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Bradley Wiggins in discussion over new one-year deal with Team Sky Bradley Wiggins in discussion over new one-year deal with Team Sky
(35 minutes later)
Bradley Wiggins says his main targets next year will be an attempt on the world hour record and the Paris-Roubaix classic – not winning the Tour de France. However, a report in La Gazzetta dello Sport that he has signed for Sky for 2015 is premature. Discussions are ongoing, but it is understood that a deal is unlikely to be finalised until the autumn. Bradley Wiggins says his main targets next year will be an attempt on the world hour record and the Paris-Roubaix Classic – not winning the Tour de France. However, a report in La Gazzetta dello Sport that he has signed for Sky for 2015 is premature. Discussions are ongoing, but it is understood that a deal is unlikely to be finalised until the autumn.
But Wiggins has not ruled out competing in the Tour next year – especially as Chris Froome’s crash last week has made Team Sky re-evaluate his importance in grand tours. At 34, Wiggins might not be Plan A anymore, but they realise his experience and class would have been invaluable this year. But Wiggins has not ruled out competing in the Tour next year – especially as Chris Froome’s crash last week has made Team Sky re-evaluate his importance in Grand Tours. At 34, Wiggins might not be Plan A anymore, but they realise his experience and class would have been invaluable this year.
Wiggins, who won the Tour in 2012, is also not short of offers, having been courted by Orica GreenEdge and Garmin-Sharp after not being selected by Sky for this year’s Tour.Wiggins, who won the Tour in 2012, is also not short of offers, having been courted by Orica GreenEdge and Garmin-Sharp after not being selected by Sky for this year’s Tour.
Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, he said “I’m thinking about the Hour Record. Not this year but I’ll try next year”. He also expressed his desire to have another pop at Paris-Roubaix next April, after finishing ninth this year. “They’re the most beautiful roads, in the most fascinating race in the world: Roubaix,” he said. “I rode this year but next year I want to win it. It’ll be my big goal for 2015.” Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, he said: “I’m thinking about the Hour Record. Not this year but I’ll try next year.” He also expressed his desire to have another pop at Paris-Roubaix next April, after finishing ninth this year. “They’re the most beautiful roads, in the most fascinating race in the world: Roubaix,” he said. “I rode this year but next year I want to win it. It’ll be my big goal for 2015.”
Sky’s team principal Dave Brailsford meanwhile has called Wiggins “a great champion who has been integral to the Sky story. We are keen to support him in the best way as he works towards his ultimate goal of achieving Olmypic success in Rio,” he added. Sky’s team principal Dave Brailsford has called Wiggins “a great champion who has been integral to the Sky story. We are keen to support him in the best way as he works towards his ultimate goal of achieving Olympic success in Rio,” he added.
Wiggins has not raced in a Grand Tour since slipping out of the Giro D’Italia last May and did not go on Sky’s high-altitude training camp this year. He will ride in this year’s Vuelta e Espana after competing at the Commonwealth Games as a preparation his main goal of 2014: the world time championships. Wiggins has not raced in a Grand Tour since slipping out of the Giro D’Italia last May and did not go on Sky’s high-altitude training camp this year. He will ride in this year’s Vuelta a España after competing at the Commonwealth Games as preparation for his main goal of 2014, the world time-trial championships.
Meanwhile Wiggins believes that Vincenzo Nibali should be regarded as favourite for this year’s race. “I think Nibali will win the Tour, he’s my favourite,” he said. “If he goes as well as he did when he won the Giro last year, if he’s got the same condition, I think he’s unbeatable.”Meanwhile Wiggins believes that Vincenzo Nibali should be regarded as favourite for this year’s race. “I think Nibali will win the Tour, he’s my favourite,” he said. “If he goes as well as he did when he won the Giro last year, if he’s got the same condition, I think he’s unbeatable.”