I can take it, maybe a sixth Olympic gold?"
Wiggins has posted numerous time on social media photos showing him in the gym and has put on a significant amount of weight since giving up riding professionally.
He's still riding his bike though, even taking to the velodrome again earlier this week. But to compete at Olympic level in rowing, Wiggins will need to dramatically change his physique, and says that will be one the most difficult parts of the transition.
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"I'm trying to get to 100 kilos, so I'd be 31 kilos heavier than when I went on Tour," he said.
"I don't know how far I'm going to take it. At the moment I'm just doing it because it's like 'ooh yeah, a chance to go to another Olympics."
Wiggins would be 40 by the time the Tokyo Olympics roll around, but says his times on the rowing machine suggest he's not being 'delusional' about aiming for another Olympic medal.
"I might be being a bit delusional but the times suggest I'm not," Wiggins added, "and at the end of the day I quite like times - that's the basis of everything I've trained for over the years: if you can produce this number for this amount of time, you will win.
"I'm actually not that far [off]. So if I train for 18 months flat out, will I get there? Why not?"
The former world time trial champion still has a cloud hanging over him however, with UK Anti-Doping continuing to carry out an investigation into a package delivered to Team Sky and Wiggins at the 2011 Critérium du Dauphiné.
Both parties deny any wrongdoing.
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Follow on Twitter: @richwindy
Richard is digital editor of Cycling Weekly. Joining the team in 2013, Richard became editor of the website in 2014 and coordinates site content and strategy, leading the news team in coverage of the world's biggest races and working with the tech editor to deliver comprehensive buying guides, reviews, and the latest product news.
An occasional racer, Richard spends most of his time preparing for long-distance touring rides these days, or getting out to the Surrey Hills on the weekend on his Specialized Tarmac SL6 (with an obligatory pub stop of course).
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