Yorkshire’s snub for Team Wiggins

THE cycling team founded by under-fire racer Sir Bradley Wiggins has been snubbed over a place in the Tour de yorkshire next month.

Team Wiggins expected to be given a place on the start line of the three- day road event which runs from April 28-30, but have been notified that they did not make the cut despite having featured in the first two editions of the annual race.

The omission comes as fivetime olympic gold medalist Wiggins faces scrutiny over the ‘ jiffy bag’ controversy involving Team Sky. Simon Cope, who couriered the mystery package in a scenario that has rocked British cycling, is the sports director of Team Wiggins and yesterday questioned the ‘strange’ snub — which organisers attributed to cycling reasons.

‘It’s very disappointing,’ he told Cycling Weekly. ‘I don’t really know why. It’s a very strange one. I do feel that, with the riders we have got, we would have been a top-10 contender, all things going well. out of the six British teams, and bearing in mind we are a development team, we are the second best British team in the rankings behind one Pro.

‘We have the national Under 23 time trial champion (Scott Davies) and the European team and individual pursuit champion ( French rider Corentin Ermenault). It’s a massive surprise.’ A Welcome to Yorkshire spokesman said: ‘Simply, we had 49 teams apply for the 36 men’s and women’s places on offer. Six British Continental teams applied for the five slots available for those.

‘ Unfortunately, someone had to miss out and this time it was Team Wiggins.

‘We have a good relationship with them though and they are welcome to apply for any future editions of the race.’