COMMONWEALTH GAMES
Bolt signals his intent as Wiggins commits to track
USAIN BOLT and Sir Bradley Wiggins, two of the world’s most decorated and recognised Olympians, have provided the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games with reasons for cheer by declaring that they are determined to compete on their respective tracks at Hampden Park and the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome next month.
However, it remains to be seen to what extent they will light up the Games above simply being physical participants in Glasgow, and the devil will be in the detail.
Bolt posted a statement online in the early hours of yesterday morning, entitled “Commonwealth Games update”. In it, he declared that he wanted to run in his first Commonwealth Games this summer but was reluctant to stake a claim on a berth in the Jamaica team for either the 100 or 200 metres because the national trials are taking place in his absence this weekend and he would not want to pinch a place from a compatriot who achieves selection on merit.
Bolt has submitted an application to be granted an exemption from the trials as he recovers from a foot injury, but at this stage he is only making himself available to run the 4 x 100m relay, which is not what the organisers had in mind.
Jamaica can select up to three athletes per event but if three of Bolt’s peers run qualifying times over 100m and 200m – other than Yohan Blake, who has ruled himself out of the Games – the federation would have to veto Bolt’s own wishes if they are to maximise their chances of a gold medal.
Team England, meanwhile, announced that Sir Bradley Wiggins will compete on the track during this summer’s Games, another terrific development for organisers who had pinned their hopes on big names from athletics, swimming and cycling making the event a truly global draw.
Wiggins, a three-time Olympic track champion, looks likely to focus on the team pursuit but could potentially target the individual pursuit. He had already been slated to contest the time trial and road race through the streets of Glasgow.
Shane Sutton, British Cycling’s technical director, said: “I’m very happy to be able to welcome Sir Bradley back to the track team for the Commonwealth Games – his addition will be a real morale boost to the rest of the track squad. The decision of who will ride what event will be made nearer the time.”
There have been reported sightings of Wiggins, 34, at the Manchester Velodrome in recent weeks, although many attributed this to the 2012 Tour de France and Olympic time- trial champion having expressed an interest in tackling the famed Hour Record.
Fresh from his win at the British Time Trial Championships on Thursday evening, Wiggins, who missed out on a spot in Team Sky’s squad for the Tour de France, confirmed that he will not be riding in tomorrow’s national road race in Abergavenny, Wales, in order to concentrate on his track efforts for the Games. “I’ve been back team pursuit training now for three weeks and back again doing that on Monday morning so the road race never really fitted into that schedule,” he said.
Wiggins has won three Olympic gold medals and six world titles on the track and is widely regarded as one of the best riders of his generation.
He last competed at the Commonwealth Games in 2002 when he took double silver in the individual pursuit and team pursuit.
Welsh track sprinter Becky James, a double world champion in 2013, has withdrawn from the Games as she recovers from surgery. “In May, I received abnormal results from a routine smear test, and following the biopsy results I underwent minor surgery which I’m pleased to say was successful,” said James.
“The surgery, however, meant two weeks away from my usual training regime. Following the rest, in an effort to make up for lost time, I aggravated a knee injury that will rule me out of the Games.
“I’m terribly disappointed I won’t be competing in Glasgow. I still hope to be in Glasgow cheering the team on and wish the entire team