Bradley Wiggins: 'Like Barack Obama, over eight years we've had a good term in presidency'
Sir Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish last won a world title together in 2008, the same year Barack Obama became US president, and Wiggo says they've both had a successful eight years
Sir Bradley Wiggins compared his successful reunion with Mark Cavendish in the Madison at the UCI Track World Championships in London with Barack Obama's presidency.
Together with Spaniards Sebastian Mora and Albert Torres, the British pair fought doggedly over five kilometres to gain a lap on the field, and not even a late Cavendish crash denied them the world title they previously won together in Manchester in 2008.
“A month after [the Manchester Worlds victory, Cavendish] won his first Giro stage,” said Wiggins. “We went onto conquer the World in eight years.
“Like Barack Obama, over eight years we've had a good term in presidency. It's come back full circle and we've won it again.”
>>> Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish win sensational Madison gold medal
For Cavendish, it was his third track title, all of which have come in the Madison discipline. “Brad and I compliment each other really well, it's the perfect pairing for the 50 kilometres,” he said.
“We were talking about it before, when we won our first title together, we'd never won a Tour stage between us. This was the perfect close to that.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
“It's the last international Madison we'll ride together, and if I don't get selected for Rio, it'll be the last international competition we do together.”
Although the pair are hopeful of competing in the rainbow jersey at this year's Ghent and London Six Days, Wiggins believes that the images of he and Cavendish from their years racing together will stand the test of time.
He said: “I think what we've done together, those images on the Champs-Élysées together, Copenhagen when he won [the world road title in 2011] there, me leading him out in those Tour stages when I was wearing yellow and he was road world champion – in 50 years' time, think what those images are going to be like.”
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.
-
Undercover Mechanic: Contrary to popular belief, the bike industry is not collapsing - but disinformation is rife
The overstocking amid the Covid spike is problematic, but some businesses are thriving, argues our insider
By Undercover Mechanic Published
-
You need to ride easy to get faster - and that might be easier than 'Zone 2', here's why
It's ell known that easy riding is the bedrock of endurance, but what exactly do we mean by ‘easy’? Charlie Allenby seeks clarification
By Charlie Allenby Published
-
'It was surreal' - Mark Cavendish turns up at local Isle of Man race, finishes 29th
The Manxman, a big supporter of his home scene, pinned on race numbers last weekend
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Tweets of the week: Mark Cavendish has a run-in with police dogs
The Brit was sniffed out at the UAE Tour, and reacted as all of us would
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Tweets of the week: Mark Cavendish takes mid-race selfie with fan
It was photo time at the Tour Colombia in another wild week on social media
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Mark Cavendish robbery: Police say ‘net is closing in’ on final suspect linked to violent raid
Essex police say time is running out for George Goddard who is wanted in connection with the attack on the Cavendish family home
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Mark Cavendish robbery: third man found guilty of robbing family at knife-point
27-year-old Jo Jobson due to be sentenced on Wednesday for his part in armed robbery of Cavendish and his wife, Peta, at their home in Essex in November 2021
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tweets of the week: Lotte Kopecky gets merry, Mark Cavendish’s ideal Tour de France route, and a special pizza cutter
It's time for our weekly round-up of the best social media posts
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Further suspect arrested and charged over knife-point robbery of Mark Cavendish and family
26-year-old Jo Jobson charged with two counts of robbery for his part in break in at Cavendish’s home
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
21 things you didn't know about Mark Cavendish
From working in a bank to breaking records on the Champs-Élysées
By Tom Thewlis Published