Olympics Rio 2016: No issues between Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins says GB cycling chief
ByPA Sport
Updated 10/08/2016 at 20:52 GMT
British Cycling programmes director Andy Harrison has denied any suggestion of friction between Sir Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish ahead of the Rio Olympics track programme beginning on Thursday.
Sir Bradley Wiggins (L) and Mark Cavendish (R) of Britain celebrates winning the men's madison final.
Image credit: Reuters
Cavendish on Tuesday expressed frustration at being overlooked for a team pursuit spot in Rio, appearing to accuse "hero" Wiggins of freezing him out.
Harrison, the team leader following Shane Sutton's resignation in April, said: "There's no issues. There's no needle at all.
"These are two of the best riders that GB has ever produced and they've got big personalities. That's fine.
"I'm more interested in what they'll do on the bike, rather than what they say in front of a camera."
Wiggins is looking for a fifth Olympic gold and British record eighth medal in all when the four-man, four-kilometres team pursuit begins on Thursday and concludes on Friday.
Cavendish is still looking for his first and says he left the Tour de France early to be considered for a round of the team pursuit.
The 31-year-old from the Isle of Man's comments could open old wounds with Wiggins.
The pair were world champions in the Madison, only to finish ninth in the Beijing Olympics with Wiggins fatigued by his gold medal-winning exploits in the individual and team pursuits.
It meant Cavendish, who finished 29th in the road race at London 2012, suffered the ignominy of being the only member of the track team not to return from China with a medal.
The pair drifted apart afterwards, but their friendship was rekindled and Wiggins helped Cavendish to the world road race title in 2011.
The six-discipline omnium in which Cavendish has been selected, and placed sixth in at March's Track World Championships in London, is something of a lottery.
And the four-rider, four-kilometres team pursuit offers a surer prospect of a podium place.
But while 2012 Tour winner Wiggins, Ed Clancy, Steven Burke and Owain Doull have had the event as their sole focus for more than a year, Cavendish has not and will likely only ride one of the three rounds if a team-mate is injured or falls ill.
"Mark is still available for TP if required," Harrison added.
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