Mark Cavendish Praised by Bradley Wiggins for Loyalty Beyond Cycling Glory
When Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish sat together on BBC Radio 2 with Dermot O’Leary, it wasn’t just an interview — it was a heartwarming reminder of a friendship that has endured through triumphs, tensions, and time. For many cycling fans, the reunion of these two British greats brought back memories of shared victories and the golden age of British cycling. But for Wiggins, the moment carried a far deeper emotional weight.
He admitted candidly that just a year ago, he didn’t think he’d ever ride again. “I became really disheartened with cycling four or five years ago. I became quite bitter,” Wiggins said with an honesty that few athletes ever reveal publicly. “So that’s been liberating for me.” It was clear that behind the medals and headlines, there had been real personal struggles.
As he opened up, Cavendish — his long-time friend and former Madison partner — reached across the table and said softly, “Well done. So proud of you, mate — you know that?” It was a simple gesture, but one that spoke volumes. Wiggins then shared why Cavendish had meant so much to him during his toughest years. “Mark’s been a big part of that. He’s one of the few people who always checked in on me. His greatness on the bike is surpassed by his friendship off it, for me.”
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Their friendship stretches back to 2008, when they first struck gold together at the Track World Championships in the Madison. Later, in 2012, their partnership reached a poetic moment on the Champs-Élysées, where Wiggins, in the Tour de France’s yellow jersey, led Cavendish out for victory. It symbolized everything their careers had come to represent — teamwork, belief, and mutual respect.
Even through the turbulent times at Team Sky, when both men clashed with the pressures of elite sport, that respect never disappeared. They reunited years later at the 2016 London World Championships to win another Madison world title, proving that some partnerships never lose their rhythm.
Cavendish, who retired from professional cycling at the end of 2024, reflected with equal gratitude. “I wouldn’t have won my Olympic medal without him,” he said. “He showed me how to do a pursuit. And what he did for me on the Champs-Élysées — I’ll never forget that.”
He went on to highlight Wiggins’s belief in him, especially during his late-career resurgence. “Do you know what the biggest thing is? His belief in me these last years. That comes from knowing me, not from looking from the outside. His belief meant a lot.”
In a sport where glory is often fleeting and friendships are tested by competition, the connection between Wiggins and Cavendish stands out — not just as one of the great cycling duos, but as a reminder that loyalty and kindness can outshine even the brightest medals.
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