Rio Olympics 2016: Bradley Wiggins and Co keen to get Team GB cycling back on track with Velodrome pursuit treble
Boss Andy Harrison denies unrest and insists Brits are united
BRIT cyclists dream of a team pursuit TREBLE — to stop the rot in Rio.
Team GB riders have had a nightmare Olympics so far, with Geraint Thomas’ crash in the road race and Lizzie Armitstead’s drug tests controversy.
But after Chris Froome scraped a bronze in yesterday’s time trial, our riders are banking on better luck in the Velodrome.
Sir Bradley Wiggins leads the team pursuit bid for a third Games gold WITHOUT Mark Cavendish.
Cav was snubbed for the event — and had a furious pop at Wiggo.
But team boss Andy Harrison said: “I’m just interested in what they’ll do on a bike, rather than what they say in front of a camera. Over the past few weeks I’ve seen Brad and Cav in close proximity and be very friendly with each other.
“They roomed together in Newport for two weeks, sat next to each other in training the last few days — there are no issues.
“These are two of the best riders that GB have ever produced and they have big personalities.
“Sometimes that comes through in these situations. But, for me, there’s no needle.”
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Cavendish claimed he had been shoved into the shadows because seven-time gold medallist Sir Bradley “needs to be the hero”. His public pop has overshadowed GB’s bid to win another gold in the team pursuit after glory at Beijing in 2008 and at London 2012.
Triple Tour de France champ Froome, meanwhile, says he heads home with no regrets.
He snatched a bronze in yesterday’s rain-lashed time trial — GB’s first gong in four attempts so far.
And Froome smiled: “At the end of the day, it’s been an amazing summer.
“I wanted to come here and try to back up winning the Tour again, so to win a medal is really special.
“It’s my second at the Olympics, which is special, too. I couldn’t have done more.”