Bradley Wiggins added another 'world-class performance' to his results on Wednesday in the World Championships elite men's time trial. Behind winner Tony Martin, he edged ahead of Fabian Cancellara for the silver medal.
"I think it's just another world-class performance for me," Wiggins told Cycling Weekly. "They're becoming more consistent now."
The Worlds silver medal result adds to a successful year for Wiggins. He won the Critérium du Dauphiné stage race and placed third overall at the Paris-Nice. Despite a broken collarbone sustained at the Tour de France in july, he re-bounded for third overall at the Vuelta a España and now a silver medal at the Worlds.
Wiggins led team Sky in its debut year last year, but he and the team now acknowledge the focus was too much on the Tour de France.
"We focused too much on one rider and one race," head of team Sky and British Cycling's performance director, David Brailsford explained in June. "We entered the year with a different philosophy, entering each race in its own right."
"After a disastrous 2010, I wanted to start enjoying it more this year and race more for results," Wiggins told Cycling Weekly on Wednesday. "I think I've done that, right from Paris-Nice. I had a very consistent year, which has also reflected in the world rankings."
Wiggins finished the two 23.3-kilometre circuits around Copenhagen - 46.4 kilometres - in 54 minutes and 59.68 seconds. He bumped German Bert Grabsch out of the first spot and held on until the end. Four-time winner, Swiss rider Cancellara came close, but fell short of Wiggins' time by five seconds. Only German Tony Martin could do better, beating Wiggins by one minute, 15.83 seconds.
"To finish it off here with a World Championships medal, in the company of those two guys, it's a great feeling," Wiggins continued. "Fabian has probably been the best time trial rider in the world for at least five years and Tony Martin is the man who may dominate the next five years."
Wiggins was the only one of 65 cyclists to ride faster in the second lap. He said that it was a perfect ride.
"I decided not to use a radio today. I just rode my own race: paced the first lap and rode faster on the second lap. I didn't want to know any splits, whether I was down or not," Wiggins said.
"As for everyone else, I can't control what they are going to do. It's a case of just doing my best ride. There was no way I was going to find a minute and 15 seconds. I can't think of anywhere where I could have found more time, it was a perfect ride really."
Related links
Road World Championships 2011: Cycling Weekly's coverage index
Road World Championships 2011: Latest news
Martin describes rainbow jersey as 'wonderful'
Julia Shaw breaks in to World's top 20 in Copenhagen
LIVE: Men's time trial as it happened
Arndt finally wins Worlds time trial gold
LIVE: Women's time trial as it happened
Wiggins and Millar tipped for success in time trial
Christian closes successfull day at Worlds for GB
Barker's unexpected silver medal ride
Wiggins previews Worlds course with medal in mind
British juniors gain pro experience at World Championships
British world champs team announced
The Worlds' top teams: Nine strongest squads
Italy to rely on Bennati and youthful Worlds squad
Renshaw left out of Australia's Worlds team
Cavendish heads British Cycling's Worlds long list
Britain up to seventh in UCI World Rankings
Cavendish previews Copenhagen Worlds course
Project Rainbow Jersey: Britain's bid for Worlds title
Road World Championships 2011: Reports
Wiggins scores silver as Martin wins Worlds time trial
Pooley claims bronze in women's time trial
Dibben gets top ten in junior men's time trial
Under-23 men TT: Durbridge wins title for Australia
Junior women TT: Barker takes silver for GB as Allen wins
Road World Championships 2011: Photos
Elite men time trial
Elite women time trial
Junior men time trial
Under-23 men time trial
Junior women time trial
Road World Championships 2011: TV guide
British Eurosport coverage schedule
Related links
World Championships 2010: Cycling Weekly's coverage index
External links
Copenhagen 2011 official website
I'm not into cake stops - but - I made an exception to rate five British delicacies in one ride
The Rugby Flyer flies again: the story of the first sub-hour '25' time trial
