With seven Olympic medals and a Tour de France victory to his name Sir Bradley Wiggins is used to topping podiums around the globe, but even he admits making his Six Day London debut in October will be a special highlight in a glittering career.
Wiggins has today announced he will join up with fellow British legend Mark Cavendish for the six-day event from October 25 to 30 and isn’t discounting another triumph to add to an already overflowing list.
All of this will take place at the Velodrome at Lee Valley VeloPark on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, an arena Wiggins knows well having won Madison World Championship gold there alongside Cavendish back in March.
But Wiggins will have never seen the capital’s Velodrome like he will come October and the 36-year-old can’t wait for his first taste of Six Day London action.
“I grew up with the Six Day,” he said. “I know it’s full on, brilliant for spectators, as well as bloody tough to ride.
“It’s always been a big deal in Europe so it’s only right that they’ve finally brought it back to London.
“I was gutted not to be able to ride it last year, but this year the timing just fits so I’m hoping it will be a great way to celebrate a successful fifth Olympic Games, back in London.”
Wiggins is currently training with British Cycling but he can’t help but concentrate on things closer to home, with Six Day London the ideal event to boost cycling’s popularity even further.
“In years gone by cycling wasn’t as popular as it was now,” he added.
“There are not many sports where you can go and participate as a family. Cycling is one of the few sports that you can go all ages, all abilities.
“That’s the beauty of cycling – the number of people who don’t get to go out and kick a ball around Wembley before the FA Cup final.
“There is no other sport like that, where you get to enjoy what the elite guys do.”
Wiggins will join a world class field of Six Day riders as they compete in a range of disciplines from time trials to the Six Day-invented Madison.
The event will also feature a women’s omnium across the final three nights, as well as sprints and junior races, all to the sound of a DJ as the lights are turned down and the music turned up as world-class racing meets a world-class party atmosphere.
Six Day London takes place between 25-30 October 2016 at Lee Valley VeloPark on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Half term fun, with or without the kids. Tickets on sale now at www.sixday.com
