Sir Bradley Wiggins will ride the UCI Hour record in London in June. The venue was announced in a press release from Rapha revealing details of a global joint venture that will initially see the London-based cycling clothing firm supply the kit for the team being launched by the four-time Olympic champion.
Since 2013, Rapha has supplied Team Sky’s kit, and the 2012 Tour de France winner will ride his final race for them at Paris-Roubaix in April before joining Team Wiggins as he begins his preparations for Rio 2016 where he is aiming to ride the team pursuit.
While the team’s roster is exclusively British, according to a press release from Rapha, both parties “share a desire to transform the sport globally by engaging and inspiring more young riders and searching for the next generation of racers around the world.”
The company adds that over the next three years, it will be expanded into a wider clothing rangeand that the kit will be on sale to the public ahead of Wiggins’ planned attempt on the UCI Hour record this summer. More information is available on the Rapha website.
“I’ve got to know the Rapha team well over the last few years at Team Sky; they’re serious about design and they love cycling almost as much as I do,” said Wiggins.
“I want a range of kit that looks great but is also functionally practical for today’s cyclist in all their different shapes and sizes, and I know Simon and the team at Rapha will do the business.”
Simon Mottram, founder and chief executive of Rapha, said: “Sir Bradley Wiggins is one of the very few cyclists who transcend the sport.
“He combines world-leading performances on the road and track with a love of the culture and history of cycling and the charisma to inspire cyclists, fans and the general public.
“It’s flattering and extremely exciting to be working with him.”
There's an explanation about the background to the kit on the Rapha website.
Using the rich heritage of British cycling, and taking inspiration from Sir Bradley’s global ambitions for the sport, Rapha is proud to have designed the WIGGINS identity and the kit that the WIGGINS team will wear in competition.
Taking design inspiration from road racers like Tom Simpson and Robert Millar, and also other British cultural icons Bobby Moore and The Who, both logo and jersey represent the style, heritage and dynamism of the British pioneer.
As a number of people have pointed out on social media, including Justin Belcher in a comment on road.cc's Facebook page, the kit also has a strong similarity to the one sported by Great Britain during the 1980s.
55 thoughts on “Sir Bradley Wiggins to attempt Hour in London in June as he and Rapha launch partnership”
That kit looks smart enough
That kit looks smart enough but I can’t fathom why Rapha and Team Wiggins have gone ahead with this press release without an actual photograph of the kit, or even a photograph of a prototype, but have opted for an MS Paint style mock up.
Seems a bit strange to me.
Should have done it in
Should have done it in Manchester.
In my opinion.
Some Fella wrote:Should have
Wholeheartedly agree, would have been nice to see him do it locally at the home of British Cycling, you know, on the very same track where a number of his new team train and were brought up by British Cycling but hey, fuck it, let’s get the NCC sold to city and give Seb Coe the one, single, London based top class velodrome he’s always wanted.
Don’t be angry, it’s a waste
Don’t be angry, it’s a waste of time and makes you sound a bit silly.
My guess is that he can get bet coverage / sponsorship doing it in London.
PaulBox wrote:Don’t be angry,
I’m not angry, I wasn’t actually ever expecting him to bother his arse doing it up here. It just seems incongruous that he wants to build on British Cycling’s development squad and claims to be offering the new team the best training and facilities for their careers but when faced with the opportunity to use the Manchester track he decides to use Lee Valley. A clear indication that he doesn’t think the facilities are good enough.
You may be surprised by this, but sponsors and investors can actually put money in to events up North, proper companies with real money and not just the local whippet farms offering prizes of tripe and black puddings.
In terms of coverage, I’m fairly sure ITV Sports or BBC sports would be able to able to help out if all the London based companies weren’t able to tame the wilds of the M6 as they’re only based round the corner really and they seem to do alright with that filming of sport malarkey.
Right, I’m off to lick a battery and finger a ferret like all us good backwards Northerners should.
