Bradley Wiggins has said he is now "happier in my skin" than he has ever been, with his remarks coming after a week of reports stating he has been declared bankrupt and when his lawyer saying he had lost most of his money and was now sofa-surfing.
Wiggins has seen his finances and business dealings at the centre of media reports for a number of years and last week The Times reported he had been declared bankrupt, though representatives for the 2012 Tour de France winner said the business issues did not reflect his personal finances.
However, Wiggins Rights Limited entered liquidation in 2020, when it had debts of £650,000, just over half of which was owed to the tax authorities. Two years ago, Wiggins was placed in an 'individual voluntary arrangement', which is intended to help pay creditors.
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However, last week The Times reported the debt had grown to almost £1 million, with the liquidator reporting last November Wiggins Rights Limited was owed £760,000 by a director.
His week the former pro cyclist's lawyer, Alan Sellers, Daily Mail, was quoted as saying Wiggins was “sofa-surfing” and “basically homeless.”
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At the weekend, Wiggins spoke to Matt Stephens in a public interview at at the National Cycling Show in Birmingham and also spoke to Ami Sedghi of Cycling Weekly. While he does not appear to have commented on the recent reports, he spoke about his relationship with cycling and his life at present.
“I’m only starting to realise that maybe there’s a new realm for me and a new sort of ‘inspiration’ I guess, if that’s the right word without being too egotistical,” he said about moving gradually back towards cycling.
He added he would be at the Tour de France this year - in an unspecified capacity - though he said he could not talk about that role as it was yet to be announced.
“People have said ‘I think your best years are ahead of you’ [and] that’s a nice perspective," he said. “I’m more happy in my skin than I’ve ever been.”
He added he believed it would not be healthy to take on a coach role for his son, Be Wiggins, who is making his name in cycling and has already won European gold on the track. Instead, he was supporting him like any father would and he also believed he was edging back towards cycling.
“It’s just part of the fabric of who I am and I don’t want to label it as love or not love. I’m slowly edging my way back in… It’s something I’ve embraced again but not fallen in love with… I’m still keeping it at arm’s length.”
