Wiggins says Cavendish has ‘chip on shoulder’

Sir Bradley Wiggins insists he is unaware of any problem between himself and Mark Cavendish, but believes the Manxman has “a chip on his shoulder” because he does not get the same recognition as the five-time Olympic champion.

There were rumours of a strained relationship between the pair during the Olympics, with Cavendish frustrated at being overlooked for the fourman team pursuit line-up after quitting the Tour de France early to prepare for Rio.

He had been selected as fifth man but did not get a ride, and appeared to accuse “hero” Wiggins of freezing him out.

Cavendish, who went on to claim his first Olympic medal with silver in the men’s omnium, then had an apparent dig at Wiggins after being made to wait to give a post-race interview to the BBC, with microphones recording him mutter: “They’d be straight on for Brad, wouldn’t they?”

Wiggins has not taken the comment to heart, saying in an interview with the Daily Telegraph: “That wasn’t necessarily a dig at me – although people said it was.

“I think, rather, he’s got a chip on his shoulder because he feels he doesn’t get the same recognition (as me) for what he’s achieved, which I completely understand. But we’re all good.”

British Cycling played down talk of any rift during the Games, and Wiggins – who went on to win team pursuit gold with Owain Doull, Ed Clancy and Steven Burke – backs up that stance.

Asked who he will ride alongside in his final outing at the Kuipke Velodrome in Ghent in November, Wiggins replied: “Cav. I’m not aware that there’s a problem (between us).”

The 36-year-old said the decision on the final team pursuit quartet was nothing personal.

“That’s not me freezing him out or anything,” he added.

Sir Bradley Wiggins, right, says he is unaware of any problem between himself and Mark Cavendish.