'I got it from an ad in Cycling Weekly': Ireland's Marcus Christie rode Bradley Wiggins' old time trial bike at Worlds
The Irish rider bought it from a classified ad in Cycling Weekly back in 2016

While there was only one former Tour de France winner on the start line for the elite men's individual time trial at the Flanders Worlds, Tadej Pogačar, the next closest thing was underneath Ireland's Marcus Christie as he made his way around the course from Knokke-Heist to Bruges.
That's because back in 2016 Christie's mother saw a classified advert in Cycling Weekly for a time trial bike previously owned by Bradley Wiggins.
"Yeah, this is Wiggins' old bike, it was advertised in Cycling Weekly magazine," Christie told the same publication at the finish line in Bruges. "It's a funny story about my mum seeing it and she just spontaneously bought the bike. It's still got the Wiggo sign and still got his cranks and everything on it. It's a funny story isn't it?"
Christie thinks it could have been a training bike, and doesn't know if Wiggins actually raced on it. All he knows is the Brit definitely rode it.
"It’s been a while so I can’t even remember to be honest," the 30-year-old says of how much it set him back when he bought it, adding the bike has been "pretty much untouched" in terms of modification since 2016.
There was one alteration made for Flanders, however, with what looked like a blue piece of elastic attached to the right fork: "I mean, seeing as there was a cobble section on this course, the bikes not the most stable at the front," Christie explained.
The Irishman finished a respectable 39th overall, five minutes down on Filippo Ganna's winning time.
"There was a great atmosphere out there, it's a really good course for specialists," Christie added. "I got into it quite well in the first 20 minutes and then started to suffer and maybe didn't get my absolute best out today, but I still think I need to be happy with that ride all things considered."
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Hi. I'm Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor. I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
-
-
David Millar: Why Mark Cavendish deserves to be at the Tour de France
Cav has bridged generations in a way no one else could, he shows what's possible
By David Millar • Published
-
Young and talented: Meet the seven Americans racing Le Tour
Young and talented: Meet the seven American bike racers ringing Le Tour de France in 2022.
By Marshall Opel • Published
-
Stirling to host time trials at the 2023 World Championships
Central Scottish city to host time trial events at first multi-event worlds
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Road World Championships 2022 route announced: Australia races to suit puncheurs
The local loop takes in a brutally steep climb every lap to whittle down the field
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
Tadej Pogačar adds World Championships and Giro d'Italia to his wish list but is not done with the Tour de France
The Slovenian says he's still hungry to win at the Tour despite his dominance over the last year
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
Jasper Stuyven has his say on Belgian storm after World Championships
'All of a sudden we’re so stupid' says Stuyven after his fourth place in Leuven
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
'The girls who were still there can blame themselves': Annemiek van Vleuten critical of team-mates at World Championships
Demi Vollering was due to be a key rider for the sprint but didn't have the legs after multiple mechanicals
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
'Remco Evenepoel was the best man in the race after Julian Alaphilippe': Lefevere baffled by Belgian tactics at World Championships
The Deceuninck - Quick-Step boss is happy to keep the rainbow jersey in the team but questions the Belgians' ride
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
Road World Championships 2021: Strava data shows brutality of race around Flanders
Remco Evenepoel, Michael Valgren, Dylan van Baarle and more posted their rides to the site
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
Thomas Voeckler: 'We wanted to attack earlier than everyone else at Worlds so they would think we were idiots'
French boss happily accepts fine for coaching Julian Alaphilippe when it wasn't permitted
By Richard Windsor • Published