Bradley Wiggins's new development squad officially confirmed
Wiggins sets up team to aid his transition back to track racing for 2015.
Three weeks after Cycling Weekly revealed full details of it, Bradley Wiggins's management company XIX today announced that the World Time Trial Champion has set up his own team for 2015.
Offficially called WIGGINS (although the UCI's registration documents list it as Team Wiggins), the squad has been established to aid the 2012 Tour de France winner's transition from road to track racing in time for the 2016 Olympics in Rio. He is also seeking to inspire people to take up cycling; it is for this reason that the word "Team" is believed to have been removed from the squad's name, as it suggests an elite set-up.
"Cycling has given me everything," said Wiggins. "Now I want to build something to inspire kids and to reach all those people who might be on the fringes of the sport."
There are no surprises in the rider roster: five of the eight riders who will race for the squad for the duration of 2015 (Steven Burke Mark Christian, Jon Dibben, Owain Doull, Andy Tennant) are part of Great Britain's men's endurance team. Mountain bikers Mike Thompson and Iain Paton, and former Dave Rayner funded rider Daniel Patten complete the line-up.
Sky is the major backer - the team's budget is a reported £460,000 - Simon Cope will act as the team's manager, Rapha and Pinarello will supply clothing and bikes respectively.
Today's announcement from Wiggins's management company also confirms that the rider - who will leave Team Sky on April 30 - will attempt the Hour Record in London in June. This will mean he can do it in the colours of his new squad.
"I've dreamt about the Hour Record since I was a boy," Wiggins added.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Team kit is yet to be unveiled, although CW has previously revealed a work-in-progress version of it. The squad's debut will come at Challenge Majorca, which begins on January 29. They will also be invited to the new three-day Tour de Yorkshire race in May.
Expect to see them in action at the Tour Series and Tour of Britain, too.
Although the two teams share the same lead sponsor, Team Wiggins will not be affiliated to Team Sky, and will also operate independently of British Cycling.
Thank you for reading 20 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
Nick Bull is an NCTJ qualified journalist who has written for a range of titles, as well as being a freelance writer at Beat Media Group, which provides reports for the PA Media wire which is circulated to the likes of the BBC and Eurosport. His work at Cycling Weekly predominantly dealt with professional cycling, and he now holds a role as PR & Digital Manager at SweetSpot Group, which organises the Tour of Britain.
-
Rapha's loss, your gain: prices slashed sitewide amid profitability concerns
The British clothing brand unveils an almost unheard-of 25% discount across its entire product range
By Hannah Bussey Published
-
A phone app saved my life after a crash, you shouldn't ride anywhere remote without it
Having taken a life-threatening tumble while out riding on the UK's South Downs, John Powell is coming back from the brink
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
Claims against bankrupt Sir Bradley Wiggins’s estate double to £2m
Wiggins’s efforts to pursue money through the courts have been paused
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins to reunite on the bike to raise money for US hurricane relief
The British knights will be joined by Jan Ullrich at the Gran Fondo Hincapie next week
By Adam Becket Published
-
Bradley Wiggins 'a little bit nervous' as he returns to cycling
Former Tour de France winner set to ride bike again for first time in almost three years
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'I should have paid more attention to my financial affairs' - Bradley Wiggins opens up about bankruptcy
Former Tour de France winner was declared bankrupt in June
By Adam Becket Published
-
Bradley Wiggins: 'I was putting myself in some situations where someone would have found me dead in the morning'
Former Tour de France winner and Olympic champion reveals further details about his mental health struggles and suggests 2022 interview potentially saved his life
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Bradley Wiggins joins Lance Armstrong for Tour de France podcast
The former Tour de France winner will be appearing on The Move for the next week
By Adam Becket Published
-
Bradley Wiggins declared bankrupt - reports
The Tour de France winner was in an Individual Voluntary Arrangement since 2020
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