I’m just pleased he’s doing
I’m just pleased he’s doing it in the UK rather than an island in the Mediterranean. Gives more of his fans a chance to get to see it as his career begins to wind down.
As he lives near Manchester, trains near Manchester and his new development squad is based near Manchester I would have thought his plans might have just involved the track he has spent many thousands of hours going round in training (and will be before 2016).
I am of the understanding however, the London track was built to be the fastest in the world with all the climate control systems etc he might just be considering it’s the best option as far as the record attempt is concerned rather than snubbing all northerners. Although he is from London so that might have been part of his plans too.
Or he’s just doing it to annoy all Northerners and make them think we don’t like them down here in the south
farrell wrote:I’m not angry,
No, you don’t sound angry….
PaulBox wrote:No, you don’t
Can I just check you know what the word ‘angry’ means as you don’t seem to be able to differentiate between ‘calling something out as bollocks’ and ‘anger’.
Perhaps that says more about you than me.
Back to the point in hand, if the NCC is so far behind Lee Valley, then there are two options. You can invest in and upgrade Manchester to bring it up to scratch or you could just move British Cycling down to London to ready made, ready to go facilities.
Seb Coe and others have made it clear that having two top class velodromes is not an option and if Abu Dhabi are willing to pay top petro-dollar for the land the NCC is on, why not snatch their arm off for it?
Is there any point in the charade of keeping BC and the NCC in Manchester whilst Lee Valley is used for all the prestige events?
farrell wrote:
Can I just
How about upset?
Does that work for you?
PaulBox wrote:How about
Yes, I’m distraught.
Does that help you move on?
Or that the track in London
Or that the track in London might be faster than in Manchester.
Its all about marginal gains y’know.
ummh, tripe and black
ummh, tripe and black pudding… 8>
I quote from the article
I quote from the article ‘both parties “share a desire to transform the sport globally by engaging and inspiring more young riders and searching for the next generation of racers around the world.”’
Now seriously, can you hear those words coming out of Sir Bradley’s gob? Share a desire…engaging and inspiring…
Also, he’s helping male
Also, he’s helping male riders, who already have numerous opportunities to develop and race. If he was really all that interested in ‘transforming the sport’, then he would have started a women’s development team.
Punkass wrote:Also, he’s
I thought Wiggle-Honda was founded with funding from the Bradley Wiggins Foundation?
Still, this thread is an excellent example of good old-fashioned British success bashing and I’d like to join in. I hope Sir Wiggins makes the attempt in our nation’s capital, fails miserably and is roundly booed all the way back to those grim northern territories where he strangely chooses to live… the bastard!
I’m a ferret and I’m highly
I’m a ferret and I’m highly offended by what that northern chap said, where is my white knight?
There are some people on here
There are some people on here who wouldn’t be happy if he did the hour record on a specially constructed velodrome in their back garden!
London is far bigger than Manchester – twice the seating capacity therefore twice as many people can see him.
I suppose all those bleating about it not being in Manchester would also have complained bitterly if it had been in Manc but was sold out cos Manchester can hold 3500, London can take 6000….
Not angry. Just
Not angry. Just disappointed.
Unlike Farrell.
He is one VERY ANGRY MAN! 😀
Some Fella wrote:Not angry.
Absolutely fuming.
Sorry, that needs to be higher pitched and louder:
I AM FFFEEEEWWMIN!!!!
Right, now where’s me fooking kestrel?
Why hasn’t he chosen Newport
Why hasn’t he chosen Newport velodrome?
Drop the British Bradley…. English
For shame
ct wrote:Why hasn’t he chosen
Why hasn’t he chosen [ Derby | Glasgow | Newport | Manchester | Orangefield Park | Herne Hill | Bournemouth | Meadowbank | Scunthorpe | Reading | Welwyn | Preston Park | Maindy | Halesowen ] ?
