SIR BRADLEY WIGGINS' pursuit of Commonwealth Games gold remains unfulfilled.
Once again the most famous sideburns in sport were sighted only on the second step of the podium at these games, the 34-year-old's fourth silver medal in four attempts coming with an admission that his return to track cycling after a six-year absence had not run entirely smoothly.
Yet while the English team of Wiggins, Ed Clancy, Steven Burke and Andy Tennant surrendered almost a second and a half to their Australian rivals' - Jack Bobridge, Luke Davison, Alex Edmondson and Glenn O'Shea - winning time of 1:03:111sec in the 4000m team pursuit final, it only served to crystallise certain thoughts in their talisman's mind. The four-time Olympic gold medallist insisted last night that this team remains on track to win another in Rio in two years time and hinted the world may even have seen the last of him on the roads.
"I am disappointed," said Wiggins. "In hindsight we will all look back but I think this is the start line for us now. I'm committed to Rio. That is the plan, all being well. It takes four people to be on a par for that to happen and we have all had such different preparation this year. But I don't want to sound like Roy Hodgson. We have got some work to do.
"I certainly answered the question over whether I could still do it or not," he added. "But it is going to take a lot more dedication to the track.
"What about the road? Probably not. I just think the commitment it will take for the track and the speeds we need to go at, it will take a complete change. There is the change of body composition, getting heavier, and more explosive, which will hinder climbing in grand tours. I don't relish the thought of riding round in the back group having won the Tour."
From the heady days of Dave Brailsford, the grand narrative of yesterday's track cycling was the Empire striking back. Australian flag bearer Anna Meares, watched by long-time nemesis Victoria Pendleton, was another Australian winner in the women's 500m time trial, while New Zealand's World Champion trio of Ethan Mitchell, Sam Webster and Ed Dawkins confirmed that nation's burgeoning reputation by seeing off Jason Kenny et al in the team sprint.
If that was a shock for the large contingent of English fans yesterday, Wiggins admitted he had been taken aback by the warmth he had experienced from everyone. "We went into the city for a coffee the other day and we got free coffees and everything," he said. "It surprised everybody . . . especially with me from England."
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