According to Italian media, Bradley Wiggins is very likely to continue his road career with Team Sky until the end of 2016 season despite not being selected for this year’s Tour de France squad. Attending the Pinarello Cycling Marathon last week, British rider indicated that even though he will wait until the autumn with making the final decision, extending contract with his current outfit would be his first choice and with an ambition to target the Paris-Roubaix and the Hour Record on the track.
While the former Tour de France champion confidently spoke about his future at Team Sky, British squad’s principal Dave Brailsford emphasized that no agreement has been reached yet.
“He hasn't signed. We've met with his management company and we'll see where we're at. Nothing is signed," Brailsford told The Guardian.
While other WorldTour squads in likes of Orica-GreenEDGE and Garmin-Sharp didn’t hide their interest in signing Wiggins as an experienced grand tour contender for 2015 season, the 34-year old Briton not only suggested that he hardly considers different possibilities than staying at Sky, but indicated that his days as a leader for three-week events are over.
"It's true, I'm thinking about it (the Hour Record). Not this year but I'll try next year. And I'll do it on these bikes because I'm going to stay at Sky," Gazzetta dello Sport reported Wiggins as saying.
"My time as a Grand Tour rider is over. I'll still ride them but not to win them," he reportedly said. "I'll sign up now for this event next year. If Sky doesn’t take me to the Tour, I'll be back."
Apart from targeting the Paris-Roubaix and Hour Record next season, it has been made clear that Wiggins would aim to compete on the track at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, and reportedly the British squad would adjust his race programme to harmonize with his preparations.
“Brad is a great champion and 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 more Olympic success in Rio," Dave Brailsford told Cyclingnews.
Still under a huge impression of racing on the cobbled roads of Northern France following his successful attempt at the Paris-Roubaix this spring, the 34-year old Briton was full of praise for Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) and tipped him as a favorite to win the 101st edition of the Tour de France.
"Nibali was fantastic on the pave, impressive. They're the most beautiful roads, in the most fascinating race in the world: Roubaix. I rode this year but next year I want to win it. It'll be my big goal for 2015."
"I think Nibali will win the Tour, he's my favourite. 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."
Wiggins will now target the track events at the Commonwealth Games held in Scotland and very likely the Vuelta a Espana as a preparation event for the individual time trial at the world championships, where he is rumored to ride with Chris Froome.
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