Drop the British Bradley….. [ Welsh | Northern Irish | Scottish | English | Northern | Southern | Western | Eastern | Mod | Rocker ]
For [ shame | fucks sake | life not just for Christmas ]
I’m not quite understanding
I’m not quite understanding the swell of emotion regarding this. Aging cycling star rides around whichever velodrome for a hour… it’s not that exciting really, is it?
I know the tension will be cranked up high, and the venue packed to the rafters, but it’s essentially watching a bloke ride a bike round and round for an hour.
You could spend the first 55 minutes in the pub and not miss a thing.
Cyclists are a strange bunch at times…
crikey wrote:I’m not quite
The Lee Valley velodrome serves Meantime beers- some cracking brews available there.
A Rapha article where no one
A Rapha article where no one is complaining about prices?
road.cc has changed. :O
juniper bushes wrote:A Rapha
Because the link is broken and no one can tell the jersey costs £230.
bikeboy76 wrote:juniper
Because the link is broken and no one can tell the jersey costs £230.— juniper bushes
The links broken? Thank fuck for that, I thought it just wasn’t able to connect from my outside toilet.
(No subject)
=)) =)) =)) =)) =)) =)) =))
If he really cared about the
If he really cared about the history of the sport and where he came from he’d do it at Herne Hill Velodrome… in the rain.
If he was lucky they’d let him have a slot on the Good Friday programme, but early in the day before anyone arrives.
Obviously that would all be subject to approval by road.cc commenters, who after all have a far better appreciation and have contributed much more to the sport than that pretentious twat.
I hoped for Manchester and
I hoped for Manchester and Altura. Instead I get London and Rapha. 🙁
Inspire a new generation? How? Seems to be aimed at the same old same old southern, wealthy, IT working, male, Mamils. Who drink Pims. And shandy.
fustuarium wrote:I hoped for
Don’t be silly – no-one hopes for Altura….
fustuarium wrote:I hoped for
Oi! I resemble that remark. Apart from the Pimms and shandy, obviously; we drink “craft beer” these days.
He couldn’t do it at HHV by the way, no roof.
Gizmo_ wrote:
He couldn’t do
Is there a Herne Hill Hour record? and who has it? I am definitely HHV positive.
And whats wrong with a nice Pimms? Aldi do a version called Austins. Very drinkable in the summer, have a look for it the next time you are looking for another loominus jacket. Personally I go to Aldi to buy food not cycling clobber. I must be a northern snob.
bikeboy76 wrote:Personally I
Just got back. Yet to have made it out of the cold meat section unencumbered….
lol of course! Now ammended
lol of course! Now ammended based upon my last trip to London:
I hoped for Manchester and Altura. Instead I get London and Rapha.
Inspire a new generation? How? Seems to be aimed at the same old same old southern, wealthy, IT working, male, Mamils. Who drink craft beer. And drip* coffee.
(*known as ‘filter’ by the rest of us)
Gizmo_ wrote:
He couldn’t do
Why would that stop an hour attempt?
I realise the roof makes a difference and any serious attempt would be indoors – my suggestion of HHV was ironic.
But I’m just interested as to whether there is now a rule. Merckx’s record in Mexico was outdoors.
abudhabiChris wrote:Gizmo_
Why would that stop an hour attempt?
I realise the roof makes a difference and any serious attempt would be indoors – my suggestion of HHV was ironic.
But I’m just interested as to whether there is now a rule. Merckx’s record in Mexico was outdoors.— Gizmo_
I was pretty sure that the “new” rules state that the Hour must be set on an indoor velodrome. However, Dekker’s planning on using Aguascalientes – it has a roof but open walls…
Funny how many people are
Funny how many people are having a pop at Wiggins, brought up in London, not riding in Manchester … but were strangely quiet when Sarah Storey, born and raised there (and a huge United fan), chose London too. Just saying 😉
Simon_MacMichael wrote:Funny
I can’t speak for anyone else but I wasn’t actually having a go at Wiggins but I’m bored of chasing my tail with that one.
As for Sarah Storey’s attempt? I just have no real interest in watching it.
