Wiggins signs for Team Sky

Signed up: Bradley Wiggins is unveiled by Team Sky

It has been an amazing year for me and my ride at the Tour has given me the drive to aim even higher. I know I can continue to develop and Team Sky is the perfect place to make that happen.

Bradley Wiggins
Quotes of the week

WIGGINS FACTS
DOB: 28/04/1980
Born: Ghent, Belgium
Honours: Three Olympic gold medals - Individual Pursuit Athens 2004, Individual Pursuit and Team Pursuit Beijing 2008; Olympic silver medal - Team Pursuit Athens 2004; Olympic bronze medal - Team Pursuit Sydney 2000; Six World Track Championship gold medals; Fourth in 2009 Tour de France.

SKY BET ODDS
Bradley Wiggins is 4/1 to be the first Team Sky rider to win a race next season. Bet now.

Also see

• Team Sky facebook
• Wiggins profile
• Photo gallery
• Features

Team Sky have confirmed the signing of triple Olympic gold medallist Bradley Wiggins on a four-year deal.

Wiggins has been linked with the BSkyB-backed squad, who will make their debut on the road in 2010, ever since his superb fourth place in this year's Tour de France.

The 29-year-old moves from Team Garmin-Transitions to the newly-formed British outfit and will be their leader at next year's Tour de France.

He was unveiled to the media in London alongside team principal Dave Brailsford who has also masterminded Great Britain's - and Wiggins' - stunning success on the track.

Announcing the signing, Brailsford said: "Brad will be at home in Team Sky. It is the perfect fit and he will be a marquee rider for us.

"Brad and I go right back to the Sydney Olympics - we've worked closely together for all that time.

"He is an exceptional athlete - a great performer at a great age. And he will get better still.

"At Team Sky he can continue to develop, surrounded by some of the coaches and performance experts who have worked with him for years as part of the British Cycling set-up. With his experience he will help us to develop our great young talents too.

"Brad was a real revelation at this year's Tour de France, has been hugely successful for British Cycling and his Olympic success has brought wide recognition. His presence will not only help us on the road but with the wider aims of inspiring people to not only follow the team but to get out and ride, whatever their age or ability."

Amazing

Wiggins himself said: "It has been an amazing year for me and my ride at the Tour has given me the drive to aim even higher. I know I can continue to develop and Team Sky is the perfect place to make that happen.

"The [speculation] has been going on for a while since I finished fourth in Paris and finally we had confirmation that we were good to go.

"I agree with Dave that moving to Team Sky is like coming home. I'll be on a British team with management and coaches who have shaped me as a rider. They are instrumental in my achievements so far and I know they are critical for the next part of my career.

"Team Sky has huge ambitions, not just for the team but for cycling and inspiring the public to ride. It's an amazing project and the next four years will be very exciting. I'm really looking forward to meeting up in the New Year and preparing for our first season - to be part of this from the start is something quite special."

Wiggins has performed for six road teams since he turned professional with the Linda McCartney team in 2001. He moved to Francaise des Jeux in 2002, Credit Agricole in 2004, Cofidis in 2006 - where he came 4th in the London prologue of the Tour de France - Team High Road in 2008 and Garmin-Slipstream in 2009.

His fourth place in this year's Tour de France equalled the best ever performance by British rider, matching Robert Millar's exploits in 1984.

Wiggins, who had a year remaining on his contract with Garmin, joins a strong British contingent on Team Sky, with Geraint Thomas, Ian Stannard, Russell Downing, Peter Kennaugh, Chris Froome and Steve Cummings already part of the team.

Wiggins initially made his name on the track, winning the men's Individual Pursuit at both the Athens Olympics in 2004 and also at Beijing four years later, where he also triumphed in the Team Pursuit.

He has won six Olympic medals in total as well as six golds at the World Track Championships. He was appointed an OBE in 2005 and awarded a CBE in the 2009 New Year Honours.