Accusations of Sir Bradley WigginsSir Bradley Wiggins claims that during his professional career he heard racist, sexist, and homophobic language from representatives of British cycling. Wiggins, a five-Time Olympic champion and winner of the 2012 Tour de France, was a member of the national team from 1998 to 2016, competing at the Manchester velodrome.“I have never heard plain words used with such contempt as in our team,” Wiggins says in his new memoir.He emphasizes that this was a widespread occurrence, and such statements were usually overlooked. According to him, the atmosphere in the team was toxic and required change. Wiggins believes that cycling needs to become more inclusive to reflect the diversity of society.
He currently hopes that his words will encourage addressing these issues in sports.
Wiggins’ words open an important discussion about inclusion and respect in sports, as his experience could become a catalyst for the changes needed to create a healthy and friendly environment at all levels of competition. The community’s response to these accusations could define the next steps in combating discrimination in cycling and other sports.