Cavendish frustration not helped by crash

Cavendish, the 23-time Tour de France stage winner, is seeking an amicable end to his Sky contract, which has two further years to run, as his personal ambitions do not match those of his employers.

The 27-year-old, whose hopes of victory on the opening stage of the Tour of Britain yesterday afternoon were dashed after a late crash, is set to meet Team Sky principal Dave Brailsford for discussions over his future in the coming weeks.

Wiggins has sympathy for the situation the 2011 world champion finds himself in, but admitted the complex dynamics of team road racing have the potential to create dissatisfaction among some riders.

“There are a lot of things going on which are not out there (in the public domain),” said Wiggins.

“I am as much in the dark as everyone else, but I do speak to him about things. Of course I can understand, and I have said it before – it is not easy, and it is some position you are in when the world champion has to leave to get an opportunity. That is the downfall of our own success in a way.”

Cavendish had been teed up for a shot at a sprint-finish win yesterday after an early breakaway group was reeled in by the peloton, but a series of collisions heading into the final turns of the 120-kilometre course saw those hopes dashed.

Instead, fellow Team Sky racer Luke Rowe kept clear of the carnage to take the stage at the Royal Norfolk Showground for his first professional victory.

“Luke deserves it, he has been knocking on the door all year, has had some third and fourth places - what a day to shine for him,” said Wiggins, who also took a tumble in the bunched finish.

“I have had easier days on the bike, but it was nice to be back in the team racing, to have a job, a role and routine.”

Despite the sweltering temperatures, the route was lined with enthusiastic spectators, many of whom were no doubt inspired by Wiggins’s heroics at both Le Tour and the Olympic Games over the summer.

“(The support) is on a par with the Tour de France, but you kind of expect it to be like that now with the Olympics and everything else we have done. However, it is really nice,” Wiggins said.

The Olympic time-trial gold medallist will miss today’s Team GB celebrations in London as the Tour of Britain heads to Nottingham and on towards Knowsley Safari Park.

For Welshman Rowe it was a memorable day, having been called as a late replacement into the Sky squad.

The 22-year-old said: “The past month I have started to find my feet and adapt to the level of racing and I came into here with quite a lot of confidence.

“It was a race that I always wanted to do, so to get called up and now to win a stage is pretty special really.”