She’s a fantastic athlete so I wish her all the best, I have nothing against her and I overall I do enjoy women’s cycling but I just have nothing but ambivalence at the minute for her attempt. That may change nearer the time but I doubt it.
I was excited for Jens’ attempt, I was excited for Jack Bobridge’s attempt, couldn’t really be bothered with Brandle’s, I’ll be excited for Wiggins’ and Fabian’s attempts, I have no explanation for it.
Simon_MacMichael wrote:Funny
I for one voiced my disappointment (not anger) at Storey doing it in London via the medium of twitter. I was very polite though because she is lovely. Unlike that nasty cockney wideboy Wiggins with his airs and graces. Coming up here. Stealing our women. Watching our rugby. Drinking our Vimto. Sucking our Uncle Joes Mintballs. And what not.
.
.
I bet he eats butter pies
I bet he eats butter pies from the bakery in Orrell cheeks southern git, go back to you jelly eels! Local pies for local people 🙂
Always thought he was born in
Always thought he was born in Belgium. Wasn’t Ghent velodrome free for an hour or two this summer ?
Hmmm. The whole ‘actually
Hmmm. The whole ‘actually born in Belgium’ thing often escapes people who like to think of him as the quintessential British champ modfather…
Meh. The hour record has been so rare over the years because it’s so bloody boring…
crikey wrote:Hmmm. The whole
What, like Froome the Kenyan, or Dan Martin the midlander, Nicholas Roche the frenchman, David Millar the Maltese, etc. The whole nationality thing is in some ways an anachronism from another era.
It is, but is still seized
It is, but is still seized upon by …new followers… of cycling as an easy hook upon which to hang their colours…
crikey wrote:It is, but is
So what was the post regarding nationality and where someone was born about then ? Even more confused than I was..
I was speaking in a wider
I was speaking in a wider sense about the use of nationality, but notice up the thread:
The birthplace of Sir Wiggo is absent…
crikey wrote:I was speaking
Ah, ok, see what you mean. All fairly pointless but that is a wee difference, although sod all to do with nationality (which is, as you say, pretty pointless in itself).
…and anyone in the UK who
…and anyone in the UK who has followed cycling from a time when UK riders were not so prominent will understand that traditional cycling fans didn’t choose riders to admire based on nationality. This is a peculiarly British trait and one which exposes the immature nature of cycling fandom here, with echoes of the nationalism that characterises football and other, equally less intellectual pursuits…
I’m basically rambling along;
I’m basically rambling along; this is the digital equivalent of talking to myself 😉
He should do it on grass, at
He should do it on grass, at the Highland games, in a vest, like a real man, you know that bloke on the porridge box.
That’s how chris hoy would do it. (Possibly)
Herne Hill in the rain Ah yes
Herne Hill in the rain Ah yes or at the concrete tracks of Welwyn Garden City or Harlow ! Are they still there ? Or have they gone the way of Paddington et al ? Still have the scars of many a fall on those unforgiving swines .
ianphillips1966 wrote:Herne
Showing your age there, in more ways than one. Harlow was that rare beast, an outdoor wooden track (although I think it was wooden boards over banked concrete). It was only about 200m round and, at the time, I think it was the steepest track in Europe; bit like riding the Wall of Death!
Christ i’m ashamed to read
Christ i’m ashamed to read some of these comments….
it’s quite clear that whatever venue / brand he picked he would have got ‘pelters’ from the cycling community which is ridiculous…
the guys trying to make history, let’s get behind him rather than give him a kicking – I’m also a Chelsea fan and I tought the chelsea forums were the preserve of the sad and bitter keyboard warriors but clearly not
if you don’t like Rapha, don’t buy it but please no more tantrums
Good Luck BW
sjb2332 wrote:Christ i’m
Which ones in particular? I’m intrigued.
Pelters? What an awful word.
Who is ‘giving him a kicking’?
Who has had a tantrum?
Am I gettign it wrong or missing some of the comments here or are people just reading what they want to read?