Wiggins: World Cup failure doesn't affect World Championships chances
Great Britain's team pursuit squad failed to win a medal at the Track World Cup but Bradley Wiggins insists the team are on course for the World Championships

Sir Bradley Wiggins insists Great Britain's performance in the team pursuit at the UCI Track World Cup in Cali has no bearing on their chances of winning gold at the World Championships in London in March.
Britain's line-up of Wiggins, Andy Tennant, Owain Doull and Steven Burke could only qualify with the fourth fastest time in Cali and were knocked out of medal contention in the first round.
But in the race for fifth place, Wiggins and co caught their German opponents, completing an opening 3km in a faster time than any of the medal winners - something that Wiggins insists is more important than the end result and throwing in a football reference for good measure.
"There were a lot of positives to take. In the final ride, we were riding off for fifth and we were on world-record pace for 2.5km with the line-up we had," he told Sky Sports.
"Things like that you take more from, so it wasn't really about the colour of the medal or the position. The main one was the European title, which we won a few weeks ago, and travelling out to Colombia, with the time difference and everything, was more of an experimental project.
"We are not racing now until the World Championships in March, so in competition, there aren't too many chances to try different things, which is what we did last week, so we're not really looking too much into the result. We haven't got a Chelsea situation on our hands."
>>> Bradley Wiggins ‘likely’ to race beyond the 2016 Rio Olympics
Unlike Chelsea, who have been struggling for form in recent weeks, Wiggins and co have the next three months to perfect their performances behind closed doors ahead of the World Championships on home turf.
With the next two rounds of the World Cup taking place in New Zealand and Hong Kong, Great Britain are likely to send weakened teams to keep their medal hopefuls fresh before the London championships.
Thank you for reading 10 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
Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.
-
-
Is the bike industry divided over new tire and wheel rim-size regulations?
New recommendations have created a split within the world's tyre and rim organisation
By Hannah Bussey • Published
-
British bike company Planet X saved after sale to private equity firm
Yorkshire company's 33 employees transferred to new owners following seven week sale process
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Bradley Wiggins says he suffered ‘borderline rape’ during three years of 'abuse' by coach
Speaking on Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place podcast, Wiggins says he now “hates cycling” and only ever used the sport as a distraction
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Back to school - Ryan Owens on training for the Olympics while studying for a masters in business
The 27-year-old plans on returning to the track after completing an MBA
By Andy McGrath • Published
-
Extinction Rebellion stages anti-Shell protest at British Track Champs
Two people carried a banner through the stands at Newport's Geraint Thomas National Velodrome
By Vern Pitt • Published
-
Inside British Cycling's £1 wind tunnel
Cycling Weekly goes behind the scenes of the new medal factory on British Cycling's doorstep
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Bradley Wiggins might not be a TV pundit for much longer: 'I just want a normal job really'
Tour de France champion says that he doesn't still want to be on Eurosport in 10 years, and he thought about being a social worker
By Adam Becket • Published
-
CW Live: Chris Froome targets return to 'top level'; UCI tightens ITT rules; Strava responds to price hike criticism; Topless protesters arrested at TDU; Tributes paid to Lieuwe Westra; Scott recalls 'cracking' bikes; Toon Aerts the PE teacher
The latest news in the world of cycling
By Tom Davidson • Last updated
-
Bradley Wiggins: Abuse contributed to making me a great cyclist
The Tour de France winner is part of a new NSPCC campaign to help people spot the signs of child abuse
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Is Bradley Wiggins Rubbish on ITV's The Masked Singer? We investigate
The wheely bin character was tipped to be the Olympian by one of the judges on the Saturday night TV show
By Adam Becket • Published