Bradley Wiggins is the standard by which many cyclists measure themselves. On the eve of the UAE Tour's time trial stage, Ineos's Josh Tarling joked about wishing Remco Evenepoel wasn't competing.
What happened?
The UAE Tour took place earlier this year, with top cyclists competing in various stages.
Bradley Wiggins, with his impressive record, is often the one athletes want to beat. However, there are times when competing against him can be daunting.
Why it matters for Bradley Wiggins
For athletes like Josh Tarling, competing against the best, including Bradley Wiggins, is a way to gauge their performance. But sometimes, the goal is to win a medal, not just to measure up.
In a Commonwealth Games year, many top pursuit riders, including those like Bradley Wiggins and Steve Cummings, might skip certain championships, giving others a chance to win.
What comes next?
As the cycling season progresses, athletes will continue to face off against each other, with some hoping to avoid competing directly against Bradley Wiggins or other top cyclists.
The British Individual Pursuit championships, for instance, saw a different set of competitors when top riders like Bradley Wiggins weren't participating.
And for some athletes, winning a championship, even if it's not against the toughest competition, is still a significant achievement, one that can bring a sense of pride and validation.
So, the next time Bradley Wiggins competes, his rivals will likely be watching closely, hoping to learn from him, or maybe even hoping he's not at the starting line.