Wiggins rage as broken bike costs Brit a medal
BRITAIN’S Bradley Wiggins’ crusade for a medal was cruelly ended by a mechanical failure in the closing stages of the Road Cycling World Championships time trial in Mendrisio, Switzerland.
Wiggins, a six-time world champion on the track, was third on the final climb of the three-lap circuit when he was forced to change his bike – and the 29-year-old ended up finishing 21st.
Switzerland’s Fabian Cancellara cruised to victory, equalling Michael Rogers’ event record of three wins in the process. Sweden’s Gustav Larsson came second, with Germany’s Tony Martin two and a half minutes behind to finish third. Christopher Froome, another British rider, came 18th.
Reigning Olympic champion Cancellara clocked an impressive time of 57 minutes, 55.74 seconds over the 49.8km course.
Wiggins was well placed to take bronze until, in the last 10km, the front derailleur of his bike malfunctioned and its electronic gear-change system consequently failed. The Londoner was visibly livid, climbing off his bike and hurling it to the ground in disgust.
Cancellara will be gunning for more glory in Sunday’s men’s road race. in which David Millar will lead Britain’s nine-man squad.