Wiggins & Sky Launch New Cycling Team
Former Tour de France champion Sir Bradley Wiggins has launched his own cycling team ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympics, supported by BSkyB who has expanded its sponsorship of the Team Sky cycling outfit to include a new second-tier team built around the British rider.
Wiggins, who rode to victory in the Tour de France 2012 (pictured above with former team mate Mark Cavendish), will leave Team Sky when his contract expires on 30th April, and then become the lead rider of the new team, which will take his name.
The 34-year-old intends to race in track events at the Rio 2016 Olympics, and the four-time Olympic champion will attempt to break the individual world hour record as part of his build-up to the Games with his new team.
Like Team Sky, Team Wiggins will have sponsorship and supply deals with Pinarello bikes and Rapha clothing.
Wiggins added: “Cycling has given me everything. I want to build something to inspire kids and to reach all those people who might be on the fringes of the sport.
“My message is simple: if I can do it, then so can you.”
The team – which will operate independently from British Cycling, although the governing body has given its backing – will feature young British talent including England’s Andy Tennant, Jon Dibben, Steven Burke, Daniel Patten and Mike Thompson, Welshman Owain Doull, Mark Christian of the Isle of Man and Scotland’s Iain Paton.
The team’s calendar of UK track and road events will be unveiled in spring 2015.
